Gibran Khalil Gibran

Just been listening to Fairouz's song: "Al-Mahabba" by Gibran Khalil Gibran. This song includes parts of one of his greatest writing "The Prophet". And it lead me to read the whole thing!!! He had writings about:

Marriage*     Children *     Giving*     Eating and Drinking*     Work*     Joy and Sorrow *     Houses*     Clothes*     Buying and Selling *     Crime and Punishment *     Laws *     Freedom*     Reason and Passion *     Pain*     Self-Knowledge*     Teaching*     Friendship*     Talking*     Time*     Good and Evil*     Prayer*     Pleasure*     Beauty*     Religion*     Death*   

Very interesting thoughts about every aspect of life. I especially like the one about children, marriage, and giving. Actually they are all interesting. If anyone has time to check them out and ready them(the above links), they are very interesting and inspiring.

Complete Unit on Pollution

In the last century, due to the technological improvements the world has seen, there are a lot of changes that has happened to our lives. In many aspects technology has improved the quality of our life, making thing easier, whether it was entertainment or health wise. But in other ways it has affected humans negatively, causing different kinds of pollution that has harmed both the environment and human beings, due to new technologies, the world has changed in many ways.

 

Water, air, and soil are of a great concern for most of the people, as we consume them, or from them daily. And because we are teaching the new generation, we should make them aware of pollution. As it has increases a lot in the past 2 decades, we should make them aware of the many reasons and causes of pollution. Also a new pollution, which is noise pollution, is added to the list. We should make them realize how such pollutions could harm the human life. Also, how they could harm nature and the environment that we are living in. These reasons are the origin and importance of why we think pollution is an important subject to be taught at schools, and why this project is going to be implemented on a big and wide scale.

As almost anything in life, what you give is what you get in return. That is why it is important to teach students what pollution is, what its causes and effects are on us, as well as the harms. Thus, they should think about solutions of reducing pollution starting from home. In addition, making them aware of the ways of which they can protect the environment and themselves from future pollutants.

In addition, there are background goals. For example, to work in groups as efficient as working alone. In addition, to being able to communicate with others, and being able to organize their time. Also to let them gain skills in creating videos, brochures, and posters…

The following is the link get a hold of the complete unit activities:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4dFLf-uFYJSZFQ2NU43ZlNJVjg

From across the Atlantic!

For each country, its people are characterized by certain traits/characteristics. This applies to Canadians as well. As any person who has known a Canadian, they can tell that there are mainly two characteristics that characterizes them, and especially Americans know these traits...

The first is that they use the word "eh" a lot, especially at the end of a question. It comes as a meaning of: isn't that true/correct? For example: we had a great time, eh?

The other one is Politeness. Canadians world wide are known for their kindness, politeness, and being well-mannered. They use a lot the following words: Excuse me, Please, Thank You, Sorry, and Pardon Me...

At anytime, you go to a counter to pay, they would say hi, how are you? And was your day?

Actually a funny incident once happened to me while my family and I were on a visit to Canada. While we were shopping, I was pushing the cart and I accidentally bumped into a women, she started apologizing to me, as if she was the one who had bumped into me in the first place. I looked at her and I smiled, and I said, No Pardon me, I was the one who bumped into you. When we got home, we started talking about it, and laughed about it a little bit, because if that had happened here in Lebanon, we would get a stare or even get elbowed, if not something worse...

Why I think Facebook is good!

Almost everyone I know has a Facebook account. And the one's who don't are probably to be thought of as out-dated. Everybody would say, why don't you have one? Are you serious?

Although Facebook has a lot of disadvantages, and I think I don't have to mention them, there are many advantages, in mu opinion. Facebook was first created to connect friends and people you know, and to in touch we them. And this is one of the advantages of Facebook. As we live hectic lives nowadays, we can't keep up with our friends on a daily basis. But with the help of Facebook, we are able to see their daily activities, through photos, status updates, and check ins... In addition, it is a new tool to spread awareness. Media has always been considered to be a powerful tool for spreading awareness. And nowadays Facebook is one of the most powerful medias over the internet. You can raise awareness about anything you want. You can see the updates about what is going around in your country, especially if you are someone like me who does not watch the 8 o'clock news, or any kind of news as a matter of fact. I know about the Article 522(post posted previously here), through Facebook, and not the news. In short, Article 522 exonerates the rapist of his crime if he marries the victim. And this has caught my eyes, and I am one of the people who want to become active in spreading such type of awareness. It is also a way of advertising. You can create a page and advertise your business, store, organization, brand, band, almost anything...

Facebook is a good way to keep up to date with the society, but people have to use it in moderation. Let extremes meet. Don't over use Facebook so that you make a priority, and don't be anti-Facebook because it might cause a distraction from your priorities. Do everything in moderation!

Why I think it is important for women to get an education?

Many people and especially in our society don't think that it is important for women to get educated. They think that it is a right for men only. They might think so that because a woman will have a better education she will have a better upgraded status and thus will have more power. And this power might interfere with men's power and authority. And this point really irritates me, and get me mad! I get furious when people(especially men) disapprove of a women getting a good education, for reason that are purely shallow. I see that there is a major and great value when a women is educated.

 
Personally, I think that an educated woman is a woman that has more knowledge, and skills. She is able to think better and think more efficiently. This will make her have a better understanding of what is right and what is wrong because they will have mingled and socialized with others. An educated woman provides better support for her kids. She is able to help them more mentally and emotionally. In addition, to protect and aware them more about the dangers of the outer world. Because she has seen them, and might have lived them, and can teach them what she has learned from them, so that they don't have to fall in the same mistakes.

Look at this in this way. When a woman is more educated, she will know how to protect and defend herself in a better way. She will be able to stand on her own feet without relying on anyone. She will be able to support and provide things that she needs for herself by herself. She will have control over herself. And this is what is frightening for some men: that their wife won't rely on them to live, and thus they feel threatened.

As the famous arabic proverb:" The mother is a school, preparing her well is like preparing a good nation. An educated woman will make a better society. It is a key for a brighter future. She will produce a better educated society. As the woman will have a great effect on her children , who will have a better education. And these children in return will affect their children's education as well. As any knowledgeable person can see that an educated women has less children than a non-educated woman, which leads to poverty. Because there are more mouths to feed, and same income (and if not less). Educated women will even have better health and hygiene awareness!

An educated woman can and will be able to participate in the different jobs and careers just like any other man, going into politics, business, and engineering... This will lead to an increased income. Then she, and her husband will be able to provide a better environment for their children to grow up, providing the best qualities to ensure their best up bringing.

Therefore, we can see how an educated women can help in everything, her own self, family and even society. Therefore, it is really important to encourage young girls and enlighten them about the importance of having a good education, because it will help them in many different ways in their life, and their future children's life! I say yes to educating women, and I say yes to spreading knowledge and education across all people, no matter of gender, race, or religion!

Be Happy, Be YOU

Aren't we all trying to make ourselves happy in this lifetime?

What I think in order to be happy is that we should be ourselves. Being our-self is the only way we will enjoy life, in its ups and downs. Being yourself is not only in terms of dressing the way you want, or doing your hair or makeup the way you want. It is also in speaking you mind. Having thoughts of your own, and being able to express these thoughts into words...

Another thing is trying. What I think is that in 10 years from now, we will not regret the failure from trying something new. But we will regret not trying to do something new. What I mean is that we should not be scared to try new things. Routine, and familiar things are the safe way to go. But they are not the best, nor the happiest solution for us. We should do things that will make us happier, even if it means that we should try new things.

I think you should always speak your mind. One of the things that makes people happy is speaking their mind. If you oppose to something, don't accept it because the majority of the people accept it. Say what you think is right. And be able to defend your opinion.

Have fun! This is the best way to be happy. Enjoy time out of the house, with friends, family, and pets. Include yourself in activities that you desire. Take a painting class, for example. For me, spending time with friends and family has a great effect on way in keeping me happy, and lightening my mood when I need it.

Another thing that I really believe makes people happy, and this is especially true for me, is getting a good education. Because when you get an education, you feel that you have achieved something that is meaningful in your life! Achieving meaningful things makes you the happiest you have ever been! Who wasn't happy when they got an A on any exam? Who wasn't happy when they graduated high school or university?

Do things that please you and not others. Personally, I think i you work on pleasing others and not you, you will face a difficult time. You are living your life for you and not others. So don't do things that you don't want to do, or don't believe in just because someone wants you to do. Always engage yourself in things that will make you happy, and will make you enjoy your time and have fun. Try to aim for the highest you can, and achieve the most you can. When you are happy and satisfied with what you are, and with what you have achieved you will live a happy life.

P.S. Always surround yourself with people you like and enjoy spending time with :) That is what I enjoy doing the most; when I don't have studying :)

Article 522, in the Lebanese Law

Translation: He rapped you, then marry him!

The above picture ironically presents what has been implied in Article# 522 in the Lebanese law!  Article 522 in regarding the marrying of women who have been raped, abused, abducted, or seduced, states: “If a legitimate marriage contract is established between the perpetrator of one of the crimes mentioned above and the victim, the pursuit of the perpetrator is halted, and if a sentence has already been issued, its execution is halted.” In short, Article 522 exonerates the rapist of his crime if he marries the victim.

This has gotten a lot of commotion recently. I think it is wrong on so many levels. And is probably one of the stupidest articles ever in the Lebanese law! If a girl was raped, and this man was to marry her, the case would be dropped and he would not face a lawsuit! Think about it, isn't it outrageous that if a girl was raped, her rapist would get away with it if he would marry her?

In my opinion, this is like justifying for men to rap girls. It is legitimizing sexual violence and rap. It gives them an easy escape from their crime. Many families would want the raped girl to be wedded to her raper, because they see it as the honorable thing to do, i.e. protecting the honors of the family. Because she is not married and is no longer a "girl", meaning a virgin. She would be a disgrace to the family and to the society. She would be a shame, not being a virgin and not have been married. But what girl who has been raped would want to marry her rapist, let alone, see him day in, day out, or even alive?!

Personally, why I think this is s shameful article is that it violates every human beings' right to live in a safe environment where s/he is protected from any harm and violation. Shouldn't we all have the physical and emotional safety and well-being? Aren't we all allowed to live in a safe environment where if someone does a crime against us, that we be protected from them and they will have to pay the price for what they did to us? How would marrying the girl to her raper exonerate the rapist from his crime? Would it be solved just by having a marriage?