ISL WEEK 7&8

Discrimination is a sociological term referring to the prejudicial treatment of an individual based solely on their membership (whether voluntary or involuntary) in a certain group or category. Discrimination is the actual behavior towards members of another group. It involves excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to other groups.[1] The United Nations explains: "Discriminatory behaviors take many forms, but they all involve some form of exclusion or rejection."[2] Discriminatory laws such as redlining have existed in many countries. In some countries, controversial attempts such as racial quotas have been used to redress negative effects of discrimination.

Racial discrimination differentiates between individuals on the basis of real and

perceived racial differences, and has been official government policy in several

countries, such as South Africa in the apartheid era, and the USA

An African-American child at a segregated drinking fountain on a courthouse

lawn, North Carolina, 1938.

In the United States, racial profiling of minorities by law enforcement officials has

been called racial discrimination.[3] As early as 1865, the Civil Rights Act provided a

remedy for intentional race discrimination in employment by private employers and

state and local public employers. The Civil Rights Act of 1871 applies to public

employment or employment involving state action prohibiting deprivation of rights

secured by the federal constitution or federal laws through action under color of law.

Title VII is the principal federal statute with regard to employment discrimination

prohibiting unlawful employment discrimination by public and private employers,

labor organizations, training programs and employment agencies based on race or

color, religion, gender, and national origin.

Title VII also prohibits retaliation against any person for opposing any practice

forbidden by statute, or for making a charge, testifying, assisting, or participating in a

proceeding under the statute. TheCivil Rights Act of 1991 expanded the damages

available in Title VII cases and granted Title VII plaintiffs the right to a jury trial. Title

VII also provides that race and color discrimination against every race and color is

prohibited.

In the UK the inquiry following the murder of Stephen Lawrence accused the police

of institutional racism.

Weaver v NATFHE (now part of the UCU) Race/sex discrimination case. An

Industrial (Employment) Tribunal in the UK in 1987 decided that a trade union

was justified in not assisting a black woman member complaining of racist/sexist

harassment, regardless of the merits of the case, because the accused male

would lose his job. The Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld the decision, which

still stands today as the definitivelegal precedent in this field. It is also known as

the Bournville College Racial Harassment issue.

Within the criminal justice system in some Western countries, minorities are

convicted and imprisoned disproportionately when compared with whites.[4][5] In 1998,

nearly one out of three black men between the ages of 20-29 were in prison or jail,

on probation or parole on any given day in theUnited States.[6] First Nations make up

about 2% of Canada's population, but account for 18% of the federal prison

population as of 2000.[7]According to the Australian government's June 2006

publication of prison statistics, indigenous peoples make up 24% of the overall prison

population in Australia.[8] In 2004, Māori made up just 15% of the total population

of New Zealand but 49.5% of prisoners. Māori were entering prison at 8 times the

rate of non-Māori.[9] A quarter of the people in England's prisons are from an ethnic

minority. The Equality and Human Rights Commission found that five times more

black people than white people per head of population in England and Wales are

imprisoned. Experts and politicians said over-representation of black men was a

result of decades of racial prejudice in the criminal justice system.[10]

hough gender discrimination and sexism refers to beliefs and attitudes in relation to

the gender of a person, such beliefs and attitudes are of a social nature and do not,

normally, carry any legal consequences. Sex discrimination, on the other hand, may

have legal consequences.

Though what constitutes sex discrimination varies between countries, the essence is

that it is an adverse action taken by one person against another person that would

not have occurred had the person been of another sex. Discrimination of that nature

in certain enumerated circumstances is illegal in many countries.

Currently, discrimination based on sex is defined as adverse action against another

person, that would not have occurred had the person been of another sex. This is

considered a form of prejudice and is illegal in certain enumerated circumstances in

most countries.

Sexual discrimination can arise in different contexts. For instance an employee may

be discriminated against by being asked discriminatory questions during a job

interview, or because an employer did not hire, promote or wrongfully terminated an

employee based on his or her gender, or employers pay unequally based on gender.

In an educational setting there could be claims that a student was excluded from an

educational institution, program, opportunity, loan, student group, or scholarship due

to his or her gender. In the housing setting there could be claims that a person was

refused negotiations on seeking a house, contracting/leasing a house or getting a

loan based on his or her gender. Another setting where there have been claims of

gender discrimination is banking; for example if one is refused credit or is offered

unequal loan terms based on one’s gender.[15]

Another setting where there is usually gender discrimination is when one is refused

to extend his or her credit, refused approval of credit/loan process, and if there is a

burden of unequal loan terms based on one’s gender.

Socially, sexual differences have been used to justify different roles for men and

women, in some cases giving rise to claims of primary and secondary roles.[16]

While there are alleged non-physical differences between men and women, major

reviews of the academic literature on gender difference find only a tiny minority of

characteristics where there are consistent psychological differences between men

and women, and these relate directly to experiences grounded in biological

difference.[17] However, there are also some psychological differences in regard to

how problems are dealt with and emotional perceptions and reactions which may

relate to hormones and the successful characteristics of each gender during

longstanding roles in past primitive lifestyles.

Unfair discrimination usually follows the gender stereotyping held by a society.

The United Nations had concluded that women often experience a "glass ceiling"

and that there are no societies in which women enjoy the same opportunities as

men. The term "glass ceiling" is used to describe a perceived barrier to advancement

in employment based on discrimination, especially sex discrimination.

In the United States in 1995, the Glass Ceiling Commission, a government-funded

group, stated: "Over half of all Master’s degrees are now awarded to women, yet

95% of senior-level managers, of the top Fortune 1000 industrial and 500 service

companies are men. Of them, 97% are white." In its report, it

recommended affirmative action, which is the consideration of an employee's gender

and race in hiring and promotion decisions, as a means to end this form of

discrimination.[18] In 2008, women accounted for 51% of all workers in the high-

paying management, professional, and related occupations. They outnumbered men

in such occupations as public relations managers; financial managers; and human

resource managers.[19]

The China's leading headhunter, Chinahr.com, reported in 2007 that the average

salary for white-collar men was 44,000 yuan ($6,441), compared with 28,700 yuan

($4,201) for women.[20]

The PwC research found that among FTSE 350 companies in the United Kingdom in

2002 almost 40% of senior management posts were occupied by women. When that

research was repeated in 2007, the number of senior management posts held by

women had fallen to 22%.[21]

Transgender individuals, both male to female and female to male, often experience

problems which often lead to dismissals, underachievement, difficulty in finding a job,

social isolation, and, occasionally, violent attacks against them. Nevertheless, the

problem of gender discrimination does not stop at trandgender individuals nor with

women. Men are often the victim in certain areas of employment as men begin to

seek work in office and childcare settings traditionally perceived as "women's jobs".

One such situation seems to be evident in a recent case concerning alleged YMCA

discrimination and a Federal Court Case in Texas. The case actually involves

alleged discrimination against both men and blacks in childcare, even when they

pass the same strict background tests and other standards of employment. It is

currently being contended in federal court, as of fall 2009, and sheds light on how a

workplace dominated by a majority (- women in this case) sometimes will seemingly

"justify" whatever they wish to do, regardless of the law. This may be done as an

effort at self-protection, to uphold traditional societal roles, or some other faulty,

unethical or illegal prejudicial reasoning.

Affirmative action also leads to white men being discriminated against for entry level

and blue collar positions. An employer cannot hire a white man with the same "on

paper" qualifications over a woman or minority worker or the employer will face

prosecution

ISL WEEK 9

FORUM:

Chairman:

Assalamualaikum and a very good morning to the members on the floor. Today’s forum as about the short story, “The Third and Final Continent”. First of all, let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Mohamad Azmi Bin Mat Nawi. Without any further delay, allow me to introduce our panel. On my right, handsome in black shirt, Tan Sri Dr. Amos Tan, an English expert in the literature, next to him, Datuk Seri Chang Ji Han, Minister of Education, and on my left, Dato’ Dr. Ikramuddin also expert in English Literature and now still on duty in University of Warwick, United Kingdom.

Straight to my first question, Tan Sri, could you explain to us the main idea or the synopsis of the short story?

Tan Sri Amos:

Thank you Dr. a very good morning to the Mr. chair person, my fellow panels and members on the floor. As Dr. Azmi said earlier, our forum today is about the short story, the Third and Final Continent. “The Third and Final Continent” is written by Jhumpa Lahiri. This story was about the life of a man who left his country and travel to others to make a better life. The narrator left his motherland, India and travelled to England. He faced many new things there and he was able to adapt it and manage to live within the community. A few years passed and then he travelled again to the America. He find himself in the new environment and lifestyle. There he rented a house. He finds that the owner of the house has a weird behavior. She loves to shout. A few months later, his wife Mala ill come to America and stay with him. He taught Mala how to live in foreign land. He also brought Mala to the old woman. Then the woman died. The narrator decided to stay there for good with his wife and their son.

Chairman:

Thank you Tan Sri! Now we move to the next panel, Datuk, can you explain the characters in this short story?

Datuk Seri Chang Ji Han:

Good morning to my friends, thanks also to the Mr. Chairperson. Our topic today is ‘The Third and Final Continent’. There are four characters in this short story. Yes, the characters are the narrator himself, his wife (mala), Mrs. Croft and Helen

(Mrs. Croft Daughter). Yes, that’s right. The main character in the short story is the narrator. He is an Indian. He is from Calcutta, India. He left India in 1964 and lived in London, in Finsbury Park, in a house occupied entirely by penniless Bengali bachelors like himself. He eventually adapts to the British way of life but does not do so alone.

He attends lecture at L.S.E. and works at the university library. On weekend, he fills the day with many sorts of activities

In 1969, he is thirty-six years old, his marriage is arranged by his older brother and his wife. His fate is very nice, at that time, he is offered to work in the processing department of a library at M.I.T. the salary is generous enough to support his wife.

Speaker two : When he has enough money, he moves to Calcutta to attend his marriage and after a week later, he moves to Boston to start his new carrier there.

Chairman:

Thank you Datuk Seri, now i have one last question, what the moral that we can take from this short story? Dr., can you explain that?

Dr. Ikram

From this short story, we can learnt he to live in a foreign country. We need to cope ourself in their culture, or we will look weird. The narrator in this short story learnt through observation. He watched how people did something and he will learnt from it.

Chairman:

Thank you all!! I think we can called it a day! Thanks to the panels and the members on the floor.

ISL WEEK 10

Activity 1:

Read the short story “Two Kinds” from Amy Tan and answer the questions that follows:

1. Who is the main character in the short story?

2. Where did the narrator’s mother come from?

3. Why did the narrator do not agree with her mother to play piano?

4. From your understanding, what kind of person the narrator’s mother is?

5. What do you get from this short story?

Answers:

1. The main character in this short story is Jing Mei Chinese girl who lived in America.

2. Jing Mei’s mother came from China. She came here after she lost everything there. She came to America with a high hopes.

3. Jing Mei argue with her mother about the piano thing as she said that she has no talent at all in piano.

4. From my understanding, Jing Mei’s mother is a demanding mother but loving. She loves to push Jing Mei to do this and that. But she did that her daughter sake.

5. After I read this story, I can conclude that everyone is gifted. One’s just need to discover the talent and develop it. One more thing, all mother wants the best for her kids.

Activity 2:

ACTIVITY 2

Fill in the blanks with the most suitable words. You may refer to “Two Kinds” text.

1. ___1___ forced her to be child prodigy.

2. At first, her mother thought that ___2___ could be a ___3___.

3. The narrator’s mother got the magazines from people whose houses she

___4___.

4. One day, her mother was watching the ___5___on TV and made she wanted

her daughter to try it too.

5. The narrator’s mother asked ___6___to teach the narrator played a piano.

6. Mr. Chong is a retired ___7___.

7. The narrator was very ___8___ and because of that her performance in the

___9___ was a disaster.

8. The narrator had made her parents felt ___12___ with her bad performance.

9. Her mother finally ___11___ with the narrator and never asked the narrator to

become a child prodigy anymore.

10.The narrator always said that she couldn’t be a ___13___ like what her

mother asked.

ashamed

Church hall

Confident Piano teacher

Mr. Chong

Ed Sullivan Show

Chinese Shirley Temple

The narrator

Her mother

Child prodigyGave up

cleaned

ISL WEEK 12:

1) The Kiss by Kate Chopin

Have a little read: ... Ö.Bugra Telemez 20300347 101.38 Tugçe Arikan The Kiss People might appear different than they really are. We have to examine them in different ways. They might mislead us. In the story, "The Kiss", Kate Chopin portrays how deceitful a character could be. She reveals that a person should not be judged only by his or her appearance. In the short story, Kate Chopin tells us a self-seeking story. Nathalie is in love with Harvey and Brantain at the same time. She choose Brantain because he is very rich, and if she marry him she thinks that her live will be better After Nathalie and Brantain's wedding ceremony, Harvy comes and says that Brantain has sent him there to kiss her. She wanted that kiss so her lips looked hungry for the kiss,but suddenly Harvy tells that he've stopped kissing women, and leave the ceremony. After that, Nathalie realize that she can't have everything.

3) Everything’s Arranged by Siew Yue Killingley

As listed down, the texts and the authors name, I think of doing my research paper on short story but not sure yet. I much prefer to do on short stories but dont know whether can find information about the author - Siew Yue Killingley. As I have done analysis on short story "Everythings' Arranged" as for my previous assignment , I think wont have much problem in understand the story to do the research. But anyway I still have to read the other story "A Question of Dowry" to make comparisons. I just thinking of it but not yet decided about it.

4) A&P by John Updike

Critical Reception

"A & P" is one of Updike's most anthologized and most popular stories. While the narrative style of the story has been widely acclaimed, critical opinion is split between those who declare the piece a work of genius and those who find it devoid of profound content. Much critical discussion has focused on the significance of Sammy's actions: while many reviewers interpret his behavior as admirably honest and authentic, some argue that his inappropriate judgement of his town's standards leads to his isolation and loss at the conclusion. Commentators have found possible literary sources for the story in Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," Joyce's "Araby," and Emerson's "Self Reliance."

5) An Ounce Of Cure by Alice Munro

Analysis Of Alice Munro

Alice Munro is a Canadian short story writer. Although she wrote one novel in which was published in 1971 entitled Lives of Girls and Women she prefers to write short stories. In an interview for Canadian Fiction Magazine she was quoted as saying ?I don?t see that people develop and arrive somewhere. I just see people living in flashes. This is why in addition to this one novel, she has had another seven books published and they have all been collections of short stories. Born on July 10, 1931 in Ontario, she had her first short story published in 1950. The majority of her short stories are set in southwestern Ontario. A constant theme Munro focuses on in many of her works of fiction is female protagonists that have problems they must deal with as they are struggling with life discoveries. In reading several of Munro?s works that theme of discovery becomes clear as the plot of those stories develops. In An Ounce of Cure the story begins discussing a young girl. As the story continues to develop we see the young girl discover love in the form of a boy named Martin Collingwood. Unfortunately for the young girl Martin soon breaks up with her and moves on to another girl. 

6) A Worn Path by Eudora Welty

Critical Reception

Critical discussion of "A Worn Path" largely has been concerned with thematic interpretation of the work, particularly the story's racial, mythological, and Christian motifs. Focusing predominantly on the story's Christian motifs, Neil D. Isaacs viewed Phoenix's Christmas journey as a "religious pilgrimage" with an ironic end that suggests "greed, corruption, cynicism." Also emphasizing Christian themes in the work, Sara Treeman pointed to story's theme of self-sacrifice, noting that the worn path "is worn because this is the symbolic journey made by all who are capable of self-sacrifice, of whom Christ is the archetype." The presence of secular mythology in the text has also been the subject of discussion by such critics as Dan Donlan, who perceived the prominence of the Egyptian myth of the Phoenix in the structure and symbolism of the story. Frank Ardolino argued for a conflation of mythological and Christian interpretations of the work, showing how "along with the Christian motifs of rebirth, the cycles of natural imagery presented create the theme of life emerging from death." The racial element of "A Worn Path" has also been a subject of critical discussion. William Jones commented in 1957 that "[t]he main reason that Miss Welty chose a Negro seems to be that only a relatively simple, uncivilized individual is worthy of representing the powerful forces which inspires such love as hers for her grandchild." John R. Cooley, in contrast, argued for a broader social reading of the story, criticizing the sentiment of the work and accusing Welty of failing to "develop her racial portraits with sufficient sensitivity or depth." Nancy K. Butterworth responded to Cooley's assessment and others with the observation that "[s]uch polemical demythologizings conflict with Welty's persistent refusal to use fiction as a platform, particularly for political or sociological issues, as well as her downplaying and even disavowal of racial implications in her stories."

7) B. Wordsworth by V. S. Naipaul

"B. Wordsworth" is a story by V. S. Naipaul (1959), the most widely read and widely honored Caribbean novelist writing in English. The story -narrated by a boy- of a man who 'felt like a poet but could never be one'. The "B" is later revealed to stand for black -and the main character is a kind of tramp in one of the Caribbean islands, who after befriending the narrator tells him that he was writing the world's greatest poem. Now do yourself a favor and read this enjoyable book! Have fun!

8) The Third and Final Continent by Jhumpa Lahiri

“The Third and Final Continent” is not only Jhumpa Lahiri’s attemp at claiming America, but also the American literati’s means of claiming the immigrant writer. The story which was published in 1999 summer fiction issue of the New Yorker, won it in the National Magazine Award for Fiction. Its strength lies in the Bengali man’s recounting of his subtle, emotional relationship with his first American home. While Lahiri admirably depicts how human compassion and caring translate across age, cultural, and language barriers, the writer’s political and aesthetic choices, however influence her appeal (or lack of it) to varied audiences. This story’s positive promise of the easy fulfillment of the American Dream appeals to model minority upper-class South Asian American readers who can identify with the experience, to educated elite South Asians in the native country wishing to emigrate to the USA, and to the American.

9) Two Kinds by Amy Tan

In Amy Tan’s short story Two Kinds, Jing-mei, the American born daughter of Chinese immigrants, tells how her mother relentlessly drove her to become a child prodigy. The fun part of the story is that her mother pushes in all kinds of directions while searching for a natural talent that she seems certain must be lying dormant in her little girl. Although unsuccessful in finding some hidden talent, her mother settles on piano lessons and hopes that perhaps, with practice, the prodigy can come out. Jing-mei rebels against all of her mother’s fussing, not understanding that the hope that she has for her daughter stems from a realization that her own life will never truly be anything grand. When her mother hires a deaf piano teacher to train her, the scene is set for this naughty little girl to fake all of her practice and lessons and waste her time ideally. She feels she has been fortunate in her mother’s blunder; however, when a talent show comes along her instructor and mother sign her up to showcase her burgeoning piano skills for the entire Chinese-American community. Trapped, she goes along with the show, hoping and praying naively that a miracle will deliver magic into her fingers with the pressure of an audience. No magic comes and she completely embarrasses her family. The battle between Jing-mei and her mother’s expectations rages on after this recital, coming to a verbal battle in which Jing-mei devastates her mother’s heart by saying—completely out of frustration and embarrassment—that she wishes she was not her daughter. With this blow, the mother closes the lid to the piano, stops the lessons, and admits that her daughter could be a failure. This is a hollow victory of course for the main character. As the short story ends, we see the girl returning, now thirty, and having the piano serviced. Her mother has passed away and she has decided to keep the piano as a memento of her mother’s hopes for her. This short story is taken from Amy Tan’s critically acclaimed novel The Joy Luck Club.

ISL WEEK 13:

Just Whistle by Frank L. Stanton

When times are bad an' folks are sadAn' gloomy day by day,Jest try your best at lookin' gladAn' whistle 'em away.

Don't mind how troubles bristle,Jest take a rose or thistle.Hold your ownAn' change your toneAn' whistle, whistle, whistle!

A song is worth a world o' sighs.When red the lightnings play,Look for the rainbow in the skiesAn' whistle 'em away.

Don't mind how troubles bristle,The rose comes with the thistle.Hold your ownAn' change your toneAn' whistle, whistle, whistle!

Each day comes with a life that's new,A strange, continued storyBut still beneath a bend o' blueThe world rolls on to glory.

Don't mind how troubles bristle,Jest take a rose or thistle.Hold your ownAn' change your toneAn' whistle, whistle, whistle!

by Rudyard Kipling

The central idea of this poem is that success comes from self-control and a true sense of the values of things. In extremes lies danger. A man must not lose heart because of doubts or opposition, yet he must do his best to see the grounds for both. He must not be deceived into thinking either triumph or disaster final; he must use each wisely--and push on. In all things he must hold to the golden mean. If he does, he will own the world, and even better, for his personal reward he will attain the full stature of manhood.

If

If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you,If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or being hated don't give way to hating,And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,If you can meet with Triumph and DisasterAnd treat those two imposters just the same;If you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenTwisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winningsAnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breathe a word about your loss;If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there is nothing in youExcept the Will which says to them; "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,If all men count with you, but none too much;If you can fill the unforgiving minuteWith sixty seconds' worth of distance run,Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

ISL WEEK 14:

Poems by Emily Dickinson:

I felt a funeral in my brain, And mourners, to and fro,Kept treading, treading, till it seemed That sense was breaking through.

And when they all were seated, A service like a drum Kept beating, beating, till I thought My mind was going numb

And then I heard them lift a box, And creak across my soulWith those same boots of lead, again. Then space began to toll

As all the heavens were a bell, And being, but an ear,And I and Silence some strange Race Wrecked, solitary, here.

Death Sets a Thing SignificantEmily Dickinson

Death sets a thing significantThe eye had hurried by,Except a perished creatureEntreat us tenderly

To ponder little workmanshipsIn crayon or in wool,With "This was last her fingers did,"Industrious until

The thimble weighed too heavy,The stitches stopped themselves,And then 't was put among the dustUpon the closet shelves.

A book I have, a friend gave,Whose pencil, here and there,Had notched the place that pleased him,--At rest his fingers are.

Now, when I read, I read not,For interrupting tearsObliterate the etchingsToo costly for repairs.

ISL WEEK 15:

Prepare a forum in groups based on the short story Sadie and Maud.

Assalamualaikum and a very good morning to all members on the floor. Thank to

god for his bless and will we are able to gather up here for a forum based on the

short story Sadie and Maud. My name is Dr. Mohamad Azmi bin Mat Nawi will be the

speaker for today. Now, allow me to introduce our most intelligent list of panels. On

my right, Dr. Chang Ji Han a laureate, next to him, Professor Dr. Ikram an English

Language expert, and on my left, Dr. Amos Tan, also an English language expert.

Straight to my first question, Dr. Chang, what do you think about this poem?

Dr. Chang Ji Han:

Thank you to Mr. Chairman, and a very good morning to the members on the floor.

For me, this poem has brought a deep meaning to me as a laureate. This poem was

so amazing. It is about life. There are two sisters, Sadie and Maud. Sadie went to the

collage to get the knowledge. She wanted to have a better future and a happier live.

She thought that education can give her happiness the she desired. Meanwhile,

Maud stayed at home. She refused to further her studies. She then had two wedlock.

Her parents were so shamed. But Maud was happy with her life. She is happy with

her kids. However Sadie had a unhappy life. She did not found happiness even she

had a proper education.

Mr. Chairman:

Thank you Dr. Chang. From what you said, can I say that education is not important

in life? This is because Maud was happy even she was not educated? Can you

respond about this Prof.?

Professor Amos:

Thank you to Mr. Chairperson, a very good morning to members on the floor.

Straight to the question, you cannot say that we did not need education! Yes! Even

without education we can feel the happiness. But, if we have education, the

happiness became more beautiful and meaningful. Related to this poem, we can

make assumption that Saddie were too busy with her study and she did not have

time to went into love. As the time passed, she became too old for love. Then she

was lonely. While Maud had plenty of time to do so. Therefore, ones need to use the

time equally between study and enjoying the life. But once again, I said that

education is important.

Mr. Chairman:

Sorry for my previous question. Next I would like to ask Dr. Ikram. Dr, after you went

through this poem, what you can get from it? I mean the moral values and lesson.

Dr. Ikram:

Thank you to Mr. Chairperson, a very good morning to members on the floor. From

this poem, I learnt that one’s do not need to pretend to be someone else just to make

other person happy or proud, but we our self were hurt. Same as Maud. She

refused to go to the college like everyone. But she was happy with her life. Apart

from that, one’s need to be responsible for what he or her done. As Maud had a

wedlock, she did not abort the babies, but she took care of them on their own.

Mr. Chairman:

Thank you to all the panels. I hope we can meet again soon. That’s all for today.

Thanks to the audiences for giving the support and came here tonight. Bye.

ISL WEEK 16:

FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY

Democracy as a political system is attractive to many--if not most--people around the globe. It can be

said that "nobody likes to be imprisoned, tortured, or killed, and that everybody tries to escape when

confronted with harm." Citizens in Western countries remain fundamentally free from arbitrary and

random state repression, enjoying rights not shared by people under authoritarian regimes that often

do not respect even fundamental human rights. These political and civil rights should be not

understood as Western or non-Western but rather as universal rights entitling individuals to shape

their own future and be protected from abusive government.

However, in many parts of the world, countries were and some are still struggling for democracies.

The existence of civil society is correlated with democracy. The expression "civil society" is used

today to indicate how private clubs, organizations, and groups act as a buffer between state power

and the citizen's life. But in the absence of organized and vibrant agents of civil society such as labor

unions and professional associations, society remains susceptible to the authoritarian whims of the

ruling elite. Therefore, the emergence and effectiveness of civil society is undermined where society

itself is underdeveloped or where the state, through its control of resources, remains overwhelmingly

dominant.

Take Iran for example. The creation of an Islamic republic was beset with difficulties from the start.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini aimed to replace a tyrannical leader with a just, popular rule under the

tenets of Islam. The challenge to the Islamic republic has been how to establish popular sovereignty

under clerical rule and preserve a government with a divine mission whose real secular task was to

run a modern state in a Western-dominated capitalist world. The ideological splits that have emerged,

as well as the state's persistent economic problems, have raised doubts about the 'ulama's ability or

even legitimacy to direct state affairs. Consequently, Iran has so far oscillated among democratic

tendencies, autocratic control, and occasional repression.

Taking a closer example into sight, in mid-September 2007, tens of thousands of monks spearheaded

peaceful demonstrations throughout Burma. The demonstrations, known as Saffron Revolution, were

the largest scale since the 8888 Uprising in 1988. Between 19 August and 2 October, over 200 pro-

democracy protests that took place in 66 cities across Burma were documented. The Asian Center for

the Progress of Peoples (ACPP) mentioned that they will not forget the efforts of the courageous

people in Burma who are resisting the military regime to call for democracy. This is a plead for

democracy to take place in their country. 

In Nepal, on August 19th the Nepalese government arrested some 3000 political activists including

the parliamentary representatives and national leaderships of the major opposition parties and the

head of the student's federation and the women’s movement.The mass arrests follow the King's

unconstitutional dissolution of Parliament on July 10 and the formation, by the sacked Prime Minister,

of an interim council of ministers. Tens of thousands of people took part in the third general strike to

sweep the country since then. Activists fear that the move signals a return to a form of one-party rule

similar to the Panchayat system imposed by the King of Nepal in 1960. Under Panchayat all

opposition parties were banned and the Parliament was dissolved. This case is just another act of in

desperate need for democracy in the country. 

Democratic values and institutions did not arise as a direct contradiction of authoritarian forms of

governance. Rather they emerged by a gradual change in the principles that governed the distribution

of power in society. An oligarchy of military strength, divine right, aristocratic lineage and land

gradually gave way to an oligopoly of wealthy merchants. The parliaments of the first stage were

congresses of feudal lords. The parliaments of the second were assemblies of rich traders. The idea

of universe human rights and freedoms which we now identify as the essence of democracy was at

first cited as a justification for redistribution of power to the commercial class and only much later as a

principle for extending rights and privileges to all citizens. This shift continues today in countries

around the world and may not yet have reached its acme in any country.

ISL WEEK 17:

Poems - Do Not Give Up 

I do not give up, I never give up, For there is nothing In this entire world That is irrevocably unchangeable. 

O my aspiration-heart, Where are you? Have you forgotten God's own transcendental Motto: "Never give up"? Therefore, never give up on me, Never give up on yourself, And specially Never give up on my stupid mind, For it needs God-illumination With your and my help. 

My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme! I shall never give up, I shall never give up! I must continue, I must continue! I know my Goal is ahead, And I am destined to reach my Goal. My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!

Never give up, never give up! Even if you lose your way A great many times, You must realise that your destination Is sleeplessly expecting your arrival

God's philosophy Is simpler than the simplest: "Never give up, never give up!"

God's Motto: Never give up, Never give up! Man's motto: Alas, I do not know When I should start!

Never give up, Never give up Your self-transcendence And God-satisfaction-goal!

My mind's teeming defects Are unending. Yet I shall never give up My life's perfection-dream.

God is never tired of Giving the same message Over and over again to humanity: Never give up!

 

Poems by Sri Chinmoy

 

hope

  I hope that you well get byI hope that you well love meI hope that you well care for meI hope that you and I are happyI hope that the day well came when we meetI hope that you like what you seeI hope that you well love me I hope that you and I well always be happy I hope that I well not make you cry I hope that we will last for life I hope that love is what we will see in one otherI hope that you well never live me I hope I hope I hope this well came trueI hopeI hopeI can only hope 

Bradley Stewart 

ISL WEEK 18:

Choose an individual that may influence you.

If I get to choose an individual that may influence me, that will be my father. He was, is and will always be the greatest influence in my life, after God and His Messenger. My father, whom I respectfully call ‘Abah, had always have a very peaceful and calm sense about him in the way that he strode and take on life, one step at a time.

Abah never raised a hand in educating his children (well he raised once but it never it hit me – it was only because I was almost got myself killed). He believed that his children are specimens of well-nurtured and educated human beings thus there was never a need to use rough approach in raising us and I believed that has done us good. Truth to be told, if people are judging from his appearance the they would not have guess that he is actually much softer with us than our mother. Since my father is already the one that gives much more freedom for us to make our choices in life, then my mother had to be more stern and protective. In some way, his ‘rule’ had influence a part of me. I grew up to be a carefree person and if I become a leader, I am more of a guide than a director which I suspect made me wanted to be a teacher.

When I got in science stream when I was in Form Four, both my parents were extremely happy because I know deep inside they wanted me to pursue in science. But my interest laid in some other field. In Form Five, I confronted my father and told him I wanted to do a degree in education, specifically in English (TESL). At first he was not happy with my decision but after a length of explanation, he accepted my decision with an open heart. He makes a good leader because he listens and analyzed before he makes any decision. I have always tried to instill that trait into me.

ISL WEEK 19:

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud – William WordsworthI wandered lonely as a cloudThat floats on high o'er vales and hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,A host, of golden daffodils;Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.Continuous as the stars that shineAnd twinkle on the milky way,They stretched in never-ending lineAlong the margin of a bay:Ten thousand saw I at a glance,Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.The waves beside them danced; but theyOut-did the sparkling waves in glee:A poet could not but be gay,In such a jocund company:I gazed---and gazed---but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought:For oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.

Detachment - Robert William ServiceAs I go forth from fair to martWith racket ringing,Who would divine that in my heartMad larks are singing.As I sweet sympathy express,Lest I should pain them,The money-mongers cannot guessHow I disdain them.

As I sit at some silly teaAnd flirt and flatterHow I abhor societyAnd female chatter.As I with wonderment surveyTheir peacock dresses,My mind is wafted far awayTo wildernesses.

As I sit in some raucous pub,Taboo to women,And treat myself to greasy grubI feel quite human.Yet there I dream, despite the din,Of God's green spaces,And sweetly dwell the peace withinOf sylvan graces.

And so I wear my daily maskOf pleasant seeming,And nobody takes me to taskFor distant dreaming;A happy hypocrite am IOf ambiance inner,Who smiling make the same replyTo saint and sinner.

Both poems have similar theme; detachment. In I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud, Wordsworth portrayed the feeling of ‘detachment’ by the persona being a ‘cloud’. Cloud, being an unstable element in both shape and size, are absolutely alone while looking at everyone else in a solitude perspective. In Detachment by Robert William Service, the persona was walking and observing people without involving himself/herself into the scene. This act shows the detachment the persona was experiencing and it was altogether a bad thing. It gives a sense of watching the reality from a television screen of some sort.

Wordsworth and Service did not use heavy words or complexly woven sentences in the stanzas and they are generally easy to be understood as many sentences are straight-forward for the readers to grab the meaning. Both poems are using simple an plain English with a few twists and turns to make the reading much more interesting.