Grade 4 and 5 students in North Bay ontario were asked to respond to the question, What does poverty mean? Following are their responses.
Poverty is...
Not being able to go to McDonald's.
Getting a basket from the Santa Fund.
Feeling ashamed when my dad can't get a job.
Not buying books at the book fair.
Not getting to go to birthday parties.
Hearing my mom and dad fight over money.
Not ever getting a pet because it costs too much.
Wishing you had a nice house.
Not being able to go camping.
Not being able to have your friends sleep over.
Pretending you forgot your lunch.
Being afraid to tell your mom that you need gym shoes.
Not having breakfast sometimes.
Not being able to play hockey.
Sometimes really hard because my mom gets scared and she cries.
Not being able to go to Cubs or play soccer.
Not being able to take swimming lessons.
Not being able to afford a holiday.
Not having pretty barettes for your hair.
Not having your own private backyard.
Being teased for the way you are dressed.
Not getting to go on school trips.
-Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition, 1998.
Quoted in "Sociology in Our Times" (Sociology 100 textbook)
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Reaper
Most of us are totally unable to see what is beyond the near and the close. The temporal surrounds us and blinds us. Why is it that we are capable of thinking about the world in such abstract and beautiful ways but we are still unable to do what we really need to do?
I think there was a study done on children and cookies: Children were put in a room and given a single cookie. They were told that if they didn't eat the cookie, after one hour they would be given two cookies. Surprisingly, most of the children ate the single cookie. Those that were able to wait were followed up many years later and were found to be highly successful people (if you define "success" to be fame and fortune).
If you forget everything, but remember this...then you have remembered.
I think there was a study done on children and cookies: Children were put in a room and given a single cookie. They were told that if they didn't eat the cookie, after one hour they would be given two cookies. Surprisingly, most of the children ate the single cookie. Those that were able to wait were followed up many years later and were found to be highly successful people (if you define "success" to be fame and fortune).
If you forget everything, but remember this...then you have remembered.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Streams to the Ocean
Do all paths lead to the same source? Or do all paths come to the same source, with only some finding their way back?
I'll just have to find out.
I'll just have to find out.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Muslim Scientist
Sometimes I think being a Muslim in Sciences (The faculty) is wonderful. Every subject that we study provides more food for wonder at the cosmos.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
That's what I feel. But other times I feel that this is too simplistic of an approach. We don't always consider the possible meaning or consequences of what a simple "scientific" theory are in terms of how it influences the way we think and deal with the world.
And for all the science dogmatists in the world, by definition scientific fact has no permanence. It only takes one conclusive test to prove that an idea is wrong, while in contrast, no scientific theory can ever be proven. This is both the strength and weakness of science.
The trouble is, how can you believe in something that has no permanence? In reality, people (like the person who once took us on a hike in Jasper) who "believe" in science simply believe in their own dogmatic assumptions.
Pray for the Cnidarian-only two germ layers, sessile, and can only hope that some bit of goodness will float along.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
That's what I feel. But other times I feel that this is too simplistic of an approach. We don't always consider the possible meaning or consequences of what a simple "scientific" theory are in terms of how it influences the way we think and deal with the world.
And for all the science dogmatists in the world, by definition scientific fact has no permanence. It only takes one conclusive test to prove that an idea is wrong, while in contrast, no scientific theory can ever be proven. This is both the strength and weakness of science.
The trouble is, how can you believe in something that has no permanence? In reality, people (like the person who once took us on a hike in Jasper) who "believe" in science simply believe in their own dogmatic assumptions.
Pray for the Cnidarian-only two germ layers, sessile, and can only hope that some bit of goodness will float along.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Beginnings
What burns me is from me.
The past/current fashion on blogs is to write elliptically, mysteriously and cleverly. This forces the reader to attempt to read between the lines Eg. Why is the name of the blog "Broccoli Sprouts"? What is the metaphorical meaning of this highly superlative name.
Yeah, well that's not my talent. I guess all I can do is relate what has happened to me, and what I can see from it. I hate self-deprecation as well, as all it indicates is a more subtle form of arrogance. So I won't do it. As Sherlock Holmes would say, "I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues. To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one's self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one's own powers."
One thing I shouldn't be underestimate is my revision for final exams. Somehow this semester I haven't really gotten into full swing-(or maybe I always feel like that, and I never really have gotten into full swing?) but partly this is due to the fact that my time is frittered away on inanities.
Someday, I will transform lead into gold.
The past/current fashion on blogs is to write elliptically, mysteriously and cleverly. This forces the reader to attempt to read between the lines Eg. Why is the name of the blog "Broccoli Sprouts"? What is the metaphorical meaning of this highly superlative name.
Yeah, well that's not my talent. I guess all I can do is relate what has happened to me, and what I can see from it. I hate self-deprecation as well, as all it indicates is a more subtle form of arrogance. So I won't do it. As Sherlock Holmes would say, "I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues. To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one's self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one's own powers."
One thing I shouldn't be underestimate is my revision for final exams. Somehow this semester I haven't really gotten into full swing-(or maybe I always feel like that, and I never really have gotten into full swing?) but partly this is due to the fact that my time is frittered away on inanities.
Someday, I will transform lead into gold.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Ramadan Karim...belated
"Has not the time yet come for those who believe that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth?"
-Surah Hadeed (Ayah 16)
-Surah Hadeed (Ayah 16)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
