March 28th, 2010
Moving, but not religious Easter story
The story of little Hoppi trying to decide what type of egg to make is very sweet and full of good messages. Hoppi first thinks he will copy one of the types of eggs being made by the other bunnies but then decides that he needs to make an “egg that is right for me”. As he thinks about what to do he realizes he doesn’t have to win the contest and that he just wants “to make an egg I am proud of.” Then he selflessly sits on the mother robin’s dropped but unbroken egg so that she can sit on the two that remain in her nest. This book is filled with messages that I am happy to share with my preschooler. It does not contain any explicit references to anything religious surrounding Easter so if you want that you should look for another book. The illustrations are up to Jan Brett’s amazing, detailed, beautiful standards. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Egg, The Easter
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March 28th, 2010
By: Jasmine Elnadeem
After the tragic murder of Dr. Marwa el-Sherbini, the majority of Egyptian newspapers had given broad coverage to her death, describing the veiled woman as a “martyr” and suggesting that the killer was motivated by a hatred of Islam.
I saw also that it has been too long since Egyptian bloggers came together under the same banner, but that crime was a good reason for them to unite again, condemning international media for ignoring such incidents against Muslims in the West
People also used Twitter, the blogs, Facebook and Youtube to spread this news and expressed their thoughts about what happened.
So we saw a Facebook group called “Marwa Al-Sherbini, we will always remember you”, which drew an astonishing 1,403 members within hours.
The majority of comments stated that Marwa el-Sherbini was the latest victim of fanaticism, hatred and Islamophobia in Europe.
It is very easy to understand the anger that the murder of Marwa el-Sherbini in Germany has provoked in Egypt, but there were some questions in my mind, which I didn’t have an answer too:
Is Islamophobia in Europe leading to another holocaust?
Can “the clash of civilizations” be avoided if we realize that intercultural dialogue and mutual respect is the only way forward?
Is there any inherent tension between the secular-liberal order of “modern” Europe and the more “traditional” model of society associated with (Muslim) migrants? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: in Europe Leading, Is Islamophobia, to Another Holocaust?
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March 28th, 2010
You won’t be able to put it down
A sophisticated literary thriller that grips you from the first moment and on many levels. From the point of view of the writing, it is exquisite. The author has an unusual gift for using the cadence and flow of ordinary language, endowing it with an almost musical subtlety and nuance, then using it to communicate extraordinary ideas. She paints word images that transport you to places to which you might never have been but which suddenly feel familiar; and she makes you tap into feelings, tensions, fears, and emotions you didn’t know you carried inside. It is incredible to me that this is her first novel.
The story is engaging, fast-paced, and original. The characters are intriguing, believable, and of increasing complexity as the story develops. The settings and time periods range from Paris in the 1940’s, to the mountains of Bulgaria, to modern-day New York. Whether in a convent or a cave; whether seeing events through the eyes of a bewildered little girl or a prideful centuries-old Nephilim–you feel you are there and it feels real. The conversations and interactions feel real; the human (and part-human) frailties seem real; the events and sequence seem real; the circumstances–strange as they are–seem, at least, plausible. The story starts gently, but with a foreshadowing that this warmth and peace won’t last, and it builds exquisitely in crescendo and intricacy until you feel the fascinating tension of total involvement. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Angelology
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March 28th, 2010
“The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life,” by Fr. James Martin
St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus (aka the Jesuits), was known for his practical spirituality. The “way of Ignatius” has helped millions of people—from the doubtful seeker to the devout believer—find freedom, make friends, live simply, work sensibly, fall in love, experience joy, and enter into a relationship with God.
The Ignatian goal of “finding God in all things” eans that every part of our lives can lead us to God. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything shows us how this is possible, with user-friendly examples, humorous stories and anecdotes from the heroic and inspiring lives of Jesuit saints and average priests and brothers, as well as examples from Martin’s twenty years as a Jesuit. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: (Almost) Everything, Guide to, The Jesuit
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