Tuesday, September 30, 2008

TIME

I thought that time was healing
All the hurt you left behind
That empty spaces could be filled
My arms, my heart, my mind
And though my body looks the same
As it did when you were here
The emptiness is growing
Even bigger with each year
I thought that time was healing
All the agonising pain
That as the tears were fading
Soon I wouldn't feel the same
And though I can be smiling
And you think that I'll survive
The pain is in my blood now
I have nowhere else to hide
I thought that time was healing
All the loss a mother feels
That now you live within my heart
I had you near me still
But I need so much to touch you
To see you smile again
And those memories I'm told are mine
Can never feel the same
I thought that time was healing
All the while the mask was worn
That underneath a new me
Was waiting to be born
But now I find I am the mask
It helps to keep me safe
And though my heart is breaking
You won't see it in my face
I thought that time was healing
All those tears my eyes have seen
That aching arms that miss you
Could be satisfied with dreams
But here I am, in pain again
And healing stands alone
And mother weeps, the world can see
For a son who can't come home
by Sue White

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

Quote Analysis

The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown
“Since then, he’d suffered a haunting phobia of enclosed spaces – elevators, subways, squash courts. The elevator is a perfectly safe machine, Langdon continually told himself, never believing it. It’s a tiny metal box hanging in an enclosed shaft! Holding his breath, he stepped into to the lift, feeling the familiar tingle of adrenaline as the doors slid shut” (43-44).

Robert Langdon, a Harvard Professor, said this when he was entering an elevator at the Louvre Art Gallery in Paris, after being summoned by the captain of the French police force, Bezu Fache. Jacques Sauniere, an important French figure, was murdered earlier that evening in the Louvre, and arranged his body in a very bizarre way, Langdon thought he was summoned as a witness, but in fact he was a suspect. This quote is somewhat ironic, because it implies that Langdon is a cowardly man who doesn’t take risks, but throughout the entirety of the novel he is constantly taking risks; he is running from the police, etc. This just goes to reveal that Langdon is cowardly when it comes to matters that he feels he has no control over. He can’t control the motion of the elevator shaft, but he can control his own actions, that is why he wasn’t cowardly when he ran away from the police numerous times. He decided to run away, he could stop running if he wanted to, he had complete control over himself. But with matters such as in the quote above, he was cowardly. Even when Langdon was at gunpoint, he was less cowardly than when it came to the elevator shaft, because Langdon possessed the power to knock the gun out of the holder’s hand. As I mentioned before, Langdon was a risk taker, but only with matters in which he had control over, “...He felt the familiar twinge of adrenaline”. The theme introduced is the absurdity of life; people seem to fear the things that are the least fearful. Robert Langdon, a well known man, who takes numerous risks throughout the novel, is scared of an elevator shaft. That makes Langdon sound ridiculous and absurd. He should fear for his life, or a prison sentence, not an elevator shaft. Also, a man Langdon was supposed to meet up with was brutally murdered, and all he could seem to think about, was the elevator shaft. This novel is about overcoming your fears for your sake, and for others, because sometimes your fears not only affect yourself, but they affect others as well. Langdon’s phobia of elevators seems harmless, but what if he had to ride an elevator in order to save someone’s life? To do something with fear is better than not doing it and regretting it for the rest of your life.

Samar Al Ansari
Grade 10.3
June, 12,’04

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

أكثروا الدعاء

في كل صلاة، اذكرونا أيها الأعزاء
وأكثروا لابنتي حبيبة قلبي سمر الدعاء
التي أثنى عليها الجميع ثناء ما بعده ثناء
اطلبوا لها الرحمة والمغفرة أيها الأحباء
واشملونا جميعا واحدا واحدا بلا استثناء
ومزيدا من الصبر لنا، أكثروا بالرجاء
والاستمرار على تحمل ألم الفراق والشقاء
حتى يأتي اليوم الموعود، يوم اللقاء
ولا تنسوا أن تدعو لي بأن استمر بالعطاء
بقصائدي التي أنعم الله بها علي بسخاء
فرب العالمين يسمع كل ابتهال ونداء
صدقوني فدعاءكم لن يذهب عند الله هباء
©رنده ربحي حماده
(أم سمر)
جميع الحقوق محفوظة للمؤلفة 2008

Sunday, September 21, 2008

IKNS Days

Men Do Cry

I heard quite often "men don't cry"
though no one ever told me why
So when I fell and skinned a knee,
no one came by to comfort me.
And when some bully-boy at school
would pull a prank so mean and cruel
I'd quickly learn to turn and quip,
"It doesn't hurt," and bite my lip.
So as I grew to reasoned years,
I learned to stifle my tears.
Though "Be a big boy" it began,
quite soon I learned to "Be a man.
"And I could play that stoic role
while storm and tempest wracked my soul.
No pain or setback could there be
could wrest one single tear from me.
Then one long night I stood nearby
and helplessly watched my son die.
And quickly found, to my surprise,
that all that tearless talk was lies.
And still I cry, and have no shame,
I can not play that "big boy" game.
And openly, without remorse,
I let my sorrow take its course.
So those of you who can't abide
a man you've seen who's often cried,
reach out to him with all your heart
as one whose life's been torn apart.
For men do cry when they can see
their loss of immortality.
And tears will come in endless streams
when mindless fate destroys their dreams
By Ken Falk

Friday, September 19, 2008

Animal Farm’s Mood

Animal Farm by George Orwell, a book about an animal led revolution against humans, has a basically depressing, dark mood. Orwell’s main purpose was to warn the readers of the ideals off the society in which we live in today. He achieved this by criticizing communism and showing that it doesn’t work. In this book, he focuses on the negative effects of revolution, and is critical of communism. He does this by creating a depressing mood in order to lure the reader to his side and warn him of the dangers of the society in which we live in. He establishes this dark mood through setting, vivid descriptions, and the fear factor. The setting of the story is in a farm, that is somewhat isolated from the rest of civilization, which creates a rather eerie, depressing mood. The following quote exhibits a description of the weather portraying a rather gloomy mood: “It was a bitter winter. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow, and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February.” Orwell uses the fear factor to display the mood, for he is constantly talking about the gruesome punishments received by traitors, etc. The diction of Animal Farm is rather political, for Orwell uses words such as “comrades” and “commandments”. He does this in order to fulfill his purpose, which is to criticize as well as well as warn the readers of the negative effects of communism.
Samar Al Ansari
Grade 10.3
Feb. 10.’04

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Extracts from the Prophet

Let not the waves of the sea seperate us now, and the years you have spent in our midst become a memory.
You have walked among us a spirit,and your shadow has been a light upon our faces.
Much have we loved you. But speechless was our love,and with veils has it been veiled.
Yet now it cries aloud unto you, and would stand revealed before you.
And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of seperation.

Khalil Gibran
The Prophet

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Assess the reasons for and consequences of the Cultural Revolution in China

In order for China to exist as a pure Communist Republic, Mao Zedong felt it was necessary to rid China of all capitalist aspects. Between 1962 and 1966, Communist Party members argued over which path to follow, Mao’s extreme leftist path, or Liu Shaoqi’s center path. Shaoqi, leader of the moderates, believed that including elements of capitalism such as incentive schemes for the peasants would help China prosper. Mao condemned the moderates, and believed they were making people forget the original aims of the Communist Party. Mao wanted to set China back on the Communist path, and order to do so he decided to rid China of all things capitalist. Thus he launched a Socialist Education Movement, followed by the ‘four clean-ups campaign’, and finally the Cultural Revolution of 1966.

In 1965, every member of the PLA was given “The Little Red Book”, a newly published book that contained quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong. This book was used to get the support of the PLA members, because without the army’s support, Mao would not have a significant degree of power. After achieving this level of support, Mao was ready to launch a super campaign against capitalists and reactionaries known as “The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” of 1966.

The Cultural Revolution started off among school children and students in Beijing. The students formed into military groups known as Red Guards, who became the major force of the Cultural Revolution. At the same time, schools were temporarily shut down because the curriculum was being re-written in order to promote communist ideals. The Red Guards had plenty of time to dedicate to the revolution and their first aim was to rid Chinese schools and colleges of capitalist and bourgeois influences. They also launched the four clean up campaigns in which they wanted to rid China of old culture, old customs, old ideas, and old habits. Their methods to achieve their aims began to become more violent, and finally ran wild as a result of the unconditional support of the PLA and police.

The Cultural Revolution finally ended in, but at a significant cost to China. The absolute freedom the Red Guards experienced led to the deaths of about 40,000 people. Thousands more were humiliated, tortured, imprisoned, and physically abused. In order to restore China, Mao reopened schools and colleges. Some Red Guards did not want to return and used violence in area, so the PLA stepped into disarm them. Mao encouraged many Red Guards to go down to the country in order to continue their education, but it was too late, the damage was done. Young people had missed so much of their education to the extent that it was estimated that by 1981, 120 million people below the age of 45 were illiterate. In addition, industrial output fell dramatically.

Even though order was restored in 1969, its social and economic costs can not be ignored. This marked the second ‘chaotic’ period under Mao’s rule. Nonetheless, Mao was able to successfully rid himself of the threat of competition, by eliminating the moderates from the party.
Samar Al Ansari 12 IB
Oct. 8, ‘05

Sunday, September 14, 2008

الشهر الفضيل

الشهر الفضيل أتى................... ولم يجدك
رمضان ..........أكثر من باقي الأشهر يفتقدك
بالأمس كنت تنتظرينه.......واليوم هو ينتظرك
ثالث مرة رمضان يأتي......... يبحث ويترقبك
سجادة صلاتك..................تحن إلى ركعتك
والقرآن الكريم................مشتاق إلى تلاوتك
والمسجد................ يتمنى أن تطلي بعباءتك
ومائدة الطعام حزينة .....................تذكرك
كرسيك الخالي........... يئن .......... ويعاتبك
أكلاتك الرمضانية............تحاسبني وتحاسبك
كيف أعدها ؟ ..........وأنت لا تطلبينها كعادتك
أين فنجانك الشاي؟ ..................أين قهوتك؟
سمر!................ تجمعنا بعد الإفطار ينقصك
أينك يا ابنتي ؟.........وأين البهجة في جلستك ؟
أينك ؟..............وأين بقدوم رمضان فرحتك؟

©رنده ربحي حماده
(أم سمر)
جميع الحقوق محفوظة للمؤلفة 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

A Quote

The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears....

Laurel Burch

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

رسالة الى أمي

سمر الأنصاري
الصف الثالث الإبتدائي

Monday, September 08, 2008

في ذكرى سمر

الأخت العزيزة الدكتورة رندة
....في ذكرى سمر
.....قرأت و أقرأ ما تكتبين عنها.. و لها
...أقرأ الحزن و اللوعة على فقدانها ... و لا ألومك
...أقدر ماتعانين ولا أدعي أني أحس بما تحسين... فلا يوجد من يشعر مثلك إلا من فقد ابنا أو بنتا كما فقدت
...أرى الصخرة الجاثمة على صدرك و أنت تتكلمين و تمشين و تعملين و تقومين بكل ما يقوم به الآخرين
....و لكن الصخرة باقية
"ولأكون أكثر دقة ... أراك تحتضنين هذه الصخرة الثقيلة المتعبة... لأنها... تحمل اسم من تحبين "سمر
...رحم الله سمر و أسكنها فسيح جناته

أخوك و تلميذك
عادل الصياد

Saturday, September 06, 2008

زينات المنصوري كتبت

....عامان مرا كأنهما الدهر
....عامان مرا كأنهما الأمس
....أشعر يا رنده بك وبأيامك كيف تمر
....أشعر يا رنده بك و كيف يتم حساب الوقت لديك
.... هو طرفة عين تارة ، فحبيبة قلبك ما زالت تسكنه
.... هو دهر تارة أخرى ، فالشوق أخذ لحبيبة قلبك ما أخذ
،الكلمات التالية كتبتها في ذكرى السنة الأولى لسمر

،حبيبتي سمر

لا أعلم لم يتحرك القلم في يدي الآن، ولا أعلم ماذا أريد أن أكتب لك، والى أين ستقدني مشاعري التي تركت لها أن تأسر يداي وتسيطر على ما تخطه من كلمات .... لا أعلم لم أريد أن أكتب لك أنت بالذات يا صغيرتي الحبيبة في هذا الوقت رغم أنني كنت طوال عام رحيلك أتحدث إليك شفاهة ولم أجرؤ على مسك القلم لأحرر حديثي لك

هل أريد أن أحكي لك عن أ مر رأته عيناي منذ عام وما زالت تراه نفسي حتى الآن؟ هل أريد أن أسمعك كلمات سمعتها أذناي في ذلك اليوم و ما زالت تسمعها نفسي حتى الآن؟ هل أريد حقا ذلك ونفسي تحدثني بأنك في مكانك الجديد ترين وتعلمين أكثر مما أرى وأعلم .... وأن حدودك هناك أوسع من حدود عالمنا المحدود

لا أدري ....صدقيني يا حبيبتي .... لربما أريد بذلك أن أتواصل معك، وأن أقول لأمك شيئا ما.... أو لربما أريد بذلك أن يخرج شيء من داخلي ويجد مكان له عندك.... وقد أريد أن يعلم بذلك الجميع كيف يترجل الحزن ويصمت خجلا أمام أم تحاول أن تودع صغيرتها وهي ترحل عنها وتسبقها إلى عالم نعلم أنه موجود إلا أنه مجهول

يا الهي كيف لأم ملتاعة وثكلى أن تحمل قلبها بيدها وتعصره لتسكن الحزن و ألمه.... وهي بذلك لا تريد له أن يعصرها وتنسى أنها أمام ساعات محدودة ترى فيها وجه صغيرتها الجميل .... هكذا كانت أمك يا سمر وأنت أمامها ملفوفة كالعروس بالبياض وتفوح منك رائحة العنبر الممزوج بعطرك الفرنسي الذي تحبينه.... لم تترك أمك فرصة للحزن أن يأخذ منها لحظات وداعك....عندما قررت الذهاب إليك حيث كنت ترتاحين قبل رحيلك الأخير فلم تنسى أن تأخذ عطرك معها...."سمر تحب كل ما هو جميل"....هذا ما قالته أمك لنا

هذه أنت يا سمر.... وهذه أمك تحدثك وتناجيك.... تقول لك عما تشعر به اتجاهك....تحاول بكل ما تملك من قوة أن تقودك إلى مكانك الجديد.... لقد كانت معك في أول سفرة وفي كل شئ....فهل تترك لحزنها على فراقك أن لا تكون معك في رحيلك الأخير؟

كانت لها تجاربها السابقة في كل ما مررت به.... وتحدثك بتجارب الأم المتمكنة، فأنت آخر العنقود.... ولكن في رحيلك الأخير و المفاجئ...لم تكن تعلم من الأمر شئ....إلا أنها لم تترك للحزن أن يأخذ ما يمكن لها أن تشاركك فيه
ها هي تقرأ لك القرآن وتدعو لك....وتقول أنها ستأتي إليك عندما يحين وقتها.... يا الهي ...."ليس بيدي يا حبيبتي .... لم أقرر أنا أن أتركك وحدك.... ولكنها إرادة الله"...."أحبك يا سمر وقلبي راض عنك".... كانت أمك تحاول أن تكون معك وأنت تعبرين الطريق إلى عالمك الجديد
يا الهي أي اختبار أقسى من ذلك؟....وأي صبر وإيمان أكبر من ذلك؟....لم تجزع أمك ولم ترهب.... جعلت تحدثك وتدعو لك وتقرأ لك وتعطرك....هاهي تحملك بين ذراعيها وتضمك بقوة....تقبل رأسك .... يدك... . قدميك.... تراك.... تتفحصك....لم تفوت لحظة من وجودكما معا دون أن تتواصل معك

لم تبكين يا سمر؟".... يا الهي ....نزلت دموعك احتراما لصبر أمك....ورغبتها في العطاء المستمر لك....لو أن أمك حدثتني بالأمر لقلت لنفسي تهيأت أم ملتاعة وثكلى....ولكن رأت عيناي عيونك تذرف الدمع الصامت.... بعيدا عن أي تفسير علمي .... فالقلب والنفس تفسران أيضا.... ألم تذرف السماء دمعها مطرا صيفيا في ذلك اليوم السبتمبري يا عزيزتي؟
زينات منصوري
4\9\2007

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Mr. Khoury- My Condolences‏

Dear Samar when I open your site and I read what your mother has written, my heart breaks, and I realize how fortunate I am with the blessing that God gave me- My son Jad.

God Protect and guard our children, and deliver us from this ordeal, and Um Samar, no words can ease your pain, but I want you to know that your Samar is always remembered.


Mr. Khoury

سمر معنا

سلام عليك أيتها الصديقة الغالية سمر
نود أن نؤكد لك اليوم عن محبتنا

سمر! أيتها الحبيبة أنت في قلوبنا
نفخر بك ونقول للملأ بأنك الغالية رفيقتنا

نذكرك اليوم وكل يوم، ما السر فيك؟
هل لأنك أغلى الناس يا صديقتنا؟

وأوفى من عرفنا من الأصحاب
والأخت التي وقفت معنا في المحن التي واجهتنا

نجدك في كل مكان نذهب إليه
وكأنك لم ترحل والحياة منك ما سلبتنا

الحياة بعدك أيتها الرفيقة تغيرت
ولكن سلوانا أن روحك لازمتنا

لا أحد اليوم نقص عليه أسرارنا
و نشكو إليه إذا الحياة ضاقت بنا وأتعبتنا

فنلجأ إليك أيتها الحبيبة ونحادثك
"ونسأل" ترى ما رأي سمر إذا نصحتنا؟

لا تظنين بأننا سهونا عنك
وان الدنيا عنك أيتها الصديقة لهتنا

ذكرى رحيلك الموجع أتت ومن أجلك
سنحتفل بذكرياتك الطيبة التي عطرتنا

أنت هنا مع كل فرد منا تلازمينه
يشعر بوجودك كما بالأمس كلنا تعودنا

نفتكرك ونفتكر أحاديثك الحلوة
ونسمع الأغاني التي كنت تحبينها وأطربتنا

ونذكر خفة دمك، ونكتك الطريفة
التي بالظروف القاسية، أضحكتنا

و نتذكر الأوقات التي فرحنا بها
والأوقات التي بكينا بها وأوجعتنا

فراقك صعب أيتها الحبيبة
والأصعب كونك أول فجيعتنا

نتذكر فراقك المؤلم اليوم
وستبقي للأبد سر دموعنا وبسمتنا

رحمة الله عليك يا أغلى سمر
وأحن إنسانة عرفناها وعرفتنا

ذكرى رحيلك تزامن مع الشهر الفضيل
ندعو لك الفوز بالجنة ، لعل أبواب السماء سمعتنا

نرسل إليك اليوم أيها الصديقة الغالية كل الحب
ونذكرك بأن ابتسامتك الجميلة ما فارقتنا

2008© رنده ربحي حماده
(أم سمر)
جميع الحقوق محفوظة للمؤلفة

Oh September, you came back again

Oh September, you came back again
Haven’t you caused me enough pain?

Your days come and your days go
Without a glimpse of Samar and her glow

You are the beginning of a school year
But for me, you mark the month I lost my most dear

Where are the days I bought her the school books?
And purchased all that suited the New Year’s looks

And this year you’re back with Ramadan
The sacred month of the Holy Quran

Thus, my pain will be doubled in the coming days
As the memories of each rewinds and plays

Oh September, I wish you did not come
Yet, I realize that your coming is welcomed by some

But for me you are the month that marks my loss
How I wish from the calendar you, I can cross!

I was told with time my pain will wane
It will not! Even when I age and walk with a cane

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2008, Copyright©
Written in loving memory of my daughter
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari (4/4/1988-4/9/2006)

سنتان و لم ترك عيوني

سنتان يا ابنة بلاد اللؤلؤ وبلاد الزعتر والزيتون
سنتان يا ابنة بطني لم ترك عيوني
لم أسمع صوتك الذي ضاهى صوت الحسون
لم أقبلك وأضمك ولم تتكحل برؤيتك جفوني
سنتان لم تناديني"ماما" كما إخوتك ينادوني
سنتان ولم تعد ابتسامتك ونظراتك يلاحقوني
لم يبق إلا صورك وعبق ذكرياتك يعطروني
سنتان مرت منذ أن توافد الناس إلى بيتنا ليعزوني
كيف صبرت على الفراق؟ أيها البشر أخبروني
لقد انفطر قلبي حزنا وكاد الأحباء أن يفقدوني
قلبي المذبوح ينزف و لن يبرأ مهما أغثتموني
أحمد الله بأنني لم أصب بمرض أو هوس أو جنون
كيف صبر قلبي على كل هذا العذاب؟ أعلموني
سأرد على السؤال بنفسي لأنكم لن تعرفوا أن تجيبوني
الأيمان بالله، والحب الكبير لابنتي وإخوتها، صبروني
إنها الغائبة الحاضرة ترافقني، تجدونها أينما تجدوني
2008 ©رنده ربحي حماده
(أم سمر)
جميع الحقوق محفوظة للمؤلفة

Monday, September 01, 2008

Reposting of What Ramadan Means to Me

What Ramadan means to me is that Ramadan is a holy month; it is the month that the Quran came to earth. In Ramadan you have to be kind to people and you can't swear or say bad words or lie. And you have to pay the poor people. The most important thing is that you have to fast .But if you are too young or pregnant or if your traveling to far places or if you are old. And you can eat when it's time for the Maghreb prayer.

What I like about Ramadan is the food! I like the Futoor food and the dessert. I like cheese sambosas and Lukimat!

In Ramadan you have to read a lot of Quran. There is a special prayer in Ramadan that is called the Taraweeh prayer that you pray after the Isha'a prayer.

When you are fasting, you can wake up early in the morning before the Fajr prayer and eat but you do not have to but it is better. It is better to eat at Suhoor: toast, cereal, banana, sandwich, milk, water and do not eat anything that makes you thirsty.

Samar Al Ansari
Grade 5D
Dec 22, 1998

يا فراشة في كل مكان دخلت تركت طيبا و عودا