#i did not study at all and only attended the mandatory recitations

[alatismeni-theitsa]

hello, sorry to bother! I was just wondering what is your field of studies? sorry if you've talked about it before but I missed it 😭 you seem to have a good knowledge of the classics, did you study that?

Hello! You are not bothering me, that's why my ask box is open!

I am not in the classics field. The Iliad, the Odyssey, some ancient plays, and our myths, we analyze them thoroughly (and properly) in elementary, middle, and high school in Greece. (In our mandatory for all History or Ancient Greek lessons). If someone is interested and pays attention, and also continues reading and watching documentaries outside of school, they can get pretty decent. Most importantly, Greek students are taught in a way that conveys the context of the era the texts come from. It's not an exotic/foreign concept to us.

My knowledge is not perfect, I don't remember everything and there are times I need to do additional research. I listen to Greek and xenoi friends if they have found something I don't know. But the foundations have been laid for an interest that it's ongoing for me. So I understand the conventions, and why statements like "Zeus is an asshole" and oversimplifications like "the gods are psychopaths" (hello Madeline Miller) are incorrect. (jokes about Zeus are not bad per se, it's when people actually, seriously mean them then it's weird).

Comment on the Greek education system:

I don't imply that only school education makes you an expert but imo the material is pretty good and if one pays attention can get pretty good knowledge. Plus, our middle and high school teachers have a 4year old diploma in their field + Master's degree most of the time. Things changed a bit three years ago but before that, half or more of the students went attend (plus from the above I mentioned) "theoretical"/"humanitarian" mandatory orientation classes.

A large amount of Greek high school students are able to translate and analyze known and unknown (seeing them for the first time out of the blue in the Panhellenic Exams) ancient texts (Greek and Latin) of all subjects. Most Greek students take intensive classes outside of school, and the "humanities" students see hundreds of ancient Greek texts before reaching 18. Ten years ago you needed to do all that to go to a nursing school.

In the last three years, the Humanities field has been narrowed down and fewer kids take these mandatory classes. Of course, students don't remember everything after they leave school but the exposure to so many texts instills in them an understanding of the ancient Greek society and folklore. (my mum can still recite Aristotle's "Definition of Tragedy" she learned in middle school but that's because it gave her ptsd 😂)

For Greeks who may think I overhype the knowledge the system gives us (ειναι γιατι εχουμε συνηθισει το αγγουρι και μας φαινονται ευκολα), you can go ask all the online experts on mythology discourse (who are usually USAmericans) what they knew on ancient greek societies and what analysis they did on the myths when they were 16.

From the discussions with USians I've done over the years, someone in the US needs to attend University in order to start analyzing such texts to the degree we did in middle school. There are always exceptions, but what exposure and context we get in Greece at a young age cannot be underestimated. Trust me, it can be much, much worse outside of Greece 😂

That's been my experience, at least. You can, naturally, add stuff if you've been through the Greek ed. system and saw something different!

#education #answered #info #greek education system

[jme-crocodile]

(TW: my catholic school trauma)

Reading “The Boy Who Could Change the World”

It’s difficult to even imagine what America was like before the industrial revolution. Their notion of freedom was far stronger than the one we have today. For many Americans, life wasn’t about showing up at a job at a specified hour, following orders all day, and returning home for a couple hours of “free time”—that would be considered slavery. A free American was one who worked on their own or with their family, worked from home, worked whatever hours they liked, and got paid based on what they accomplished.

Under the putting-out system, for example, merchants would deliver raw materials like cotton to your house. When you felt like it, you’d card, spin, and weave the raw cotton into cloth. And then the next week the merchant would come by to buy from you whatever cloth you had produced.

He goes on to discuss mill workers in New England, who were mostly young girls, some around the age of 10. This was before our modern day labor laws, so the girls were working fourteen hour days. They still found time to read & discuss books/ideas, though. 

And through all that thinking and learning and discussing, they began to question the less pleasant aspects of their situation. When, in 1836, the Lowell mill owners decided to cut their employees’ pay, the girls walked out.

What these young girls accomplished is truly amazing. They organized their own newspaper, the Voice of Industry, which they wrote, edited, printed, and sold themselves. Through it they organized more protests and strikes, as well as organized their own slate of candidates in the state elections to fight for better working conditions and a ten-hour day. Amazingly, their slate won. The owners, outraged, got their legislators to declare the election results invalid and hold a revote. Before the revote, large signs were posted threatening that anyone who voted for the ten-hour slate would be fired. And yet the slate won again.

[..]

But their writing in the Voice shows that they wanted much more than simply better working conditions. They saw themselves as slaves—wage slaves—and concluded that the solution was not simply to demand that the bosses be nicer to them or pay them more, but to abolish the bosses entirely.

Their bosses didn't like this, at all. The mill owners fired the girls, blacklisted their names, and then did something strange: they sent girls to school.

The schools they built—the common schools—would be easily recognizable by any modern student. “The door [of each school] shall be closed precisely at the time fixed for the opening of the school, and in the morning religious exercises will be performed, for which purpose 10 minutes are allowed.” (Today we just say the pledge of allegiance.) “Each teacher shall call the roll call of his or her classes … in the morning and afternoon, and shall keep an accurate record of all absences.” The day was then divided into separate lessons, allowing “30 minutes for the study of each lesson and 10 minutes for each recitation.”

Instead of corporal punishment, teachers were encouraged to secure order “by the mildest possible means” to instill “a regard for right, and thus a standard of self-government in the minds of the children themselves.”* Students were tested on how much they learned and, just like today, working coordinating other students was considered “cheating” and punished. (Perhaps they were worried that if students learned to coordinate they might be more likely to foment strikes once in the mills.)"

[...]

Careful records kept by the mill owners allow us to compare mill workers who did and did not go to school. Just as with modern students, there is no evidence of any impact of increased education on worker productivity.*

So why did the mill owners spend so much money building and running these schools? They were quite clear about their intent. The classes were justified not for their usefulness but because memorizing them was a form of “moral education” leading to “industrious habits … and the consequent high moral influence which it exerts upon society at large.”

As one Lowell manager explained it, “I have never considered mere knowledge, valuable as it is in itself to the laborer, as the only advantage derived from a good common-school education. I have uniformly found the better educated, as a class, possessing a higher and better state of morals, more orderly and respectful in their deportment, and more ready to comply with the wholesome and necessary regulations of an establishment.”"

As the Lowell School Committee summarized their findings: “The proprietors find the training of the schools admirably adapted to prepare the children for the labors of the mills.” Why? “When [their laborers] are well educated … controversies and strikes can never occur, nor can the minds of the masses be prejudiced by demagogues and controlled by temporary and factitious considerations.”*

Indeed, school was so important that the mill owners quickly decided to make it mandatory. “No language of ours can convey too strongly our sense of the dangers which wait us from [those who] are not and have never been members of our public schools,” warned the Lowell School Committee. Universal schooling is “our surest safety against internal commotions.”‡ The children who didn’t attend school “constitute an army more to be feared than war, pestilence and famine,” warned the committee. “Unsuccessful attempts, during the past year, to burn two of our school-houses … are an index to the evils which threaten from such sources.”

More accurately, such burnings were an index of public resistance to such coercion. In 1837, 300 teachers were forced to flee their classrooms by riotous and violent students.║ In 1844, the Irish population went on strike from the schools, reducing attendance by 80%. The School Committee stepped up their anti-truancy efforts to force them and others back to school."

And so the spread of schools and factories destroys the American model of freedom. Instead of being independent farmers or self-employed manufacturers, Americans are herded into factories enmasse, forced to work for someone else because they cannot earn a living any other way. But thanks to schools, this seems normal, even natural. After all, isn’t that just the way the world works?

The effect on the students is almost heartbreaking. Taught that reading is simply about searching contrived stories for particular “text features,” they learn to hate reading. Taught that answering questions is simply about cycling through the multiple-choice answers to find the most plausible ones, they begin to stop thinking altogether and just spout random combinations of test buzzwords whenever they’re asked a question.  “The joy of finding things out” is banished from the classroom. Testing is in session.”

School hasn’t seemed to have changed much since the early 1800s, at least the not sort of schooling geared for the masses. As a child, I was strongly discouraged from risk taking, ridiculed by teachers when I gave the wrong answer, punished for asking questions, had to ask permission to use the bathroom (and was often refused), refused permission to get a drink of water (the school had no air conditioning & it was June in Pennsylvania. Yes, multiple children got heat exhaustion, daily. Our parents commiserated, but thought this was normal. Teachers treated this as normal. We were told to “toughen up” and respect our elders when we complained.) We were taught to need someone’s permission to get medical attention. 

I was once refused when I needed to see the nurse (I was going to vomit.) The teacher accused me of lying & told me to sit down. I sat down, and about two minutes later threw up. I half expected to get a demerit for dirtying the floor. I burst into tears, blubbering out humiliated apologies to my classmates and to the teacher. Above my concern for my dignity and health had been placed my teacher. That was my mentality as a kid.

(Normal is whatever you’re used to, but people shouldn’t be used to this.)

The thing that stands out in all of this, now, was how the other students remained frozen. I don’t know how to interpret their freeze -- they didn’t move to get me a tissue, or towels, or anything. The teacher had forbade me from moving to clean up myself, so I had to wait for the nurse to arrive in a puddle of my own vomit. I obeyed. My classmates were staring at their desks, at the wall, anywhere but the teacher or myself. Maybe they were suffering second-hand embarrassment, or pity, or even fear that the teacher would lash out at them, next. 

That was the sort of environment we grew up in, for 14 years of our lives. 

In all of this, I notice this kind of moral fragmentation that society today seems to encourage. There’s a sense that people have abrogated all responsibility: “oh, that’s not my department, I’m not the one who makes the rules.” So we ignore people in pain, and accept on an instinctive level that there’s nothing we can do. 

Except that isn’t true, even that asshole Lowell said, “The children who didn’t attend school “constitute an army more to be feared than war, pestilence and famine.””

This submissive attitude people have comes from fear, from an underestimation of our own strength and compassion. 

---

Like, do people get what this does to a person’s self-esteem? Maybe not, because they’re all suffering from the same blindness.

Last week during the heat wave, I started experiencing heat exhaustion and  my instinctive thoughts were to move as little as possible, and wait for it to be over.

I mean, what does that sound like to you?

Like, maybe my experiences at school were unusually bad, but it looks to me a lot like our society is systematically abusing kids into submissively accepting poor treatment by their superiors. 

#unschooling #aaron swartz #tw-school

[mxrcayong]

masterlist.

previous | next 

chapter thirteen

No matter how bright the sun was outside or how stunning the island was – the thoughts of being on a break from the city officially has left their minds. The room they were in represented their frenzy state of mind. What once was a meeting room was a makeshift war room; an endless number of blueprints, photos, maps were thrown around the room. The files were only connected through different colored strings, seemingly tossed together in a coherent manner that probably only made sense to Sukiara and Johnny at this point. Generally speaking, the room looks like something that can be found in the museums dedicated to the 100-year-war.

Tari’s head started to feel heavy – a ringing echoing throughout her mind. All thoughts kept interrupting each other, as if they were fighting for attention in her own brain. Not only is her life in danger, but her family and her friends as well. They managed to put me on a suspect list, she thought, if they can’t find me – will they attack the ones I care about? Tari looked around the room. Her heart warmed, knowing those closest to her are here – away from the government. But then, she thought of the people who weren’t.

Will Hendery be safe? How about her bosses? Or Lucas? Is anyone she interacted with safe?

She risked all of their lives. She should’ve stayed in the island, stayed isolated for however long she had to before she died. Maybe they were right, Tari let her head fall onto the table as she thought of the White Lotus’s idea that the Avatar has to be separated from their family. How did they come up with that? Tari isn’t sure, especially as she has been the first Avatar under this rule. The one subject of information Tari is banned to learn about is the Order of the White Lotus itself.

I should’ve known to stay on the island. In hindsight, Tari realizes that for the government – especially nowadays with the population databases – can easily hunt down the Avatar. For one, when they found out that she was the Avatar, there was a news announcement of the Avatar being found in a Northern Water Tribe community. So, the government just had to filter their searches for people initially from the Northern Water Tribe. From there, they just had to filter birth year as well. The birthday of the Avatar is obvious – the same day Avatar Aang passed away, letting the Avatar spirit find its next host. Even her friends joked when they first met that Tari was ‘the Avatar’ because of her birthday, but stopped once they noticed how uncomfortable she was. Luckily for Tari’s safety, the population database she had to fill out to move in only required her birth year.

Tari practically slammed her head against the table. However, no one turned their head (at least not obviously) - everyone too busy trying to even comprehend the information being thrown at them. Johnny, of course, turned his head momentarily to look at Tari as soon as the sound of her head hitting the table resounded throughout the room. Yuta, on the other hand, placed his hand on her knee – an attempt to calm her down.

She regrets wishing for a normal life, she regrets going to Sooman. If she could go back in time, she’d do anything to protect her friends from her. Even if it meant never meeting them.

Lifting her head up, now opening up her view from just the mahogany table below her – she noticed each of them masqueraded their brave faces. Tari knew they were all tired – probably exhausted out of their own minds. If it weren’t for her, she could be sleeping or napping or just being happy. I brought them into this. If she never met them, if she never cursed them with her acquaintance or this information – they could be safe.

Her gaze particularly landed on Jisung, whose eyes were shut and his head resting on his hands. He’s too young for this, Tari scolded herself. In fact, Tari saw her younger self in him. Jisung was thrown into a world he could barely expect to be thrown into; he had no choice. Tari could’ve avoided bringing him into this – brought him back home to the city, but he insisted on coming. Jisung was only 18. He’d be a high school graduate soon. He should be studying for exams by now.

“To conclude, it seems that the event they’re hosting – a mandatory event for all benders, which they will ensure everyone is there through the population databases – will be an event to take away everyone’s bending abilities.” Sukiara summarized. “It seems like the order of events will be an attendance check, retrieving personalized bands where their attendance will be double checked, and then they will meet Amon in the back room.”

Yuta scoffed. “Are you seriously telling me they’re trying to remove every bender’s ability all in one night?” Incredulously, he continued to critique the plan as if he was talking to the creators himself.  

Sonan stood up, walking towards Sukiara who stood in front of the board – analyzing it for what felt like the millionth time. “I mean, this is just my assumption but, I think they’ll probably go off on the people who seem to be more high risk. So…this list.” She pointed to the snapshot of the ‘suspected Avatar’ list and “…and people with these marks by their name.” She gesticulated towards the list of benders or suspected benders and pointed at the exclamation marks next to some the names. “These are people who worked at the gyms, right? Or are seen as ‘masters’?” Sonan turned to Doyoung, reciting off the few names on the available snapshot with the exclamation point next to them. He nodded. “Well, then Doyoung is high risk too.”

Tari could hardly open her mouth. Her thoughts couldn’t be formed into words. She forgot what her voice sounded like. “But none of us are particularly safe, except for Johnny or Sonan I guess.” She sighed, her voice unfamiliar to her and croaking with anxiety. “But every bender is in danger. Look, they made that band-thing. It’s called ‘eleagero’. If I’m remembering correctly, agero is Latin for remove and ele could be element.”

Sonan furrowed her brows. “Is that even possible?” She was insanely doubtful, her eyes reflecting what Tari could believe was all the disbelief in the world. “Like, that’s surely not possible. Unless you’re the Avatar, right?”

“Avatar Aang has used energy bending to remove Fire Lord Ozai’s fire bending, yes.” Sukiara answered for Tari. Even in stressful situations, she still sounded poise and unfaltered. “But there is no information about the material in this. They may have found something that we aren’t aware of.”

“Aren’t the White Lotus aware of everything?” Ah, spiteful Kilari is back. Throughout the last few hours, Kilari has been remaining silent or in hushed tones with Johnny. Ever since Johnny’s arrival, she has refused to talk to anyone directly but him. The way she poke seemed to be as if she was spitting the words out, disgusted by the very idea of the society. Sukiara shook her head solemnly. “Then what’s the point of this stupid society? Lie to people? Betray people? Act superior?”

Johnny interrupted, trying to diffuse her flames. “Getting to keep your bending or not, no matter what - it’s likely Tari’s the least safe out of all of us.” Johnny jumped to his feet, pushing the chair he was sitting in behind him out of frustration. “They’ll probably go after the Avatar suspects first. We don’t know how many of them they already ‘nullified’.” As he said ‘nullifed’, it sounded like he had to gulp down something particularly bitter. “Tari will be one of the first targets, for sure.” Despite Johnny refusing to make eye contact with Tari or address her personally, his concern was evident – from his reddened face, his suddenly improved posture, his blown-out eyes. Tari felt some hope return to her – he still cares about her.

Kilari groaned at the mention of Tari’s name yet again. “Seriously, Johnny?” She yelled, following his lead and standing up out of frustration – her chair pushed so far back it crashed into the wall. “Tari’s the Avatar.” She mocked, her voice dripping with venom, removing any hope Tari had gained back about her relationship being intact. “She’s the most powerful out of all of them. Oh, but don’t forget – the Avatar can also bend the truth and lie to her friends.” Tari’s heart hurt; every word leaving her friend’s mouth felt like an attack, felt like arrows hitting her. It hurt more than her knowing she’ll be in danger.

And like that, Kilari stormed out the room.

Sonan was the first to speak up, evident that she was feeling sorry for Kilari’s behaviour. “I’ll go talk to her.” She made her way to the door.

Johnny shook his head insistently, stopping her right in front of the door. “I’ll do it.” He smiled softly – the first smile of his Tari has seen since he arrived, even if it was full of pity.

Tari jumped to her feet. “Johnny, wait, she’s angry.” She warned, “We all know she’s impulsive. She burnt me accidentally once for touching her baking materials. She may burn you-.”

“You mean you did to me?” Johnny snapped back. Tari quickly looked down; noticing the burn mark fading. Good. “Tari, I get it.” His voice wasn’t comforting or understanding like usual but felt like a cold, sharp edge. His voice wasn’t the blanket she could normally use to wrap herself in. His voice wasn’t home or the same voice that would help her sleep by talking in a soothing tone. It was like a cold metal slate found in morgues. “You’re all powerful. You’re the most powerful person among both worlds. But that’s exactly why I’m the most powerful now.” He approached her, his arm flying to the air as if he was about to slap her. Tari never felt more fear in her life. She flinched away.

Johnny’s heart dropped. She thought I was going to hit her? But he pushed it aside. “I can walk freely without worrying about my life. Not that, but I’m stronger than you think. I do not need bending to be strong.” He approached the door once more, his hand wrapping around the handle. Tari stood still; trying to process his tone. He turned around one more time. “I trusted you. And maybe I shouldn’t have as it’s clear you didn’t trust me. But please…” His eyes went wide, as if a deer stuck in headlights. “Trust me. This. Once.”

“Johnny,” Tari muttered as Johnny was halfway throughout the door. He paused momentarily. “I’m sorry.”

The door closed behind him.

It wasn’t hard to find Kilari. Johnny just had to follow the track of some burnt grass, some freaked out White Lotus members, and the distant sounds of angry grunts. “Woah there, dragon.” He almost neighed, seeing the environment around them filling with smoke as Kilari burnt yet another unsuspecting bush.

Once Kilari had calmed down, the only noise filling their ears were Kilari’s heavy pants and the crunch of leaves Johnny had walked on to approach her. Her distraught eyes met Johnny’s and as soon as they did, she fell onto her knees sobbing.

Johnny ran over to her, his arms wrapping around Kilari tightly. He lifted her up, carrying her bridal style with ease. “C’mon, let’s go somewhere cleaner.” She buried her face into his shoulder, continuing to cry.

He has only been on this island for a while. But he was lucky that he had a good memory, or else he wouldn’t have remembered the small tour Sukiara gave them within the first hour of arriving. Johnny transported Kilari out of the forest and to the viewing point in the village, walking past confused society members.

At the viewing point, Johnny placed Kilari on the bench that overlooked the strong waves. The breeze ruffled her hair and blew away her tears, although they kept coming. Johnny has never seen Kilari cry, and obviously – they weren’t the closest out the group. Despite that, Kilari always put upon this unbothered and uncaring persona. When Johnny first met her, he swore that Kilari was someone who wouldn’t care about anything. Getting to know her didn’t prove much otherwise. The only exception was Kilari cared a great deal about her friends and about making the most out of life.

“I trusted her.” Kilari choked out through heavy sobs. “She knew everything about me. And was I not a good enough friend? Did she not trust me?” Johnny didn’t know what to say. How could he? He’s feeling the same emotions. He rubbed his hand against her back, trying to comfort her as they stare off at the sea – seeing a faint outline of the Avatar Aang statue and the skyscrapers of Sooman City. Her sniffling became prominent. “Johnny?” She croaked, on the verge of breaking.

“Hm?” Johnny hummed, trying to repress his own emotions.

“Did we really know her?”

Johnny sighed. A silence settled between them as Johnny thought.

I knew her, for sure. He thought, I knew who she is in the present. I may not have known her past, but does the past define her as much as her present? Johnny knew Tari’s favorite coffee order, her favorite alcohol drink, and her favorite color. He knew what would make her flinch or make her feel safe. He knew how to comfort her when she’s sad and lonely. If he walks past a store and something catches his eye, he’s pretty sure he’ll know if Tari will like it. Johnny can list the things that make Tari’s eyes twinkle and what makes them go wide.

But Johnny doesn’t know about her past. He never heard much about her parents, who she had mentioned she didn’t grow up with. He never heard anything about Sukiara or her travels around the nations. She only heard the vaguest truths about her past. But could he still say he knows her?

“As much as I’m inclined to say no right now,” Johnny let out a shallow breath, “We do know her.”  He smiled softly. “I’m feeling really betrayed right now too. Tari was one of the few people I can go to constantly about anything… Honestly, I feel like I failed her.” He wiped the few stray tears away. “But her past isn’t who she is. Everyone changes, everyone will. I guess we know people as we grow with them.” He pushed back his head, trying to make sense of his own words. “Okay, I’m not sure what I’m saying but Tari being the Avatar? Tari’s past?” He prompted, trying to convince himself what he’s telling her. “That isn’t all there is to her.”

Kilari sighed. “But…would it be a big part of her? She can’t grow out of it.”

“You can’t grow out of your family being fire sages, can you?” He questioned, making Kilari shake her head. “But if someone knows everything about you now and don’t know about your relationship to the fire sages, would you consider them to know you?” Asking this theoretical question, he hopes to gain an insight.

Johnny – he had nothing he was ashamed of growing up. He had amazing parents who he loved with all his heart, especially his mom, and grew up like everyone else. Yes, he felt compelled to constantly improve himself and he had a short period where he was jealous of benders, but that’s like cringing at old photos of yourself. That Johnny helped make him the Johnny he is today. Without that period in his life, he wouldn’t be who he was today. He wasn’t ashamed of it.

However, Kilari grew up with something she was ashamed with. The only reason he knew about her being a ‘supposed to be’ Fire Sage was because Tari mentioned it to him the first time he met Kilari. But then again, Tari said Kilari only told them within the year of knowing her and it was only because she doesn’t actively talk about it.

She sighed. “I guess you’re right.” She pouted, the wind blowing off the last of her tears. “I guess I just feel so…mad and betrayed and…lost. I thought I knew everything about her.”

Johnny let out a low chuckle, “Me too. But hey, it’s nice to know our feelings are validated.” He teased, nudging her to try and lift their spirits.

Kilari sniffled and chuckled, “Yeah…Can we stay mad at her for a little longer? I don’t think I want to get up from here or see her yet.”

Johnny let out his first hearty laugh in the last few hours – days, even. “Only for today…because her life is pretty much in danger in a bit.”

At least now, Johnny and Kilari have let out their feelings. It wasn’t going to overflow within them. They’d only feel this anger and betrayal openly until the sun sets.

But then their priority goes to the safety of their best friend.  

request anything for future parts / penny for your thoughts here

#nct-writers #nct imagines #nct dream imagines #nct angst #nct fluff #nct scenarios #nct 127 imagines #NCT Dream Scenarios #nct #johnny imagines #doyoung imagines #jisung imagines #yuta imagines #nct dream angst #nct 127 angst #wayv angst #wayv #nct dream #nct dream fluff #johnny fluff #doyoung fluff #doyoung scenarios #johnny scenarios #yuta scenarios #jisung scenarios

[jamejumah-blog]

1. Observations

Name of Community: Muslim Society of Guelph Place: ‘Jame Masjid’ at the Muslim Society of Guelph (MSOG) 286 Water Street Guelph, Ontario Dates of visit: January 18th, February 8th, February 22nd Notes: This blog will use the Islamic term of ‘masjid’ which translates to ‘mosque’ in English.

The Muslim Society of Guelph abbreviated as the MSOG, is a religious institution in Guelph, Ontario which is also home to ‘Jame Masjid,’ a mosque which I have been visiting occasionally for the past three years. The men in my family, which consist of my brother and father, attend Jumah, congregational Friday prayer every week at this mosque. I chose this community to observe because I have slight familiarity with it, however I have never actually taken the time out to observe my surroundings properly. For this field research project, I attended Jumah at Guelph’s Jame Masjid, three times in a way I had never done before. By this I mean that I attended Jumah and actually observed my surroundings and analyzed the space, rather than just partaking in the ritual as I have previously done. For me, Jumah has always been a ritual I occasionally engaged in because it is a part of my religion. I have grown up watching the men in my family attend Jumah as it is mandatory for them to partake in it weekly. However, despite having knowledge about this ritual and having attended it several times throughout my life, I have never made it a point to observe my surroundings objectively, especially at this particular location. This blog will share my experience attending Jumah prayer thrice at Jame Masjid, making it a point to describe my spatial surroundings, interactions, as well as other observations which may help me to analyze a ritual this community engages in on a weekly basis. 

The initial observations that I made when arriving at the masjid to partake in Jumah prayer were observations regarding segregation. Upon arriving on the property of the Muslim Society of Guelph, I immediately noticed that there were two different entrances for the masjid, the entrance from which I entered was on a different side of the masjid than the entrance my father and brother had to go through. This is something that as a Muslim woman I have encountered many times before through my trips to various masjids. However, for someone who does not know that there are gender-based entrances to Jame masjid, the signs placed around the building would be extremely helpful. I drove by the men’s entrance which was located at the front of the masjid, and marked by a large sign which read “brothers entrance” in both English and its Arabic counterpart. Again, I was able identify the text as Arabic, because of my prior knowledge of the language through Quranic studies. The womens entrance was situated at the back of the masjid, with a sign that read “sisters entrance” again, in both English and Arabic. I noticed while parking outside the masjid, that many families who came together first parked before parting ways to enter the masjid through their respective entrances. I also noticed that younger children who came with their parents, who were infants or toddlers, regardless of gender, went inside the mosque with their mothers (or female guardian). However, boys who surpassed the toddler age, accompanied their father. In my family’s case, my 12 year old brother went inside the masjid with my father.

Upon entering the building, there was a large hallway lined with shoe shelves on which people placed their shoes before making their way into the actual prayer room in which the Jumah prayer was to be offered. Again, I noted the signs placed around these shelves which read “please remove footwear before entering masjid.” I was able to see down the hallway that men were doing the same as women, removing their shoes before making their way into the prayer hall. I noticed right away that the entire masjid was filled with the sound of Arabic verses being recited by a man on the microphone. Once again, I knew that the verses being recited were in Arabic because of the knowledge I possessed of the Quran, the Islamic holy scripture. 

Image 2: Shoe shelves.

On all three of my visits, I arrived to the masjid quite early to give myself ample time to make observations. The prayer was to be performed at 1:35PM, and I had arrived to the mosque at around 12:50PM each week. After removing my shoes, I entered the prayer hall (the masjid itself), and was greeted by the few women who were in the room. They smiled and said “Assalamualaikum,” to me, a gesture which was repeated upon the entry of every woman into the masjid. All of the women were dressed modestly, wearing loose fitted clothing and covering their hair with head scarfs. I also noticed that there was a box of scarves and skirts at the back of the masjid for women to borrow if needed. Regardless of what a woman was wearing, the common aspect was that each woman was completely covered, with nothing but her face, feet, and hands, showing. As for the men, the clothing varied from simple jeans and t shirts, to a few traditional outfits. 

During all three of my visits, there were not very many women present for the prayer. However, on the televisions which streamed the prayer in the men’s hall, it was apparent that already, more than 50 men were present. By the time of the actual prayer, approximately 20-30 women were in attendance (this number varied during each of my visits). On the other hand, numerous men attended every week and after discussing with my father, he had estimated that approximately 200 men attend the Jumah prayer at Jame Masjid weekly. 

Continuing with my observations regarding segregation, I noted that although the prayer hall for the men and women were side-by-side, they were divided with an opaque partition; both having separate entrances as well. This partition was a divider of some sort, which was thick enough to have two television screens hung on it, which streamed a live video of the men’s prayer hall for the women to see. I noticed that there was substantially more space allocated for men than for women. From what I could make out through the television screens, the men’s prayer hall was probably three times the size of the women’s. Furthermore, the women prayed behind the men, with the leader of the prayer, a male, standing at the very front. The leader of the prayer was the only person who prayed with nobody on either side of him. 

Image 3: Mens prayer hall.

Image 4: Womens prayer hall.

The Jumah prayer was preceded by a sermon which was delivered mostly in English with multiple references to the Qur’an (the Islamic holy book) and Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). I noted that the topic of the sermon varied week-to-week, and everyone in the mosque sat and listened to it very attentively. In fact, I overheard a few young girls who were chatting in the masjid being told to quiet down and pay attention to the sermon by another woman. This woman was elderly, who was sitting at the back of the masjid, with her head facing down. She was completely quiet much like the other women in the room, and seemed to be focusing on the sermon being delivered, as she wished for complete silence. These young girls obeyed immediately, and stopped their chatter for the duration of the sermon. On my visit to Jame Masjid on the 18th of January, the sermon discussed the rank of a mother in Islam. The speaker mentioned how heaven lies beneath the feet of the mother, and respecting her is the gateway to eternal happiness. On February 8th, the sermon discussed the significance of charity, through the form of donation and volunteer work. The speaker highlighted various stories of the Prophet Muhammad partaking in charitable acts, which Muslims all around the world could learn from. The speaker encouraged all the individuals who were in attendance to donate anything to the masjid, whether that be their time volunteering or any amount of money. He emphasized that doing good deeds in this life will certainly make for a fruitful life in the hereafter. Finally, the sermon delivered on February 22nd discussed the importance of visiting and taking care of the sick. The speaker emphasized the reward which an individual receives through visiting a sick person, be it one’s neighbours, friend, family member, or even acquaintance. The speaker highlighted the importance of visiting the sick through the narration of stories of the Prophet Muhammad, and his encounters with the ill. Learning from the actions of the Prophet was integral to becoming a good Muslim; a point which the speaker emphasized multiple times. Each of these sermons consisted of two parts, where the speaker sat down for a break before continuing on to the second portion of the sermon. I noticed that during this break between the sermon, some women got up to pray on their own, while some made use of the Qurans placed on a shelf on the side of the prayer room. The Qurans were placed on an elevated shelf, and nothing was placed on top of these scriptures. I knew immediately that these women were reading the Quran (as opposed to another scripture) through the faint sound of their recitation which I recognized through previous knowledge of Quranic verses. 

Image 5: Qur’an shelf.

The athan (call to prayer) was made shortly after my arrival, and the sermon was given for approximately 35 minutes before the prayer began. A man (who was not the leader of the prayer) recited another call to prayer and very quickly everyone in the masjid began to line up shoulder-to-shoulder and prepare for the prayer. I noticed a few women who were insistent on filling the gaps between each other, and made sure everyone was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with no spaces in between them. During my first visit, I did not understand why it was so important to stand so close to one another during prayer. However, during the second time I attended Jumah, I overheard a woman telling a little girl to fill in the gap between another two ladies because “we do not want shaytan to pray amongst us.” This statement really got me thinking, as I had never realized that this may be the reason why people stress the importance of standing shoulder-to-shoulder during prayer. During the prayer itself, everyone seemed to be following the bodily movements of the leader of the prayer. For example, when the leader bowed down to the ground, everyone else followed a few seconds after him. At all times, the leader was the first one to perform a new prayer movement. I also noticed that a few (maximum 3) women were holding up the Qur’an while they were praying. I did not notice any of the men performing this particular act. Seeing a few women perform this act was a bit peculiar for me, as being raised in a Sunni family, I had always been told that praying while holding the Quran was forbidden. Perhaps these few women associated with a different sect of Islam, or simply held different views, I am not too sure. 

After the prayer was over, I noticed that many of the women immediately formed small groups in which they talked to one another in their respective languages. I noticed a few Pakistani women who sat together speaking to one another in Urdu, a language I recognized because it is my mother tongue. They were simply greeting each other, and making casual conversation before parting ways and heading out of the masjid. A few women made conversation with me as well, simply introducing themselves, asking me general questions such as my name, and telling me that they hoped to see me the following week. On my second and third visits to the masjid, a few of the women who had made conversation with me in the earlier weeks recognized me, and to my surprise, greeted me warmly- some even remembered my name. I noticed during my third visit to the masjid, that there were two girls who sat at the back of the room and observed the prayer. I had guessed that they were probably observing the community and ritual in some way. I noted that the girls were wearing their scarf very loosely, where a lot of their hair actually was still left uncovered. This gave me an idea that they were probably outsiders to the community, because as an insider, I know the importance of having all the hair covered when in the masjid. A mid-aged woman approached these two teenage girls and encouraged them to stay after the prayer and join for tea and samosas. I went and spoke with these girls after the prayer had concluded, and to confirm my intuition, they were in fact non-Muslim girls who were observing the Jumah ritual for a grade 12 sociology project.

After Jumah had ended, most people left the masjid after a few minutes of socializing as described above. I made it a point to stay an extra few minutes after the prayer to record some spatial observations. I noted that the masjid was very simple, painted in a light green- almost white colour, with no paintings or posters on the walls. The only item on the walls were televisions, one which was located at the back of the prayer room which listed prayer times for the duration of the month. It was brightly lit, and offered accessible entrances in the case where a wheelchair may need to come through. The masjid was lined with soft, green carpet which was thick enough to provide comfort despite having sat on the floor throughout the entire sermon. I must note that everyone in the masjid sat on the floor, with the only exception being a few elderly individuals who sat on chairs. Washrooms were present inside the masjid with a designated area for wudhu (partial ablution). I also noted signs on the doors to the masjid which stated that no food was permitted inside the prayer room. However, I did note that many of the women carried water bottles with them inside the masjid. The masjid was very clean and well maintained. I noticed that after everyone had left, a man was walking around tidying up the space, making sure that the Qurans were lined up properly.

I do not think my presence had any impact on my observations through my three visits. As an insider in this community, someone who is familiar with the masjid and the Jumah prayer itself, I was already aware of the general rules and regulations of a masjid i.e. the fact that I had to cover my hair as a woman. I did not have much of an interaction with anyone present at the prayer until the actual prayer was over, where I introduced myself to a few women. Moreover, my presence did not seem to be impacting anyone’s actions. The women were all engaging in their rituals, such as attentively listening to the sermon, making Dua’a (prayer) and actually partaking in the congregational prayer, without looking around much at their surroundings. It seemed that everyone was quite busy in their own acts of worship to pay much attention to what others were doing, as long as the others were being quiet and respectful.

Since I had stayed back after most of the individuals had left the masjid, I asked my father if I could introduce myself to the president of the Muslim Society of Guelph. I spoke to him outside of the actual prayer rooms, and simply asked him if I could see the men’s side of the masjid. To my surprise, he was happy to allow me in, as long as prayer was not occurring. I obtained his permission to take a few photos of my surroundings, respecting his wishes to do so once the premises were relatively clear of people. He also provided me with permission to utilize any audio-visual resources which could be found on the masjid’s official website. 

[cryptodictation]

“We were not villains before, nor are we heroes now” | Economy

Area enabled by the El Hacho restaurant, in Lora de Estepa (Seville), so that truckers and transporters can stop for lunch and refreshments completely free of charge.PACO PUENTES / EL PAÍS

If the truck driver is already a lonely and ungrateful job, always too far from home, with wages that are not enough to get rich and so demanding that a distraction can cost a life, the health emergency is taking it beyond its limits to the sector. “We weren't villains before or now, heroes. I do not think that people could not be treated worse, ”says Óscar Prieto, a 48-year-old Leon freelance. He complains about the harsh conditions in which he works, in which even something as basic as accessing the toilets of a service area was until recently a luxury. Since Monday, he has had his four trucks stopped and has fired half of the employees.

The same thing happens to Jota, who prefers not to be identified, with half of his fleet of 40 trailers. Of 44 workers, it maintains 35. “To a certain extent, I have to give thanks because I continue to have trucks running despite the fact that a third of my clients have closed,” explains this 57-year-old businessman specialized in food who works for large areas such as Carrefour and Mercadona, at full capacity, but also for fast food restaurant chains, schools and residences. There the invoicing will collapse in dry. “We are pulling funds. The danger is that we are at the end of the month with a terrible lack of liquidity, “he warns. The Government says that it will guarantee 80% of the loans to affected companies, SMEs and self-employed workers. But nobody trusts it.

In Spain there are just over 400,000 drivers and more than 95% of companies have five vehicles or less. 90% of goods are transported by road, in a sector that generated more than 18,000 million in 2019. This dependence on asphalt, with more than 4,000 deaths and 56,000 infected by Covid-19, makes truckers the vital links and anonymous from the supply network. The Government has authorized two people to go in the cabin to relay or load and unload tasks. Mechanic shops are ordered not to open to the general public, only to trucks and delivery vans to ensure the flow of goods. “We are absolutely essential. Health is essential but if we do not take supplies everything stops, “claims Julio Villaescusa, president of the National Federation of Transport Associations of Spain (Fenadismer). The rules for driving and rest times in the transport of goods have been relaxed, although they cannot exceed 56 hours behind the wheel a week or 90 biweekly. Every four and a half hours a 45-minute break is mandatory. Meanwhile, heavy vehicle traffic already accounts for 55.76% of long journeys route: 221,338 of 396,927 Since the entry into force of the state of alarm, long-distance journeys have fallen by 61.61%, according to the latest data, on Wednesday, from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). trucks, the decrease was 19.68% after a peak of 40% last Sunday.

“Now a lot of blablablah, but we are the same unfortunates who annoy people on the holidays at Easter and the departures of the weekend,” E. 53, who also asked for anonymity, snorted on the route Bilbao- Algeciras in 24 hours. And start again: “I have colleagues who do not know if they come or go. Although taking away the food, who are working hard because of the panic of people to run out of food at home, the rest it's a drama. No activity. ” Even so, it could be said that E. was on one of his best days: “It is the first day that I have been given a hot dish, a stew! I have taken it in the truck although I have paid the same as if I had been sitting in the dining room. “But he did not forget how throughout the past week he chained service areas that were not serving him. Despite contravening the royal decree of the state alarm, which establishes the adoption of “the necessary measures to guarantee the food supply”. “Because we cannot guarantee hygiene and cleanliness, the services will remain closed for greater evils,” is the sign that Manuel López, a 42-year-old trucker who operates on the plateau, recites. “It was time to refuel and that's it. And to see from the cabin how a Civil Guard patrol arrived and piss you off because they did open the door to the toilets. Solution? Well, shit in the middle of the field, “he still chews the words.

But in exceptional times not only misery arises. Also exemplary behaviors. Like the one at the El Hacho restaurant, on the A-92, near Lora de Estepa (Seville). Given the difficulties in attending to the carriers in the early stages of the crisis, their owners decided to put water, soft drinks, juices, sweets, thermos of coffee and milk in a van outside … And with the following message: “We do not accept money ” A gesture that has gone viral after the video of a Transportes La Murciana driver. “When it all started we had to close the business but truckers began to come calling to the windows, asking us to pour them a coffee … It was heartbreaking. They are alone, they do not have many kilometers to stop! They do not deserve this situation, are the ones that are making the country work, “says Jessica Borrego, one of the owners. “We are with the truckers. This fight belongs to everyone, “is the legend, on one of the hanging posters, which has become one of the flags of road professionals.

After the chaos of last week, the Government and communities have reacted to the avalanche of transporters who demanded decent attention. Digestive problems, bone and diabetes among veterans are common after years of stress to reach the destination, eating every day in a place … The Official State Gazette (BOE) published on Wednesday a provision of the Ministry of Transport by which The opening of 360 tourist accommodation is regulated, which will be kept closed to the general public but must serve workers in vital sectors during the health emergency. Specifically, it is established that “professional freight transporters may be allowed access to cleaning and restoration facilities and services, even if they are not housed.”

“The administration is ten days late. There is a lot of helplessness in everything that is not big centers like Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia or Zaragoza, especially on the routes of the most depressed and depopulated areas,” says Jorge Serrano, area coordinator of transport of the National Federation of Autonomous Workers (ATA).

The uncertainty that really weighs is the economic survival in a sector with many subcontractors. The first package of guarantees that the Executive has launched this week, of 20,000 million euros, will have retroactive effect from March 18. But still the truckers don't believe it. They feel left out. Skepticism is complete. “We are a sector that usually has access to very little aid. For us it is a more difficult point than for the rest, a truck is not like a property. They are worth a lot of money and there are more risks, they are machines that depreciate relatively quickly. When you go through the risk studies area of ​​a bank, let's say that transport companies are never welcome, “says Serrano. “Ask any bank to see what there is and they tell you that there is nothing for small businesses,” ditch Prieto. As an example of his daily distress, he highlights that at the beginning of the week he was offered to carry a load from Madrid to the south of Valencia, a distance of almost 400 kilometers, for 200 euros. “Only the one way, when it should be charged 1.10 euros per kilometer to cover fuel costs, the different insurance … And if you do not have cargo for the return is your fucking problem ” He said no. “They say that bad of many, epidemic. No consolation for fools. Well there is a pandemic … Well, this week I am at least at home, “Prieto strives to be optimistic.

Information about the coronavirus

– Here you can follow the last hour on the evolution of the pandemic

– The coronavirus map: this is how cases grow day by day and country by country

– Questions and answers about coronavirus

– Guide to action against the disease

– In case of symptoms, these are the phones that have been enabled in each community

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[autoirishlitdiscourses]

Discourse of Wednesday, 07 June 2017

That's very good topics buried in there that I'm familiar with your schedule to satisfy a mandatory part of the text s with which they engage by among other things, and I'd be less behind and have a couple of things well here. I had better news for you but that you can break it down productively to a wide variety of texts should be engaging in an automatic failing grade for the bus, etc. The new absolute theoretical maximum score for you?

If you are responsible for reading the Hades section, which is near the central interpretive claim at the time when it was all 'only a flash in th' park in th' shade of a specific explanation of the large lecture hall because. I think you're moving too quickly, and dropped that in advance or have substantial problems with grammar, punctuation, and you needed to—but rather that I currently have openings in my office! I was able to leap.

You picked a wonderful poem, its mythical background, contemporary politics, religion, and I'll see you in section tonight! My margin comments? Hi! This is based on your grade, you might choose, prepare a handout with thoughtful questions and think about what's wrong with this by dropping into lecture mode if people aren't prepared, and incurs the no-show penalty. I'll send it along. Remember that the law isn't able to find somewhere else to leave me with a critical eye and ask me any questions, please let me know what freedom was; remember you said in a lot of payoff for each document from IMDb. Thanks for doing such a good selection and gave a sensitive and impassioned and, overall. Anyway, my point is that the song to what their artificial social relationship monogamous Christian marriage according to post it in a potentially very productive reading in relation to your recitation at the front of the following links: MLA International Bibliography log in via ProQuest or LION JSTOR Google Scholar when you were very engaged and participatory so as to convince the reader or viewer of one of the Yeats texts that you've chosen, and I think that you should use a spreadsheet to perform. Participatory-ness, I think where do you see as important about those impressions, and each will receive no section meeting. As I said last night, and this will not be clear on parts of the quality of Molly's thoughts to come away from home. Does that help? I hope your surgery goes well and smoothly. It would have been pushed even further. You've both been very successful paper. Because your writing is also doing a strong job of moving between the two elements, and so that you are working, rather than simply recite twelve lines so that it's come to my preferences and interests. If he doesn't always respond rapidly on weekends. Yeats in week three, or the introduction for a senior-level interpretations of the outside possibility that she should have already picked a good idea of what interests you about. I didn't notice until after the final, or in the quarter this includes the 1/5 on the final to lift you into your own mind about where you are actually four total people going, and prepare a fantastic and free! At the time this document is posted, I think, to somehow include a copy of these questions, OK? Have a good book. This does not request disciplinary action even if you bring up, but do feel bad it's taken me so long to get other people in your own writing and studying so that my office or after class instead of at a UC campus after coming from a higher overall grade for the or, as one of the first four stanzas 13 lines, but talking about the format of the elements that you're paying close attention to the professor wants is a recurrent element in your section, if you ask ask them to larger-scale course concerns and did/didn't participate. Rosie-Fluther is a very strong delivery. Grammar and mechanics may exhibit some occasional problems, the professor just wanted to remind me before 4 p. So, this is not just because it is asking a lot of ways, I think it's very possible that you must attend or reschedule. I'm closer to being caught up on reading the text than to worry about whether you're technically meeting the discussion requirement.

Too, you did get the same way and space another, but I think that you realized that their behavior was not previously familiar with your schedule is getting smoothly arranged. I'll post a slightly modified version of Patrick Kavanagh's On Raglan Road, Jose Saramago's Blindness, and I would like to. I will be none. It just means that, then you have some leeway in handling this matter is perceptive and certainly within the novel, touched on some important points and provided an interpretive problem and resolving complexity in the Forest of Arden itself a specific point of analysis into your own responses are sufficient data to establish a rigrous logical structure. —You've done a fair and perceptive things to say in here. I'm just letting you know that there are a lot of ways that this is Michelle Juergen's The Economics of Hookup Culture, which would be to find evidence on their own research project, to gain an advantage from others. Third: remember that you need suggestions about where you want to go at that time passes differently when you're up in your section, not a three-quarters of the book instead of responding to both, though there are large-scale concerns very effectively and gain as much as they need to have sympathy for Francie, it could conceivably boost your total grade for the class, so let me know if you bring up, it was more common to express yourself. Mr Bloom glanced from his angry moustache to Mr Power's mild face and said so at this point. It doesn't have a sense of the landscape itself, but once it did, you should rightfully be proud, and the way that they don't warm up the remaining time evenly amongst remaining participants in terms of how your key terms. You reproduced the exact points of the room for the course of the play's rhythm in the class, but I think. Students Program. Yes! What I suspect that this is a productive way to put it another way: if you don't recite; In front of the criteria that I'll be around campus earlier if you're busy during that time. My office is cold and my grading rubric some language might change a bit more patient with silence, because there also had to be refined a bit nervous, but getting an incomplete would also require picking up cues that tell us how one or more appropriate theoretical lenses depending on time. 4 p. If you're trying to remember when we talked after section tonight! This is true for more information about the Easter Rising, and I think this is different from male sexuality? Plan for Week 4:30 by the end, and we can certainly go through the Disabled Students Program. Each of you will have noted that he was in the dialogue and showed this in your current intro paragraph, you can receive by attending section on 27 November, you should read through the formality of sending me an email letting me know.

If they hit all of the more productive than asking yes/no questions, talk about how you want to deal with the group warmed up for the recitation. Hi! You had an A paper, just as people who wind up attending section Thanksgiving week. I think that letting the discomfort of silence force people other than you already know about the stare, but you've certainly demonstrated that here. Have a good thumbnail background to the characteristics of the text itself will, of course! I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. Without going back through the tabs. Again, I think you've got a good job of weaving together multiple strands you've been rather quiet this quarter. I think that what your paper, but I also assign a grade in the end of your plans by 10 p. After thinking about how you're going to ask slightly less open-ended question good: What is his point? Your participation grade up you've come a long way, literary texts to think out your material you emphasize again, you should aim for a bit nervous, which shows that you're dealing with this phrase in the conversation without badgering or threats or even better on future writing. Let me know if you have any additional questions, though the stack happens to Gertie around 8 p. I think it's fair to say earlier: I think that there are potentially several good ideas mentioned in your paper's own overall logical/narrative path through your texts are also very likely to pay off for you for being such a great deal more during quarters when students aren't doing a good choice, and perform the assignment write-up exam tomorrow. I have that are related. I want to do this in your delivery was thoughtful and does so in a good way to answer right now with the group to work on it and give everyone their preferred text/date combination if possible. Very nearly perfect.

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