STOP THE ROCKETS STOP BOMBING LISTEN TO THE WOMEN

STOP THE ROCKETS STOP BOMBING LISTEN TO THE WOMEN

Stop the bombing Stop the  rockets listen to the women  by Celine Leduc

Bombs fly in the night sky. Bombs fly at dusk and dawn.  It is raining It, is raining bombs and blood.  The earth is soaked in the blood of the innocent and not so innocent.  Men justify the war to bring peace, however the region is in pieces.  Torn by the violence. Stop bombing! Stop the rockets!  Lives are shattered, families torn apart, women and children suffer the loss they cry, their tears are real as they mourn the loss of life.  For years women have asked, have demanded STOP the bombings! STOP the rockets! STOP the killing!  Stop the violence! We, women, WANT PEACE for our children.  No man listens, men say we are here to protect our women and children.   Yet, they attack, send missiles to destroy a country, they refuse to recognize.   No man sits to negotiate for peace. The men are too busy rocketing the other side forcing the hand of defense.   Yes on the nightly sky rockets fly, birds no longer fly fearing death, children become orphans, women widows because men want to protect them.   Women voices are heard around the world and no one seems to listen to them, why?  Women all women want peace! 

Women from the area have a very long tradition of saving the area, it is recorded in the Bible, Qur’an and Hadith and in oral history and legends.  The knowledge is passed down from mother to daughter, in the saying: “behind every great man there is a woman”.   A new version or tradition should be started:  A man’s greatness is:  his willingness to listen to women”.   Let us not forget or remember that behind every name there is a story of glory, the name whispered in your ear has a history and tradition.  

Women in the Hebrew Bible are fewer than men however their contribution matters, in Egypt, Sudan, Persia, Yemen or North Africa. 

Egypt:   From Mesopotamia they came Abraham and Sara to Egypt to buy land from Pharaoh.  Pharaoh wanted Sarah as his wife thinking she was the sister of Abraham, however she was his wife.  Pharaoh almost sinned and as a penance he gave Sara and Abraham Hagar.   Hagar was a reminder of what happened in Egypt.  Hagar was Sarah’s handmaiden and became Abraham concubine at the request of Sarah.  Sarah was barren and Hagar gave him a son Ishmael. There was rivalry and enmity between the women, Sarah was unkind.  Sarah told Abraham send her and her son away after giving birth to Isaac.  Abraham did not listen and was told by the Lord, listen to Sarah, your wife.  Sarah freed Hagar and Ishmael.  The two sons of Abraham grew up they loved their mothers and gave them grandchildren,   because they listened to their mothers they prospered and had a long lineage, they fought as brothers to be the first. We know Ishmael was Abraham’s first born however for Hagar and Sarah both were first born.  Abraham foresaw the enslavement of his people and the birth of a liberator. They became slaves as predicted and   bad Pharaoh was cruel to the Hebrew.  He said first born Hebrew male were to be killed.   His daughter (Bethia Judaism) wife (Assyah Islam) did not agree they rebelled and disobeyed Pharaoh.  Miriam was told by her mom, make a basket and put my son in it, and watch what happens.  Bethia or Assyah saw the basket with the child, he was adopted and raised in Pharaoh’s House, and his name was Moses/Musa.  Civil disobedience by women saved lives. Moses said: Let my people go and they were let go. Bad Pharaoh decided to follow them and kill them, the Nile parted engulfed Pharaoh and his army, and they were saved. Out of Egypt (K’Met, Kush or Nubia modern day Sudan) we have Nefertiti who believed in monotheism, the one god ruled over her land.  Her reign was prosperous, here people worked, ate lived at peace because they were no wars.  She has a tomb in the desert and women from all religious background go and seek advice and inspiration, she inspired Dr. Ada Aharoni who founded IFLAC (International Forum of Literature and Peace). Leah Rabin and Jehan e-Sadat talked to their husbands and told them women want peace, peace was brokered, and the women went on to speak peace even after their husbands were killed.   Romans came to conquer the land of Nubia/Kush Augustus Caesar a misogynist who thought women were not to rule,  gave his word to the Queen I will not invade.   Amanishakheto of Nubia/Kush signed and honored the peace treaty which was sealed with a bust of none other than Augustus. He plotted against her, lusted after her land, after defeating and killing Cleopatra VII and stealing her land and her treasure.  Augustus did not respect the peace treaty, sent in an army only to be defeated.  As his army fell so did his bust its pedestal. Amanishakheto left it at the entrance of her palace so everyone would walk in would walk on the Augustus head. She did not go to war, she did not invade other lands.  She defended herself protected her people and put an end to aggression and invasion.

Persia: Jews lived in exile in Persia, the story of Esther is a lesson for a good marriage based n trust and respect between a man and a woman.   King Ahasuerus had been married to Vashti who did not listen to her husband, when he asked her to come to him, she refused hence he divorced her.  Esther is an example of courage and wisdom and listened to her uncle Mordecai when he overheard a plot. Haman and his wife were dishonest and plotted a war against Jews.  Haman was appointed to be the greatness rank by Ahasuerus. Esther was told warn King Ahasuerus of this plot, she shivered as she had to convey her husband to her chambers.  She knew what happened to Vashti.  He was a good husband and came heard and listened to her concern as she told him of the plot of Haman. The Persian King Ahasuerus, had a decision to make, listen to Haman and go to war with the Jews (Hebrew) or seek peace and listen to his wife.  He listened to Esther and war was averted. Haman the evil and his wife were defeated and disgraced. 

War in the time of Judges. Deborah (bee) was a judge, a prophetess and a leader of men and women.  Deborah a prophetess saw Barak defeat Sisera the general bent of killing Jews after a treaty had been signed by Jabin the Canaanite.  She foresaw he would not stop. She predicted a woman would kill him and restore peace in a war torn area. Deborah thought it was her duty, however it was not to be.  A woman from the other side Jael was the chosen one.  She fed him, and then killed Sisera to restore peace in the area.  At times a woman needs to kill the one whose heart is hard and so full of hate. 

Later on Rome still wanted more land and they met again defeat at the hands of women, two sister lived in castles on each side of a river.  Yes, Zainab and Zubeida went on defending their home, their land, their people, after their husbands fell at the hands of Romans. Fearless they took up the fight to save their kingdom, they won. 

Saudi Arabia:  Khadijah of Mecca was a widow and a prosperous business woman.  She hired a young man named Mohammed and asked for his hand.  This young man was known for his honesty and skills as a negotiator.   He had a vision on mount Arafat that troubled him.  An angel came to him and told him to read.  She counselled him and encouraged him.  She knew before him that he was a prophet.  He listened to her, his fears melted away accepted his fate and he became the Seal of the prophet and Islam was born.  He won the heart of millions as he was a fair and honest man who did much for the women of his time.  He stopped infanticide, gave women the right to divorce, gave strict instruction to his Companions do not kill women and children at war. When his wife Khadija died he went to Medina, he married more than one woman many were war widows.  He consulted women his wives.  

North Africa: Tin Hinan the legend of the Berber a Queen, a mother of her people is the founder of the Berber, her legacy released by the desert her mummified body showed she wore: 7 gold, 7 silver bracelets adorn her arm two ring one silver one gold.  Leader of men during the day and mother at night. Just like Kenza a legend loved by all, for some she is Jewish others Muslim some think she is Christian.   She fought to keep her people free never attacked and yet her death is at times violent or peaceful, she is loved by all and a strong roe mode for women who are leaders.  One story tells us she was Jewish fought against Muslims and yet is respected by Muslims today because she was honest and fought to have her people free.  A statue stands tall in Algeria, she was a great Berber Queen.  

Yemen:  Remember Queen Sheba who wanted to meet Solomon because he was wise.  She rules over Yemen traded all over the Arab world including Israel and Ethiopia. Arwa al-Sulayhi of Yemen was a malika (queen) who ruled over Yemen under Muslim rule.  Women ruled in fairness and many were brilliant business women leaders of the armies and very much women who thought not only of saving the lives of their children but for all children to be safe. These women ruled with their husbands were respected by them and listen to. Some were widows and other may be single we do not know legends do not tell us, they only speak of their legacy of peace.  They did not attack but defended themselves. The women lived in the dessert, in cities and were guided by the Northern star protected by the moon, shown the way when the sun rose in the east they prayed to the one God and Hawk spoke to them gave advice.   A few years ago a young woman from Yemen sang old traditional songs Ofra Haza she was loved by Israeli and by Yemenite, she used her music to bring people together.  She died a sad death yet she is a star every claims as their own, Yemen and Israel.  

As I gaze at the nightly sky one bird flies, a lone hawk. He is not a hunter or the hunter’s guide.  He is not the warrior he is a fearless bird.  Hawk does not fear bombs, he is the night watchman who informs women by telling them what men are doing at war.  Hawk has an all seeing eye.  Hawk and women know men act badly when women are not around.   Listen to hawk not the manmade symbol of hawk that symbolizes war and destruction but the hawk that flies fearless and free telling women and all children to be safe and hide.   Hawk advises women to take a stand and be firm, men need to be reminded that to be strong a man MUST listen to the women, a strong man is a man who listens to his mother, his wife, his daughters and all women.  STOP the rockets and bombs.  Silence the sirens so we can hear the message from Hawk, the voices of women who want peace for their children and grandchildren.  Are they not daughters of Hagar and SarahNefertiti, Kenza Tin Hinan as all come out of Adama (the earth)?  Adama feeds all her children, however she cries tears of blood because of the blood shed?  

THE BOMBS HAVE STOPPED IS THERE PEACE!

The bombs have stopped.  Politicians have negotiated a cease fire but have done nothing for a lasting peace.  The nightly sky is quiet the moon shines bright and the northern star can be seen by the nightly travelers.  Silence reigns no more sirens, no more rockets no more bombs to disturb my sleep.  I cannot sleep my body cannot rest as it expects the sirens to go off, or the rocket or bombs to drop and explode.  Finally, sleep comes one eye open, one ear listening to hear those sirens or bombs. A month goes by and finally I can sleep. Something falls, I jump out of bed fearing the worst, as I go to investigate, I realize it is not a bomb but something fell on the floor.  Shaking I go back to bed but I cannot sleep.  My mind is not at peace. Life goes on tomorrow today we will rebuild our homes, our cities our infrastructure.  Men go and rebuild, earn money rebuild our lives. Women help and support the men and care for children. No time to think about events the bombs have stopped but peace has not come.     

Months turn into years and still peace has not come.  Events have been shoved under the carpet, feelings have been ignored, and at times anger sets in. Why am I so jittery?  Why this anger? I did not always feel that way, what happened to me.  I scream instead of speaking gently. I curse my neighbor because he is not like me.  Many years ago our families were friends, our children would play with each other.  We worked and celebrate our holidays.  We were family! Why is it no longer so?   I want my children to know the joy that once reigned in our village.  What to do?  Knock on my neighbor’s door, a request “can we talk?”  “Yes!” We sit, talk about the past, talk about the war and the bombs, the war neither of us wanted.  Emotions run high, pain surfaces, as we remember our dead.  As we talk about those who died, we wonder together did he kill my brother, sister, mother, father, child, family or friend?  Neither of us can answer that question, we will never know. The reality is that they died because of a bomb, a missile, and or a bullet. We sit looking at each other and realize we have choices to make.  Can we rebuild our former friendship or do we remain enemies.  

Men and women sit and talk, about the war and justice!  No one can pinpoint what started the bombing. Justice was used we want justice, yet it became just ice as hearts froze and blindness set in. The blindness that prevents us from seeing the whole picture. We were blinded by our anger, our pain that became hate.  No one remembers the spark that grew into the fires of hell, the war.  All we know is the after effects, the death toll, and the casualties of war.  It does not matter who lost more people, what matters is that lives were lost.  People were maimed, lost an eye, a leg an arm or a hand.  We could no longer look in each other’s eye fearing to see pain and/or guilt. We could no longer walk to our friend’s house yet we could limp. No longer were we able to extend our hand in friendship as a piece of shrapnel blew it away. We talked about the devastating consequences of war the loss of life, of limbs, but more importantly the loss of trust and broken friendships.  

We open our hearts and our minds, promise one another to work on our friendship. Talk openly about the hell that war is to our children and grandchildren.  We will take responsibility for our actions and make our politicians honest and responsible.  Instead of justice we talk about fairness and equality to be negotiated with words and concrete actions.  We talked, we yelled, we screamed our pain and anger, we sat we talked, we listened and we heard each’s others pain.  We empathized and refused to sympathize as neither of us was a victim per say but we were survivors of a war.  We sit, drink and eat together a little bit wiser because we fed our spirit, our mind and our body with words and finally we can feel peace in our heart.  We are at peace with ourself and the other. The bombs have stopped and we found our way to peaceful coexistence one person at a time, one family at a time one village at a time. 

THE EPIPHANY OF PAUL AND PAULINE

THE EPIPHANY OF PAUL AND PAULINE  by Celine Leduc 2014 

On the road to Damascus Saul heard a voice:

“Why do you persecute me?”

Saul had an epiphany and became Paul.

He saw the error of his way

He was blinded, then he saw the light

He stopped persecuting Christians.

As he saw the light his focus changed

His mission was to convert Jews and Gentiles.

Disregarded and disobey Jewish law he says.

He made deals with the Greeks or Romans

The end is near! “He” is coming back.

Soon the Messiah will here. 

Paul writes the end is coming.

Rejoice the end of the world is coming

A prophet he became

An Apostle he was made

He heard and followed the voice.

Why do you persecute me? 

On the road to Quebec Pauline had an epiphany

She heard a voice: “You are persecuted?”

You are the White “N” of America!

The English persecuted you!

You are the chosen race, the “Pure Laine”

Alleluia: I believe you are the Messiah!

You cannot take his name in vain

He is a Bishop by his name Levesque

A father of the Church of language

Yes she voted for Law 101

He commanded: Church and State separate

In his honor she introduced Bill 60.

The prophetic Bishop said:  “Religion is your doom.”

Religion blinds you, you cannot think, you must submit

To the unseen god, I am your messiah in the Flesh and I declare:

If you wear a Kippah, a Hijab, a Turban surely you lose your mind

Those cover will steal your thoughts subjugate your mind

They will zap your intelligence and you sense of justice.

Rejoice, rejoice citizens, the end is near.

Canada will no longer be, your doom!

Uncover your head, submit to my will 

Disobey Canadian and religious laws!

For I am equal to man this the law.

Is this why you act manly or mannish?

Canadian Hypocrisy at its worst: The humiliation and misery of Canada’s First Nation People

Canadian Hypocrisy at its worst: The humiliation and misery of Canada’s First Nation People

In the past, Canadian Prime Minister and the Quebec Premier have made both noble and inspiring speeches in regard to the lifelong struggles and challenges of South African legend Nelson Mandela as he and the African National Congress fought to end apartheid in their country. 

In the mid 1980s, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was one of the first elected officials of any Western country to publicly support Mandela and demand his release by ending Canada’s trade with South Africa’s apartheid government.  

Provincial Canadian leaders have even used the ending of South Africa’s apartheid White-ruled government as a rallying cry / catalyst for their own political agenda. 

Current Prime Minster and leader of Canada’s conservative political party, Steven Harper and Pauline Marois the current premier of Quebec, upon hearing of Mandela’s death gave emotional speeches praising the legacy of the man the world refers to as “Madiba”. 

Like all great thinkers, Madiba from his early years understood that a “rising tide lifts all boats” so he earnestly fought until the day he died to provide every South African child with the opportunity to receive a top-notch education. From the very beginning Mandela articulated that receiving a great education was the best hope to uplift Black and Brown South Africans from tyrannical / generational poverty.

Hypocrisy is an evil that makes liars of all politicians

Although in essence most Canadian politicians have outwardly supported the initiatives of Nelson Mandela to improve Black South Africa’s educational system, in Canada the same courtesy has not been given to the indigenous people of the First Nations.

In short “Indians” of First Nations are subjected to antiquated and prejudiced Federal and Provincial laws that emasculate Canada’s indigenous people. 

Prime Minister Harper may apologize for the Residential Schools system abused and forced Indians” to become “White” to lose their Mother tongue and become for subject cruel medical experiments, however, apologies alone do not equate to fixing a broken educational system. First Nations have opened their own schools:  they teach their kids, their language, their history and their ways.  At this time these schools are being subsidized, if this law passes they might lose funding. 

As it currently stands, the politics of Canada, but particularly Canadians who desire an independent Quebec [“Le Parti Quebecois”] is not a friendly political party to reforming the educational standards of First Nation schools. 

Throughout the province of Quebec there exist language laws that legally mandate the French language as the official language of the province, hence affecting the comprehension of lessons being taught in “Indian Schools”.  Food for thought….”If textbooks supplied by the Province are all printed in conversational French, and in some reserves they are unilingual French then is it possible that some native students may not fully understand the text or other Natives?” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that inter-generational misunderstandings via communication between the elders and then “conqueror and the conquered” is most likely to beget generational poverty.

Nationalism in Quebec or neo-colonialism and the new apartheid

Without a doubt the “French only laws” in the Quebec Province has created a discrete yet distinct division between people as some schools are taught in English others are taught in French.  Religion was blamed as a deterrent to success, religiously run schools like the Residential schools have closed in Quebec. The Duplessis children suffered and so did First Nation kids who were abused.   These schools were overseen by religious organizations, sanctioned by the government. Since the quiet revolution there is no confessional schools but English or French language schools.   Provincial language laws promotes unilingual (French only) schools and has become the new religion to obey.  In both cases it was political will of the conqueror that was imposed. 

Far too often in Canada it is because of culturally-suffocating-Provincial-laws that oversee and govern the life / education system of “Indians” that causes a “Native identity crisis” is manifested. If the Bill on FNEA as proposed by Harper passes it will give Quebec too much power over First Nation. 

Quebec Nationalism or the Parti Quebecois agenda wants to rule over to be in charge, have dominion over everyone regardless of their culture, religion or ethnicity, yet the only ones in charge are “White” French speaking and immigrants to this land. 

Praise Astérix follow Caesar

Astérix le Gaulois fought against the Roman and the preservation of his language and culture, he is a cartoon strip.  The Parti Quebecois claims to fight for all “Quebecois” however unlike Astérix they  are pontificating bureaucrats and act like Romans who care little about maintaining the integrity of Native customs and language scuttle about the country legislating and passing laws that strip away Native identity.

Case in point, during the recent “Maple Spring” tuition reform was at the forefront of public debate, to overthrow a Liberal government, rowdy acting Franco-Canadian-Quebecois students who were vehemently demanding free university tuition for their self and future students, never uttered a single sentence about the plight of public education in First Nation Schools; not one sentence, not one word.

My main concern is that eventually Canada’s First Nation will be relegated in history to the infamous oubliette of France. The oubliette (loosely translated as the forgotten ones), were the prisoners of French prisons that were left to rot, die and wither away.

Praise Mandela emulate the Afrikaner apartheid

Traditionally governments of Canada but specifically Quebec, have a long history of violating First Nation treaties remember 1990, and the Oka Crisis! Currently Bill 60 proposes to make any wearing any religious symbols illegal, this includes the forgotten First Nation who were forced to cover in the French way, like French women, today the government wants all women to uncover regardless of religious tradition or culture.   Province are in charge of education and if the First Nation Education Act passes Quebec will be in charge of First Nation.  No commission on reasonable accommodation or on religious symbols is required to understand that Quebec will be administered by “White” only French “pure-laine”. 

Like the Dutch in South-Africa (Afrikaners) in 20^th century who imposed apartheid, newly appointed French Quebecois Prime Ministers wants to be in a position to create their “perfect French educated-First Nation-colonies” that in essence will be only loyal to the interests of French speaking Quebec which is creating a new apartheid.

The forced assimilation of any “conquered people” into the culture of their “conqueror” is equivalent to systematically erasing the losing side’s history / identity. The conqueror becomes the identity thief.

It’s time for political hypocrisy in Canada and in Quebec to end. Speaking elegantly at Nelson Mandela’s funeral is good for the International Press and may win a few national political points, however without progressively enacting on the principles of promoting human dignity and civil liberties that Nelson Mandela stood for in life and stands for in his legacy, words without meaning only give comfort to fools, and it is my sincere wish that no Canadian is ever considered a fool.

In closing I beseech my brethren and sisters who call Canada home to, “Stand up and recognize the sacred sovereignty of our First Nation neighbors, it is possible to uplift a people via a great education without destroying their history, of this I am certain”.   

Quebec proposed Charter of Values attacks freedom of religion as they want to ban all religious symbols

This is the first in a series of poems looking at what people remember and forget.  

JE ME SOUVIENS  (I REMEMBER) by Céline Leduc 12/2013

I REMEMBER is the motto of Quebec

I remember the English colonized me.

I forget I colonized First Nations.

I remember multiculturalism is bad.

I forget it allowed me to keep my culture.

I remember the Church is my downfall

I forget it was Louis XIV and Napoleon politics

I remember my language matters

I forget I imposed language on First Nations.

I remember my culture

I want others to forget their culture

Quebec’s  new motto should be

I FORGET -- J’OUBLIE