Wednesday, August 24, 2016

the question on everyone's lips .....

TWO HIJABI WOMEN AND THE REPORTERS by Celine Leduc August 24, 2016
inspired by Chana Miriam Opert

Journalists flocked the two HIJABI winners
The athletes who won MEDALS at the Rio Olympics
Cameras click --- They are PORTS HEROES!
The questions everyone want to know.
DO YOU WEAR BURKINI?

The burkini IS front page news
European men and women know
Burkini is a symbol of Islamic submission
These women are not FREE
WE LOVE WOMEN OUR WOMEN ARE FREE

Women WE LOVE it is for their own good
WE want them free YET what about Yezidi
You prove: Muslim men ARE evil barbarian men
YET you are deaf blind and mute re Yezidi
LOVE women you DO NOT

Nigeria pleads “Bring back our Girls”
You talk Burkini hijab niqab
You pity the poor oppressed Muslim women
Yet you bully them to submit to your will.
IS THAT LOVE (of women)?

You claim you want to free Muslim women
You forcibly enforce and impose your laws
Make it legal so I can bully legally
Do nothing too free those kidnapped
IS THAT FREEDOM?

Bring BACK OUR GIRLS in Nigeria
BRING BACK OUR YEZIDI GIRLS
STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN
Yet you ask SPORTS HEROS what’s on everyone’s mind and lips:
DO YOUR WEAR A BURKINI?


Friday, August 05, 2016

DEDICATED TO MY YEZIDI FRIENDS

YEZIDI by Celine Leduc August 2 2016

Never heard of them prior to 2014
Never knew they existed
Yezidi existed prior to 2014.

Lived in LIMBO in the obscure
In an alternate reality
Where all is obscure

Shadows yes they are shadows
Reviled and defiled by zealots
Who propagate hate based on lies.

Yezidi in Iraq were well known
The Daesh knew they existed
Their lineage is pre- Adam

The People of “monotheism”
Claim they are of a different lineage
One Earth one Adam one God

One sun --- children of the Sun
One Adam --- One earth
One God one Yezidi People.

To know Yezidi exist
To bring their story to light
Out of the shadow they shine.

 GENOCIDE by Celine Leduc August 2 2016

Images of invaders well-armed
Mercenaries or soldiers invade
Lust over land and women.
Women children are victims.

Genocide the extermination
The execution termination
End of a people overtaken
By brutal force is a genocide.

Another type of genocide
One that is created by neglect
Their story is untold unrecorded
A people without a history

A people with a story of Creation
A people with no wars, no invasion
A people targeted for they hold a truth
A secret so bold they are Eden.

Mercenaries are ruthless
They rape, sodomize enslave
They want to destroy Eden
Call the heathen as they kill

Their blood soaks the earth
Tears of blood are shed
Shed by those who know truth.
Speak up and loud remember

Remember the slain
Remember the genocide
They are not Heathen
They are a reminder of Eden.


Sunday, June 12, 2016

LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA TO JUSTIN TRUDEAU PM OF CANADA AND STEPHANE DION CANADA RE DR. HOMA HOODFAR

 Dear President Obama 

I am not an American citizen however my mother was born in Upper State NY and I was born in Canada.  

I have written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mr. Dion of international affairs, RE: DR HOMA HOODFAR. However, there is a problem in Canada as noted in my letter to the Prime Minister   Canada severed all tights with Iran in 2012 Hence I am coming to you because you have diplomatic ties with Iran and you might be able to do something to help her come back to Canada.  

Dr. Homa Hoodfar is a professor from Concordia University anthropology dept.  Her being imprisoned in Iran makes me very sad.  She is not a political activist.  She is not against the government of Iran.  She always gave students a balanced point of view about women and Iran.   She is a scholar and an anthropologist but most importantly a human being who has a great heart.  She has a stroke needs medical attention and her medication.  She needs to see her lawyer and her family needs to know what is happening. On a humanitarian level can you please intercede in her favor?  Thank you Sir. 

Dr. Hoodfar prior to her retirement was always ready to help students if we did not understand the culture or ethos of Iran.  I consulted her more than once when I had a radio show on CKUT FM Twisting Tongue 1995 to 2001.  She never said no, when she could help. She would guide me and refer me to the proper sources or key women.  I had her as a guest a few times and she was a pleasure to interview and work with, as she described women from the Middle East and Iran as being strong and resilient.  She is not against the religion of Islam nor the leadership in Iran.  She travelled many times to Iran as a scholar and was never detained or accused of any crime.  
Canada does not have an embassy in Iran since 2012. However, I am sure that Canada can intervene in her favor as a woman who has dual citizenship Canadian/Iranian whether she travelled with an Iranian or a Canadian passport.   She is Canadian, she is a woman and a scholar. You need to find ways to help her get back home to Canada and her loving family and friends.   

Celine 

Monday, May 23, 2016

LET US STOP CELEBRATING COLONIALISM --- LET US CELEBRATE FREEDOM THROUGH TRUTH

LET US STOP CELEBRATING COLONIALISM --- LET US CELEBRATE FREEDOM THROUGH TRUTH

TODAY is celebrating Colonialism British and French hence perpetuating colonialism and neocolonialism and negating all those who are NOT White European making it an all-White holiday that also celebrates a history that is full of slavery, domination and celebrates White supremacy and privilege.  Let us celebrate freedom by facing our history acknowledging our past and start a new tradition that is inclusive of all. 

Queen Victoria ruled over the world and knew that the sun never set on the British Empire. During her reign we Canada was a Dominion and we were given the BNA Act (British North American Act) and the “Indian Act” in both cases women were not persons under the Law.  Queen Victoria did not believe in suffrage for women.  Meaning women did not have the vote, even if requested by Suffragettes.   First Nation women who could vote lost their right and so did men because they were considered to be “ORIENTAL” after all they were renamed “Indian” meaning they came from India. They were serfs and now under THE law they became children like women they were not able to make decision on their own they need a man a White man of European background to tell them what to do and how to do it, that man is known as the “great White Father” Not so great in my opinion.   Because Father did not know best.  As a woman how can I celebrate a woman who did not believe I could think and vote?   As a woman how can I celebrate colonialism?  Nine (9) provinces and territories celebrate Queen Victoria but not in Quebec. 

Quebec does not celebrate because they claim it is not proper as England colonized France, therefore they decided to celebrate First Dollard des Ormeaux and then settle on the Patriots of 1837.  The Patriots are also a symbol of colonialism.   They have been made into heroes by some French speaking Canadians as they fought against England hence they promote war and not PEACE. Secondly, the ones from Chateauguay wanted to go to war with Mohawks and with the British.  On a Sunday morning when Mohawks were attending Mass in the Catholic Church they made their way to Kahnawake to steal their hunting guns and attack the Mohawk’s.  One woman who was late saw them coming and alerted the men at Church and the Patriots were defeated and rounded up and given to the British.  It was not the place of Mohawks to put them on trial it was for the governments of Upper Canada to deal with the men who were at war with both the Mohawks and England.  They wanted to rule over Quebec and be under France and the politicians of the time enforced the Code of Napoleon in 1804, where women all women had NO RIGHTS.  The leadership of France was and is Misogynistic.  As a woman how can I celebrate the Patriots who wanted to make sure I had no RIGHTS…  Plus, these men wanted to keep their slaves Black or First Nation.   England had banned slavery in all its colonies and Upper and Lower Canada were colonies.  How can I celebrate colonialism, neo-colonialism, misogyny and slavery as a Woman? 

Be it Queen Victoria day or Patriot day represents oppression of First Nation those of African descent which include former slaves, and makes Jews, First Nation, African-Canadians and women second class citizens…    LET US STOP CELEBRATING COLONIALISM MISOGYNY AND INTELLECTUAL SLAVERY.  


SOLUTION push for a new holiday that celebrates FREEDOM based on truth.  

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

THE POWER OF A HUG BY Celine Leduc

PERSONAL INFORMATION about my life and what has made me very happy and cry. I was brought up Catholic and I did not agree with a great deal of prejudiced peddled religiously and also politically by leaders by men. I never believed Jews killed Jesus or that Muslim were devils. Religious leaders wanted me to go to heaven and politicians wanted to go to war. My society the men lied to me big time and I wanted to know truth that included everyone.
I met women and became friends with Jewish who came from Egypt. The taught me that religion was NOT the problem it was politics and nationalism. I did my MA degree on Jewish women who came from Egypt and lived in Montreal adding a section about Egypt and their struggle.
To be fair and honest I met Muslim and Copt women who also came from Egypt, to get more information and be accurate in my depiction of society and the reality women of all three religions faced.
I did address the facts that Jews in Egypt were targeted by the leaders that Umm Khaltum did call for their death but also that there were friends and even some Jewish men and women did marry Muslims and Copt Christian. Truth was much more complex and much more intricate that I was told. Women all attended Catholic School in Alexandria (Jewish Christian and Muslim) The schools were run by nuns from France because of colonialism
Most Canadian or Quebec research had been done here by using books and travel logs written by men who had an agenda. They called themselves anthropologist and NEVER talked to the people of the area it was their narrow-minded opinion that was full of prejudice, arrogance and superiority. Women from Egypt talked about themselves and their life their friends their family that often included women or men of different religions or ethnicity. Their reality was quite different that what history or anthropological books were about ass they were based on voyage logs, travel guides, missionary diaries which were used to write books and not one of those academics asked the people. In the religion Dept. of Concordia we used books and oral history to write about a group any group.
People read my MA thesis and appreciated my work I was given the greatest of all honors AJOE Association des Juifs Originaires d'Egypte included me in their association not as a member only but on the board. Since a person had to be Jewish and from Egypt they gave me the nationality and the religion no rabbi needed to official the member voted me in unanimously. Same thing happened with some Egyptian who were Muslim they included me as both Egyptian and Muslim women did no conversion nor government involved. BTW Egyptians call or refer to me as the Blonde Egyptian (blondes are not dumb in Egypt they are cool intelligent people LOL). Because of Egyptian or of those born in Egypt (women and men) I am not only Catholic by birth but also Jewish and Muslim and Egyptian. One friend jokingly said if you are banned from one heaven you can come to Jewish or Muslim heaven because you are loved by us.
Yes, I did speak of the horror of nationalism and radicalization due to fanatics but also of the people. I love the people from Egypt and my heart is partly in Egypt and the other part in Canada.
This experience lead me to.First Nation people and I became friends with Mohawks of Kahnawake later with Ojibwa and Shalish and Cree many have adopted me unofficially as a friend because I used the same technique looking at the "Big Minds" and their lies and adding the voice of the people.
It all started because of a big hug a woman gave me, when I was ten years old, she was Black and I use to play with her son and was told by my father not to play with him. I was so angry at my father, found it unfair on his part. I went to my friend's mother and cried and ranted all she did was give me a hug and told me "I was right" she added that I needed to listen to my father however but I was RIGHT. A hug can change a life it did mine.


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

poems-on-womanhood-by-shirani-rajapakse/

http://learningandcreativity.com/three-poems-on-womanhood-by-shirani-rajapakse/

Two Poems on Womanhood by Shirani Rajapakse

March 29, 2016 | By 
Poetry on womanhood by Sri Lankan poet Shirani Rajapakse as part of Rhythm Divine, Kolkata’s collaboration with 6th Woman Scream International Art and Poetry Festival 2016.
But a poetess could soar to places no teacher could go.
The Poetess
She called herself a
poetess because she liked
the sound of it. Much
better than calling herself
a teacher. So plain, so
common,
so like the girl next
door. But a poetess
could soar
to places no teacher
could go. So she
told all she met she was a
poetess. A teacher too, but
now a poetess. It
was like graduating
from one level to the
next. The simple folks didn’t
understand, they thought
she had done something
great. She walked with a
spring to her step. Her
expression serious. They turned
around as they saw her pass.
She felt such pride.
At last
to be known. Even if to
just a few. They did
not know she had
nothing to show.
(Republished from the author’s blog)

Woman of the House
His voice lifted her. She was
caught in the light of his eyes. His words
guided her on her way.
He moved his lips and her arms rose
to obey. She picked up the load
silently groaning at the weight. Too heavy
for a frail body like hers already
battered like an old ship in a stormy sea.
He told her it was so and she
did as he bid. He left her to her chores to
indulge in more important things. Later
in the evening he returned
to inspect and smiled
at her effort. She moved back into her shell.
Her day was done but rest was still
far away. The clock hadn’t
struck the hour. Her silent groans
unheard, swallowed,
hard and dry like old chapatti.
(First published in Spark, Mar 5, 2014, India)
This poem is the Sri Lankan poet Shirani Rajapakse’s contribution as part of the 6th Woman Scream International Art and Poetry Festival 2016, the Kolkata chapter of which is being held on March 26.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE YEZIDI ON AUGUST 3

A friend wrote this heart-wrenching article  the day of the genocide and how people are being sold as slaves 

http://criesoftheyazidi.weebly.com/stories

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

A POEM TO COMMEMORATE THE SHOAH

Today is Holocaust remembrance day it reminds us of what hate and indifference can do to people. Soulmates are separated friendships broken people die because of hate ... DISOBEY REFUSE to HATE to be INDIFFERENT Close your ears to the propaganda and open you ears from your soul hear the Creator whisper disobey bad leaders .
I wrote this poem for two friends whose only crime was loving one another in a climate of hate where Jews were vilified by the Nazi and yet these two friends one Jewish on German never stopped loving one another, they were SOULMATES One was shot by borders guards trying to escape the other one died in in Concentration Camp 2 years later. She was trying to go home, to be with her soulmate, to be ONE to be WHOLE.
It is happening now in the Middle East because of Daesh it is happening again in Europe because of immigration and migration Jews, Muslims Roma are the target of hate GROUPS.
This poem is dedicated to all of those who love and remain faithful to the one love in their life regardless of ethnicity, background, religion or skin tone no matter if the leaders tell them to hate. Evil men say: her hate him they disobey and still love and go through adversity because they know the power of TRUE LOVE. They know themselves, their culture their flaws and their strengths they know that love the power of one of wholeness of being complete.
SOULMATES by Celine Leduc January 27 2016
One soul in one spirit
Two bodies are one.
Two hearts one love
The two are ONE
One love two thoughts
They are of one mind.
United by creation
Created out of earth
From dust they came
To dust they go
Two bodies one earth
One love one soul.