Journey Through Life written by Humaira Adam and reviewed by Tasneem PocheeWe were not part of the apartheid era. For children that don’t know what apartheid is they should try Journey Through Life by Humaira Adam. This book explains apartheid clearly and is factual.The book explains the life of a young black girl, Lindiwe who lived during the apartheid times. The book details the suffering of what black people went through where there were no jobs, education was low and facilities were not available. Lindiwe experienced these struggles and lost her father in a massacre. Lindiwe is a good character because we can relate to her.The book is a good book and is written well, it fits the age group. Even though none of the young people experienced racial segregation the setting of the book gives them an idea and feeling of what racial segregation was and they can understand the issues.The book is set in the past and compared to today’s times the setting is total opposite. When reading the book you feel you are part of the setting and share the sorrows of the non-whites in that time.An interesting book which every young child should read!Saturday, October 27, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
Journey Through Life written by Humaira Adam and reviewed by Tasneem PocheeWe were not part of the apartheid era. For children that don’t know what apartheid is they should try Journey Through Life by Humaira Adam. This book explains apartheid clearly and is factual.The book explains the life of a young black girl, Lindiwe who lived during the apartheid times. The book details the suffering of what black people went through where there were no jobs, education was low and facilities were not available. Lindiwe experienced these struggles and lost her father in a massacre. Lindiwe is a good character because we can relate to her.The book is a good book and is written well, it fits the age group. Even though none of the young people experienced racial segregation the setting of the book gives them an idea and feeling of what racial segregation was and they can understand the issues.The book is set in the past and compared to today’s times the setting is total opposite. When reading the book you feel you are part of the setting and share the sorrows of the non-whites in that time.An interesting book which every young child should read!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Character analysis
James Jarvis
James Jarvis undergoes a journey same to that of Kumalo, although he is never reunited with his son, Arthur, physically. Jarvis is a white, English-speaking farmer who lives on a hill above Ndotsheni. When the novel begins, Jarvis is ignorant of or indifferent to the injustices of South Africa. He cares for his farm and his family, and he more or less takes for granted the political system in which he lives. Jarvis’s complacency is shattered when he learns that his son has been killed. He goes to stay with his son’s in-laws, the Harrisons, in Johannesburg, where he learns that Arthur had become a leader in the community, valued by people from all racial groups for his speeches on social justice. Jarvis here realizes that his son had become a stranger to him.
In an effort to understand his son better, Jarvis reads Arthur’s writings about the injustices he perceives in South Africa, and he is moved by his son’s language and ideas. Jarvis does not undergo a political conversion so much as a moral one—he is not interested, for example, by John Kumalo’s speech before the strike at the mines. Once he returns to Ndotsheni, however, he works hard to make things better for the people of the village. He donates milk to the young children and arranges to have a dam built to irrigate the soil better. Additionally, he hires an agricultural expert to teach the farmers to preserve the soil. When he suffers from a second tragedy—the death of his wife—he consoles himself by carrying out his wife’s wish that he build a new church for the community. Jarvis’s efforts require personal sacrifices, as it costs him both money and the respect of many of his peers. It is clear, however, that he has made a firm commitment to the villagers, and, though he is a man of few words, he expresses himself beautifully through his actions.
Stephen Kumalo
Stephen Kumalo is the protagonist and moral compass of Cry, the Beloved Country. He is a quiet, humble man, with a strong faith in God and a clear sense of right and wrong. An Anglican priest, Kumalo cares for his parishioners and presides over the modest church of the village he calls home. By village standards, Kumalo and his wife are middle-class, living in a house with several rooms. They struggle, however, to save money for their son’s schooling and for a new stove. Kumalo is not flawless, and he occasionally erupts in anger and tells lies. Praying to God, however, saves him from temptation, and he always repents when he speaks unfairly.
As the novel begins, Kumalo undertakes his first journey to the city of Johannesburg. He is intimidated and overwhelmed by the city, betraying his simple background. With the help of generous hosts, however, he is able to put his fear aside and search with determination for his son. As the search drags on, we become aware of Kumalo’s physical weaknesses—according to African tradition, he has reached the time in his life when his children should be caring for him. He is forced instead to search for his son. When it becomes clear that Absalom is in grave trouble, Kumalo’s body is further broken by his grief. His faith wavers, too, but he seeks the help of friends in the ministry, who support him and pray with him. By the time Kumalo leaves Johannesburg, he is deeply sad, but his faith is buoyed by the generosity of others. When he returns to his village, Kumalo works to improve the lives of his parishioners. In the end, he faces his son’s death with mourning, but also with a sense of peace.
Absalom Kumalo
Though Absalom is at the center of the plot of Cry, the Beloved Country, he is a somewhat mysterious figure. Having left home like most of the young people of Ndotsheni, Absalom finds work in Johannesburg. For reasons that are never made clear, however, he loses touch with his family and falls into a life of crime. Young and impressionable, Absalom carries a gun for protection, but when he fires the weapon in fear, he ends up killing Arthur Jarvis. Absalom’s basic innocence is affirmed when he confesses everything to the police, and even they seem to suspect his friend Johannes and not him for the murder. Nonetheless, the court holds Absalom solely responsible for the crime. He tries to communicate honestly with Kumalo, though no words can explain what he has done. Originally afraid to die, Absalom appears to reconcile himself to his impending execution and writes respectfully to his mother and father until the time of his death, demonstrating a newfound maturity that allows him to approach death gracefully.
John Kumalo
John Kumalo Stephen Kumalo’s brother. Formerly a humble carpenter and a practicing Christian, John Kumalo becomes a successful businessman and one of the three most powerful black politicians in Johannesburg. He has a beautiful and powerful voice, which he uses to speak out for the rights of black South Africans, but his fear of punishment prevents him from pushing for actual radical change, and he is considered by many to be without courage.
Arthur Jarvis
Arthur Jarvis is murdered before we even hear of him, but his writings provide him with the opportunity to speak for him. A staunch opponent of South Africa’s racial injustices, Arthur Jarvis spent his life at the center of the debates on racism and poverty, and his essays and articles provide answers to many of the novel’s questions. His motives are selfless; he works for change not because he seeks personal glory but because he is weary of the system’s contradictions and oppression. As much as Msimangu, Arthur Jarvis is the solution South Africa needs, and although he is murdered, some hope lives on in his young son.
James Jarvis undergoes a journey same to that of Kumalo, although he is never reunited with his son, Arthur, physically. Jarvis is a white, English-speaking farmer who lives on a hill above Ndotsheni. When the novel begins, Jarvis is ignorant of or indifferent to the injustices of South Africa. He cares for his farm and his family, and he more or less takes for granted the political system in which he lives. Jarvis’s complacency is shattered when he learns that his son has been killed. He goes to stay with his son’s in-laws, the Harrisons, in Johannesburg, where he learns that Arthur had become a leader in the community, valued by people from all racial groups for his speeches on social justice. Jarvis here realizes that his son had become a stranger to him.
In an effort to understand his son better, Jarvis reads Arthur’s writings about the injustices he perceives in South Africa, and he is moved by his son’s language and ideas. Jarvis does not undergo a political conversion so much as a moral one—he is not interested, for example, by John Kumalo’s speech before the strike at the mines. Once he returns to Ndotsheni, however, he works hard to make things better for the people of the village. He donates milk to the young children and arranges to have a dam built to irrigate the soil better. Additionally, he hires an agricultural expert to teach the farmers to preserve the soil. When he suffers from a second tragedy—the death of his wife—he consoles himself by carrying out his wife’s wish that he build a new church for the community. Jarvis’s efforts require personal sacrifices, as it costs him both money and the respect of many of his peers. It is clear, however, that he has made a firm commitment to the villagers, and, though he is a man of few words, he expresses himself beautifully through his actions.
Stephen Kumalo
Stephen Kumalo is the protagonist and moral compass of Cry, the Beloved Country. He is a quiet, humble man, with a strong faith in God and a clear sense of right and wrong. An Anglican priest, Kumalo cares for his parishioners and presides over the modest church of the village he calls home. By village standards, Kumalo and his wife are middle-class, living in a house with several rooms. They struggle, however, to save money for their son’s schooling and for a new stove. Kumalo is not flawless, and he occasionally erupts in anger and tells lies. Praying to God, however, saves him from temptation, and he always repents when he speaks unfairly.
As the novel begins, Kumalo undertakes his first journey to the city of Johannesburg. He is intimidated and overwhelmed by the city, betraying his simple background. With the help of generous hosts, however, he is able to put his fear aside and search with determination for his son. As the search drags on, we become aware of Kumalo’s physical weaknesses—according to African tradition, he has reached the time in his life when his children should be caring for him. He is forced instead to search for his son. When it becomes clear that Absalom is in grave trouble, Kumalo’s body is further broken by his grief. His faith wavers, too, but he seeks the help of friends in the ministry, who support him and pray with him. By the time Kumalo leaves Johannesburg, he is deeply sad, but his faith is buoyed by the generosity of others. When he returns to his village, Kumalo works to improve the lives of his parishioners. In the end, he faces his son’s death with mourning, but also with a sense of peace.
Absalom Kumalo
Though Absalom is at the center of the plot of Cry, the Beloved Country, he is a somewhat mysterious figure. Having left home like most of the young people of Ndotsheni, Absalom finds work in Johannesburg. For reasons that are never made clear, however, he loses touch with his family and falls into a life of crime. Young and impressionable, Absalom carries a gun for protection, but when he fires the weapon in fear, he ends up killing Arthur Jarvis. Absalom’s basic innocence is affirmed when he confesses everything to the police, and even they seem to suspect his friend Johannes and not him for the murder. Nonetheless, the court holds Absalom solely responsible for the crime. He tries to communicate honestly with Kumalo, though no words can explain what he has done. Originally afraid to die, Absalom appears to reconcile himself to his impending execution and writes respectfully to his mother and father until the time of his death, demonstrating a newfound maturity that allows him to approach death gracefully.
John Kumalo
John Kumalo Stephen Kumalo’s brother. Formerly a humble carpenter and a practicing Christian, John Kumalo becomes a successful businessman and one of the three most powerful black politicians in Johannesburg. He has a beautiful and powerful voice, which he uses to speak out for the rights of black South Africans, but his fear of punishment prevents him from pushing for actual radical change, and he is considered by many to be without courage.
Arthur Jarvis
Arthur Jarvis is murdered before we even hear of him, but his writings provide him with the opportunity to speak for him. A staunch opponent of South Africa’s racial injustices, Arthur Jarvis spent his life at the center of the debates on racism and poverty, and his essays and articles provide answers to many of the novel’s questions. His motives are selfless; he works for change not because he seeks personal glory but because he is weary of the system’s contradictions and oppression. As much as Msimangu, Arthur Jarvis is the solution South Africa needs, and although he is murdered, some hope lives on in his young son.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Nigeria:3 Abandoned Babies found in Bauchi
Nigeria: 3 Abandoned Babies Found in Bauchi
Daily Trust (Abuja)
31 August 2007Posted to the web 31 August 2007
Ahmed MohammedBauchi
Three babies were found in Bauchi, two in hotel rooms while the other one was found inside the toilet of his mother's house.
Daily Trust investigations revealed that two babies were found dead and one was alive.
Speaking to Daily Trust over the incident the police public relations officer (PPRO), Bauchi state police command, ASP Alhassan Idris Gambo, said " one person, John Mathias of Igbo quarters ward in Bauchi, has reported to the Bauchi township police station that he suspected that the junior sister of his wife, Victoria Andrew, had delivered a baby and thrown it inside the toilet.”
ASP Alhassan added "police went to the house and found the baby which they removed from the toilet and took it to the Bauchi Specialist Hospital where the doctor confirmed the baby dead. The mother of the baby was admitted in the Hospital and maybe charged to court when she recovers from her illness".
The police PPRO said the other two babies; one found in one of the hotels in Yelwa had decomposed when he was found in the dustbin inside the room and the other one survived, adding that police are still investigating the two incidents.
He added, "The Bauchi state police command is worried about the increase in these criminal. Acts any person caught will face the wrath of the law and advised anybody with useful information to come and inform the police.
Daily Trust (Abuja)
31 August 2007Posted to the web 31 August 2007
Ahmed MohammedBauchi
Three babies were found in Bauchi, two in hotel rooms while the other one was found inside the toilet of his mother's house.
Daily Trust investigations revealed that two babies were found dead and one was alive.
Speaking to Daily Trust over the incident the police public relations officer (PPRO), Bauchi state police command, ASP Alhassan Idris Gambo, said " one person, John Mathias of Igbo quarters ward in Bauchi, has reported to the Bauchi township police station that he suspected that the junior sister of his wife, Victoria Andrew, had delivered a baby and thrown it inside the toilet.”
ASP Alhassan added "police went to the house and found the baby which they removed from the toilet and took it to the Bauchi Specialist Hospital where the doctor confirmed the baby dead. The mother of the baby was admitted in the Hospital and maybe charged to court when she recovers from her illness".
The police PPRO said the other two babies; one found in one of the hotels in Yelwa had decomposed when he was found in the dustbin inside the room and the other one survived, adding that police are still investigating the two incidents.
He added, "The Bauchi state police command is worried about the increase in these criminal. Acts any person caught will face the wrath of the law and advised anybody with useful information to come and inform the police.
Dogs adopt baby in rural Kenye
By Rodrique Ngowi
Nairobi -A nursing dog foraging for food retrieved an abandoned baby girl in a forest in Kenya and carried the infant to its litter of puppies, witnesses said on Monday.The stray dog carried the infant across a busy road in a poor neighborhood near the Ngong Forests in the capital, Nairobi, Stephen Thoya told the independent Daily Nation newspaper.The dog apparently found the baby on Friday in the plastic bag in which the infant had been abandoned, said Aggrey Mwalimu, owner of the compound where the animal is now living. It was unclear how the baby survived in the bag without suffocating.
Doctors said the baby had been abandoned about two days before the dog discovered her. Medical workers later found maggots in the infant's umbilical cord, a product of days of neglect, Hannah Gakuo, the spokesperson of the Kenyatta National Hospital, where the girl was taken for treatment, said on Monday. No one has yet claimed the baby, she said.But the 3.3kg infant "is doing well, responding to treatment, she is stable... she is on antibiotics," Gakuo told The Associated Press. Workers at the hospital are calling the child Angel, she said.Unwanted infants are often abandoned in Kenya - sometimes they are even dumped into pit latrines. Poverty and mothers' failed relationships with fathers are often blamed for the problem, and Kenya's weak law enforcement and social security systems means that most people who abandon babies are never caught."Abandoned babies are normally taken to the Kenyatta National Hospital because it is a public hospital," Gakuo said. "People are now donating diapers and baby clothes for this one." - Sapa-AP
Nairobi -A nursing dog foraging for food retrieved an abandoned baby girl in a forest in Kenya and carried the infant to its litter of puppies, witnesses said on Monday.The stray dog carried the infant across a busy road in a poor neighborhood near the Ngong Forests in the capital, Nairobi, Stephen Thoya told the independent Daily Nation newspaper.The dog apparently found the baby on Friday in the plastic bag in which the infant had been abandoned, said Aggrey Mwalimu, owner of the compound where the animal is now living. It was unclear how the baby survived in the bag without suffocating.
Doctors said the baby had been abandoned about two days before the dog discovered her. Medical workers later found maggots in the infant's umbilical cord, a product of days of neglect, Hannah Gakuo, the spokesperson of the Kenyatta National Hospital, where the girl was taken for treatment, said on Monday. No one has yet claimed the baby, she said.But the 3.3kg infant "is doing well, responding to treatment, she is stable... she is on antibiotics," Gakuo told The Associated Press. Workers at the hospital are calling the child Angel, she said.Unwanted infants are often abandoned in Kenya - sometimes they are even dumped into pit latrines. Poverty and mothers' failed relationships with fathers are often blamed for the problem, and Kenya's weak law enforcement and social security systems means that most people who abandon babies are never caught."Abandoned babies are normally taken to the Kenyatta National Hospital because it is a public hospital," Gakuo said. "People are now donating diapers and baby clothes for this one." - Sapa-AP
Friday, August 24, 2007
E MAIL ON CRIME
TO: THE STAR NEWSPAPER
re:Crime rate in South Africa.
According to statistics South Africa is one of the highest crime rated country. People get robbed, raped, shot dead almost everyday. Everyday there are articles in the newspapers about break INS, small kids being kidnapped and than found raped in bushes, robberies, which lead to death. Women even go to the extent of dumping their babies and killing their own child. And why? Because our country can’t provide houses for all those people on the street! We have a high unemployment rate. People are unable to make money the right way so they commit theft. People with sick minds commit rape. All the newspapers do is report all the crime. They never have articles on how to stop crime.
People are turning to corruption. Everyone wants money. Everything is about money. The more you have the more you want. And when you can’t get it, you steal it. By selling pirated DVDs, selling drugs and so on. The things that people will do just for a little money is ridiculous. People also take bribes for that little cash.
Crime in South Africa is increasing everyday. We are hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Who would want to come here when there is so much of crime? Why risk your life for a game. People will be scared of getting robbed, raped or even worst things that some sick people do. I deffinatly would not come to South Africa if I know that there is such a high crime rate.
I think that the government should provide labor for all those unskilled people in South Africa. The government should also provide houses for them. If everyone is earning money than we will have a crime free country. No one will have to steal money for a living.
I hope that you will agree with what I have said and help me make our country a better one to live in. We all want crime to stop, so we should all put a little effort in making that possible. If we all play our parts right than our environment will be a peaceful one to live in. At least people won’t be scared to leave their doors open and also to walk in the streets without having any fear.
re:Crime rate in South Africa.
According to statistics South Africa is one of the highest crime rated country. People get robbed, raped, shot dead almost everyday. Everyday there are articles in the newspapers about break INS, small kids being kidnapped and than found raped in bushes, robberies, which lead to death. Women even go to the extent of dumping their babies and killing their own child. And why? Because our country can’t provide houses for all those people on the street! We have a high unemployment rate. People are unable to make money the right way so they commit theft. People with sick minds commit rape. All the newspapers do is report all the crime. They never have articles on how to stop crime.
People are turning to corruption. Everyone wants money. Everything is about money. The more you have the more you want. And when you can’t get it, you steal it. By selling pirated DVDs, selling drugs and so on. The things that people will do just for a little money is ridiculous. People also take bribes for that little cash.
Crime in South Africa is increasing everyday. We are hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Who would want to come here when there is so much of crime? Why risk your life for a game. People will be scared of getting robbed, raped or even worst things that some sick people do. I deffinatly would not come to South Africa if I know that there is such a high crime rate.
I think that the government should provide labor for all those unskilled people in South Africa. The government should also provide houses for them. If everyone is earning money than we will have a crime free country. No one will have to steal money for a living.
I hope that you will agree with what I have said and help me make our country a better one to live in. We all want crime to stop, so we should all put a little effort in making that possible. If we all play our parts right than our environment will be a peaceful one to live in. At least people won’t be scared to leave their doors open and also to walk in the streets without having any fear.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Reflective Essay
My essay is about my interview with Mr. Percy Mestry on his life in the apartheid era. He lived in the great Shady Bazaar in Vereeniging. Mr. Percy Mestry was there when the Sharpville riots took place. All the people from Vereeniging gathered and went together to Sharpville to help those in need. They closed their shops and gathered as much money and food as they could to go and give it to the people in Sharpville. They took the injured people to hospitals and got them treated.
Brave: it is an adjective. The meaning: a brave person is willing to do dangerous things and does not show any fear. It can also be a verb. If you brave an unpleasant or dangerous situation, you face up to it in order to do something.
I chose the word “brave” for Mr. Percy Mestry because he was ready to take up any challenge. He was not afraid to fight for what is right. He went to Sharpville knowing that his life was in danger. He did not care. He took the risk and went there to save all those people.
I think that Mr. Percy was a very brave man. He was not afraid to stand up for his rights. If he knew something was wrong, he wouldn’t sit back and watch that wrong thing. He would stand up and try his best to fix it. Even at the time of the Sharpville riots he went out and helped the people. He wasn’t afraid. He did not sit behind locked doors like a chicken. He gathered people and went to rescue those injured people.
They even went as far as going door to door for food collections. They collected money, food and clothes for those who were in hospital and for the relatives who had nothing.
Mr. Percy Mestry was an exceptional man. He did not let the whites stop him from having his good years as a teenager. He obviously could not do a lot of things, but he went out and made the best of his youth. He was the captain of the soccer team. He played soccer tournaments as well as coached soccer teams. He was very involved in sports. He played an important role in the sporting field.
I think that Mr. Percy Mestry is a great man. He taught me a lot in a short time. He showed me that being a coward gets you nowhere. We must learn to be brave and take up challenges. We have to learn to get out there. Experience the world for what it really is. We should come out of our fairytale lands and accept the reality of life. I thank Mr. Percy for his time and effort. And I also want to thank him for teaching me all those things about the past. I have now learnt to appreciate life and stop complaining for what I don’t have.
Brave: it is an adjective. The meaning: a brave person is willing to do dangerous things and does not show any fear. It can also be a verb. If you brave an unpleasant or dangerous situation, you face up to it in order to do something.
I chose the word “brave” for Mr. Percy Mestry because he was ready to take up any challenge. He was not afraid to fight for what is right. He went to Sharpville knowing that his life was in danger. He did not care. He took the risk and went there to save all those people.
I think that Mr. Percy was a very brave man. He was not afraid to stand up for his rights. If he knew something was wrong, he wouldn’t sit back and watch that wrong thing. He would stand up and try his best to fix it. Even at the time of the Sharpville riots he went out and helped the people. He wasn’t afraid. He did not sit behind locked doors like a chicken. He gathered people and went to rescue those injured people.
They even went as far as going door to door for food collections. They collected money, food and clothes for those who were in hospital and for the relatives who had nothing.
Mr. Percy Mestry was an exceptional man. He did not let the whites stop him from having his good years as a teenager. He obviously could not do a lot of things, but he went out and made the best of his youth. He was the captain of the soccer team. He played soccer tournaments as well as coached soccer teams. He was very involved in sports. He played an important role in the sporting field.
I think that Mr. Percy Mestry is a great man. He taught me a lot in a short time. He showed me that being a coward gets you nowhere. We must learn to be brave and take up challenges. We have to learn to get out there. Experience the world for what it really is. We should come out of our fairytale lands and accept the reality of life. I thank Mr. Percy for his time and effort. And I also want to thank him for teaching me all those things about the past. I have now learnt to appreciate life and stop complaining for what I don’t have.
Poem on Johannesburg
There are many ways of describing its beauty
There is nightlife,
Fast life,
And crime side.
Those living outside its borders know it as the
“Place to be”
But me and others in it
We live,
We see,
We became victims of its crime.
My neighbor was raped,
My brother was killed.
I am a victim that lives in.
It’s not all what I have said
It’s where you find your superstars
Fancy cars
“Hola mpinch”-can you feel the rhythm?
It’s where it all begins
Want to know it?
You got to live in it
E Jozi!
There is nightlife,
Fast life,
And crime side.
Those living outside its borders know it as the
“Place to be”
But me and others in it
We live,
We see,
We became victims of its crime.
My neighbor was raped,
My brother was killed.
I am a victim that lives in.
It’s not all what I have said
It’s where you find your superstars
Fancy cars
“Hola mpinch”-can you feel the rhythm?
It’s where it all begins
Want to know it?
You got to live in it
E Jozi!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
English essay
6 . . . . . .
It was the twenty-seventh march and I could not take it anymore. I’ve had enough of his bossing around. He treats me like his dog.
Just like him, I am human. It was that very same day that I realized that my boss was the biggest chauvinistic pig ever. Because of all his money, he walked with his nose in the air and bossed everyone around. No one ever stood up to him because, our jobs had meant the world to us, our poverty stricken lives made us desperate and because jobs were so scarce. But that day I finally decided, to hell with his work. I could no longer take it. I was not prepared to be anyone’s dog anymore. So the very next day I handed in my resignation form. It was a week later and after all I had done for him, he did not even phone to ask if I would please come back, but then again with the amount of pride he had, it was no surprise. I have humiliated him in public and spoiled his name completely. I even reported him to the daily newspaper and had done everything in my power to put him to shame. People mocked at him and looked at him in disgust. I succeeded in bringing him down.
Not realizing that later I would need him the most!
It was a month later and I had still not found any means of earning a living. My daughter had been waiting for her dream wedding to happen. I had been saving all my life for that day and I was very close to getting that amount, but unfortunately my arrogant boss had drove me to my resignation. My daughter had meant the most to me and I would do anything to see her happy. Ever since she was a child I had watched her plan and draw every detail of her dream day. I did not want to disappoint my angel daughter, so I plucked up my courage and swallowed my pride and went to go ask my ex-boss for a loan. I begged and pleaded. I had no one else and needed his help desperately. My wife had earned just enough to put a little food on the table.
After everything I had done, he had given me the loan, after everything I had said about him, he forgave me! This had made me realize that everyone has to work hard if they want to be big someday. I had no idea on how to repay him, so he had given me my job back and changed his habits towards his staff. I was also promoted and got a better salary.
It was the twenty-seventh march and I could not take it anymore. I’ve had enough of his bossing around. He treats me like his dog.
Just like him, I am human. It was that very same day that I realized that my boss was the biggest chauvinistic pig ever. Because of all his money, he walked with his nose in the air and bossed everyone around. No one ever stood up to him because, our jobs had meant the world to us, our poverty stricken lives made us desperate and because jobs were so scarce. But that day I finally decided, to hell with his work. I could no longer take it. I was not prepared to be anyone’s dog anymore. So the very next day I handed in my resignation form. It was a week later and after all I had done for him, he did not even phone to ask if I would please come back, but then again with the amount of pride he had, it was no surprise. I have humiliated him in public and spoiled his name completely. I even reported him to the daily newspaper and had done everything in my power to put him to shame. People mocked at him and looked at him in disgust. I succeeded in bringing him down.
Not realizing that later I would need him the most!
It was a month later and I had still not found any means of earning a living. My daughter had been waiting for her dream wedding to happen. I had been saving all my life for that day and I was very close to getting that amount, but unfortunately my arrogant boss had drove me to my resignation. My daughter had meant the most to me and I would do anything to see her happy. Ever since she was a child I had watched her plan and draw every detail of her dream day. I did not want to disappoint my angel daughter, so I plucked up my courage and swallowed my pride and went to go ask my ex-boss for a loan. I begged and pleaded. I had no one else and needed his help desperately. My wife had earned just enough to put a little food on the table.
After everything I had done, he had given me the loan, after everything I had said about him, he forgave me! This had made me realize that everyone has to work hard if they want to be big someday. I had no idea on how to repay him, so he had given me my job back and changed his habits towards his staff. I was also promoted and got a better salary.
evaluation of the vaal hearings
I think that the interview was very challenging. It was difficult finding someone and actually asking them all those questions. At first it felt weird but then it got okay. It is hard finding someone who would actually allow one to interview him as it might open up some very deep wounds. I had to watch what I say and how I say it. I can’t sound inconsiderate. Some people really went through a rough time. Some lost very dear people. It was much tougher than the audio assignment. Here you had to talk and listen. You couldn’t make any mistakes. With the audio assignment you can record it over and over again but here you can’t. It was a challenge that alhamdulillah I managed to do. Other than that it was a great experience. I learned a lot. I learned how everyone struggled for the freedom that we have today. We get everything on a golden platter yet we always complaining. We are never satisfied with what we have. I hope that one day we can all sit back and be thankful to those who fought and those who died struggling to give us a free live. I thank Mr. Abdullah Sujee for giving us this assignment to do as it really opened up my mind and made me appreciate all the luxuries that I have today. Jazakallah
Speech-sports is just a game
SPORTS IS JUST A GAME
It is Sunday morning and my brother is psyched up, as it is his famous cricket match where they never make much runs but concede many yet they never give up. My dad continuously reminds my brother that ‘sports is just a game’ and ‘winning is not everything.’ My 9-year-old brother took heed to this advice until the cricket world cup when his favorites of the world cup were knocked out. Yes, Pakistan surprised us when they gave up so easily. My brother was still getting over his team’s loss when he over heard that there coach MR. Bob Woolmer was murdered....
Assalaamu alaikum to my teacher and fellow classmates
I have never been too keen on sports but I have been sort of following the world cup as a trend, but the news of Mr. Woolmer did leave even the uninterested interested! My brother has one question: if winning is not everything than why was Mr. Woolmer murdered? I was so intrigued that I decided to further check this on the Internet.
It was deduced that Mr. Woolmer was brutally murdered by being strangled and poisoned. The speculations are ‘WHO? And ‘WHAT? And what was more unbelievable to me was that the suspects could be one of the Pakistani players. The worst is that the murder is related to gambling. This was too much for me. The Pakistani cricket team is a Muslim team who are supposed to be setting an example to young Muslim boys, like my brother. Sports are about team play, dedication, fairness, good spirit and fun and yet this tragedy has given sports a whole new meaning.
After doing more research I realized that this was not only in Pakistan and at this world cup, but rather it has been happening along time around the world. In England, children and adults worship soccer. Manchester united; Liverpool and Chelsea have become a mantra. The scariest thing was that they actually take their lives in the name of sports. It is sad that life has become so meaningless and cheap that it has become so easy to simply take your life.
In our own country Hansie Cronje, a mentor to South Africans and around the world was also involved in match fixing. What I found quite a coincidence: at the time that Hansie was involved in match fixing, Mr. Bob Woolmer was their coach. We learn in Islam never to judge people and it could simply be a coincidence, but I just can’t believe how corrupt and disruptive our world has become.
For someone who is not an actual lover of sports, I have become quite involved in the politics of sports. But even though I am not a passionate sportsperson or fan, I am sure of one thing, sports was never intended to take lives but rather to make lives. It was never intended to harm people but rather bring joy.
We need to fight against corruption in sports. We need to take away greed from our hearts. The very same greed that steels your soul… that greed that robbed Pakistan of playing a good game of cricket and maybe even win… it robbed south Africa off a captain whom they trusted and loved.
Corruption in sports is robbing nations from enjoying the simple pleasures that we can have. So let us remind people that sport is just a game and always remember that winning is not everything. The fact that you made the effort to play makes you a winner.
It is Sunday morning and my brother is psyched up, as it is his famous cricket match where they never make much runs but concede many yet they never give up. My dad continuously reminds my brother that ‘sports is just a game’ and ‘winning is not everything.’ My 9-year-old brother took heed to this advice until the cricket world cup when his favorites of the world cup were knocked out. Yes, Pakistan surprised us when they gave up so easily. My brother was still getting over his team’s loss when he over heard that there coach MR. Bob Woolmer was murdered....
Assalaamu alaikum to my teacher and fellow classmates
I have never been too keen on sports but I have been sort of following the world cup as a trend, but the news of Mr. Woolmer did leave even the uninterested interested! My brother has one question: if winning is not everything than why was Mr. Woolmer murdered? I was so intrigued that I decided to further check this on the Internet.
It was deduced that Mr. Woolmer was brutally murdered by being strangled and poisoned. The speculations are ‘WHO? And ‘WHAT? And what was more unbelievable to me was that the suspects could be one of the Pakistani players. The worst is that the murder is related to gambling. This was too much for me. The Pakistani cricket team is a Muslim team who are supposed to be setting an example to young Muslim boys, like my brother. Sports are about team play, dedication, fairness, good spirit and fun and yet this tragedy has given sports a whole new meaning.
After doing more research I realized that this was not only in Pakistan and at this world cup, but rather it has been happening along time around the world. In England, children and adults worship soccer. Manchester united; Liverpool and Chelsea have become a mantra. The scariest thing was that they actually take their lives in the name of sports. It is sad that life has become so meaningless and cheap that it has become so easy to simply take your life.
In our own country Hansie Cronje, a mentor to South Africans and around the world was also involved in match fixing. What I found quite a coincidence: at the time that Hansie was involved in match fixing, Mr. Bob Woolmer was their coach. We learn in Islam never to judge people and it could simply be a coincidence, but I just can’t believe how corrupt and disruptive our world has become.
For someone who is not an actual lover of sports, I have become quite involved in the politics of sports. But even though I am not a passionate sportsperson or fan, I am sure of one thing, sports was never intended to take lives but rather to make lives. It was never intended to harm people but rather bring joy.
We need to fight against corruption in sports. We need to take away greed from our hearts. The very same greed that steels your soul… that greed that robbed Pakistan of playing a good game of cricket and maybe even win… it robbed south Africa off a captain whom they trusted and loved.
Corruption in sports is robbing nations from enjoying the simple pleasures that we can have. So let us remind people that sport is just a game and always remember that winning is not everything. The fact that you made the effort to play makes you a winner.
Evaluation of term 1 & 2
I think that the last two terms have been really challenging. The workload is a lot. It is kind of hard to catch up on all the work all the time. We work moderately. The art of sirs teaching is excellent though. No other teacher has ever taught us the way you have. I have learned a lot this past sis months. English was never one of my favorite subjects, but this year my attitude has changed towards English. I actually enjoy doing my work. The work is not monotonous. I have fun in the class. The audio assignment was really good and so was the interview with the apartheid activist. I learned to open up and talk more. I can go out there and talk to people without making a fool out of myself. Cry the beloved country is not a very exciting book, but studying it this year changed it a little. Our exams are quite difficult. We really have to think a lot and write fast. Other than that the last two months in English have been a really exciting journey.
Evaluation of audio assignment
The audio assignment was really challenging. To actually record yourself and than play it to the whole class was a little bit weird. Especially being a girl. Girls naturally are more concerned about people listening to their voices. It was a little hard to change my voice for certain parts. Other than that this was a very exciting assignment. I enjoyed doing it. I wouldn’t mind doing it again.
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