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Turkish No to Sharia

>>>>SNIP>>>Posted: 6.14pm Tuesday 24 July 2007 International SOCIALIST WORKER
Turkish voters deliver a blow to the military
by Ron Margulies in Istanbul

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) was re-elected on Sunday of last week with a thumping majority in the Turkish elections.
It is a landslide for the Islamist party that faced a concerted effort by Turkey’s powerful military to influence the outcome of the poll.
The AKP increased its share of the vote to 47 percent from 34 percent in the 2002 elections.

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=12557

HIJAB?

Contact Lens Solution Pulled After It Is Linked to Infection

By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN : Published: May 27, 2007

A contact lens solution manufacturer voluntarily withdrew one of its products yesterday after federal health officials said an investigation had linked it to a rare but potentially blinding eye infection.

Customers were advised to immediately stop using the solution, AMO Complete Moisture Plus Multi-Purpose Solution. The solution, used to clean and store soft contact lenses, is made by Advanced Medical Optics of Santa Ana, Calif.

Soft contact lens wearers who have the AMO solution were advised to discard all partially used or unopened bottles and switch to alternative products. They should also throw out their current contact lenses and the lens storage case because they may harbor an infection-causing amoeba, officials of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said.

The agency also advised people who have used the product to call an eye doctor if they have experienced eye pain or redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, the feeling of something in the eye or excessive tearing. The symptoms, which resemble those of other eye problems, can last weeks to months and vary among patients.

>>>>cut///quote: Foodconsumer.org

the Art of Non violence

Its virtues and effectiveness,

Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K.Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in his June 9 (My birthday) lecture at the University of Puerto Rico, shared the following story:

I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbors, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go the movies.

One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father asked me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, "I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together."

After hurriedly completing my chores, I went straight to the nearest movie theatre. I got so engrossed in a John Wayne double-feature that I forgot the time. It was 5:30 before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00. He anxiously asked me, "Why were you late?" I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a John Wayne western movie that I said, "The car wasn't ready, so I had to wait," not realizing that he had already called the garage.

When he caught me in the lie, he said: "There's something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth. In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I'm going to walk home 18 miles and think about it." So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads.

I couldn't leave him, so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered. I decided then and here that I was never going to lie again. I often think about that episode and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have arned a lesson at all. I don't think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single non-violent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday. That is the power of non-violence.

In case you have come across this in the internet, it was circulated numerous time before, let this one, courtesy of St Bull be a reminder to us all.

The Marriage (An-Nikah) From Islamic Perspectives

An-Nikah - Mutual Agreement of Bride and Groom

Marriage (nikah) is a solemn and sacred social contract between bride and groom. This contract is a strong covenant (mithaqun Ghalithun) as expressed in Quran 4:21). The marriage contract in Islam is not a sacrament. It is revocable.

Both parties mutually agree and enter into this contract. Both bride and groom have the liberty to define various terms and conditions of their liking and make them a part of this contract.

Mahr

The marriage-gift (Mahr) is a divine injunction. The giving of mahr to the bride by the groom is an essential part of the contract.

'And give the women (on marriage) their mahr as a (nikah) free gift" (Quran 4:4)

Mahr is a token commitment of the husband's responsibility and may be paid in cash, property or movable objects to the bride herself. The amount of mahr is not legally specified, however, moderation according to the existing social norm is recommended. The mahr may be paid immediately to the bride at the time of marriage, or deferred to a later date, or a combination of both. The deferred mahr however, falls due in case of death or divorce.

One matrimonial party expresses 'ijab" willing consent to enter into marriage and the other party expresses 'qubul" acceptance of the responsibility in the assembly of marriage ceremony. The contract is written and signed by the bride and the groom and their two respective witnesses. This written marriage contract ("Aqd-Nikah) is then announced publicly.

Sermon

The assembly of nikah is addressed with a marriage sermon (khutba-tun-nikah) by the Muslim officiating the marriage. In marriage societies, customarily, a state appointed Muslim judge (Qadi) officiates the nikah ceremony and keeps the record of the marriage contract. However any trust worthy practicing Muslim can conduct the nikah ceremony, as Islam does not advocate priesthood. The documents of marriage contract/certificate are filed with the mosque (masjid) and local government for record.

Prophet Muhammad (S) made it his tradition (sunnah) to have marriage sermon delivered in the assembly to solemnize the marriage. The sermon invites the bride and the groom, as well as the participating guests in the assembly to a life of piety, mutual love, kindness, and social responsibility.

The Khutbah-tun-Nikah begins with the praise of Allah. His help and guidance is sought. The Muslim confession of faith that 'There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His servant and messenger" is declared. The three Quranic verses (Quran 4:1, 3:102, 33:70-71) and one Prophetic saying (hadith) form the main text of the marriage. This hadith is:

'By Allah! Among all of you I am the most God-fearing, and among you all, I am the supermost to save myself from the wrath of Allah, yet my state is that I observe prayer and sleep too. I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry woman also. And he who turns away from my Sunnah has no relation with me". (Bukhari)

The Muslim officiating the marriage ceremony concludes the ceremony with prayer (Dua) for bride, groom, their respective families, the local Muslim community, and the Muslim community at large (Ummah)

Marriage (nikah) is considered as an act of worship (ibadah). It is virtuous to conduct it in a Mosque keeping the ceremony simple. The marriage ceremony is a social as well as a religious activity. Islam advocates simplicity in ceremonies and celebrations.

Prophet Muhammad (S) considered simple weddings the best weddings:

'The best wedding is that upon which the least trouble and expense is bestowed". (Mishkat)

Primary Requirements
1) Mutual agreement (Ijab-O-Qubul) by the bride and the groom
2) Two adult and sane witnesses
3) Mahr (marriage-gift) to be paid by the groom to the bride either immediately (muajjal) or deferred (muakhkhar), or a combination of both

Secondary Requirements
1) Legal guardian (wakeel) representing the bride
2) Written marriage contract ("Aqd-Nikah) signed by the bride and the groom and witnesses by two adult and sane witnesses
3) Qadi (State appointed Muslim judge) or Ma'zoon (a responsible person officiating the marriage ceremony)
4) Khutba-tun-Nikah to solemnize the marriage

The Marriage Banquet (Walima)

After the consummation of the marriage, the groom holds a banquet called a walima. The relatives, neighbors, and friends are invited in order to make them aware of the marriage. Both rich and poor of the family and community are invited to the marriage feasts.

Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

'The worst of the feasts are those marriage feasts to which the rich are invited and the poor are left out". (Mishkat)

It is recommended that Muslims attend marriage ceremonies and marriage feasts upon invitation.

Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

"...and he who refuses to accept an invitation to a marriage feast, verily disobeys Allah and His Prophet". (Ahmad & Abu Dawood)

Excerpt from : Marriage and Family in Islam by Mohammad Mazhar Hussaini

Nulli Secondus – mssion 2010

A thesis for betterment:

Speaking from the podium, the present HM announced his talk with the former HM. The mission is to have the school counted (translated from terbilang) among the best school in the country. Excellent in all fields – education, sports and co curricula, not just the known academic stuff. When we say school we refer to the general interest and will of all concerned parties, the parents, teachers and students. I recalled this tagline Nulli Secondus grilled into me by the then HM Mr.Nik Yusof.

The talk

Clearing the air:

I still have the interest to keep it that way. Hamzah 1 was the best in the district. Though I went to Hamzah 1, now I have 4 kids schooling here. In years 6, 4,3 and 1. I certainly want them all to be an all-rounder as other parents like their kids to be too. Having said all that, I do acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices made by our mostly lady teachers, a major player towards achieving year in and year out, a position of third or so in Machang- Pasir Puteh district. For the last couple of years the school have produced some 30 or so students with straight A’s at UPSR. I am certain that other parents are glad and equally cheerful too.

Take off value ( ToV ) :

There was a lot of talk on ToV at the recent PTA meeting, which attempted to elaborate and designed a scheme for the year 6 students in order to prepare them for the UPSR results and for the school to come up with the maximum numbers of students with straight A’s. These meetings have been like a ritual to the school. According to the PK1 the number of students with all A’s at year 5 entering into year 6 have been constantly around 4 or 5. Thus the ToV have been 4 or 5. I would like to draw this example That’s basically the quality cargo on the plane. As the plane took off into air, more drastic efforts is undertaken to ensure the cargo complies to the required quality. With all that put in place. The end product is normally approximately 30 straight A’s.

Tea after the talk

Comfort Zones :

We are getting similar result over several years. Are not putting efforts to improve? Starting with a ToV of 4 we managed to get around 7 or 8 times that figure at the end of the year. Are we in a comfort zone and very happy with keeping a position of third place in this district. Do we only put on that extra efforts in year 6, year after year? Have the same results with the same efforts. How can we change or improvise to make more straight A’s achiever? The method used so far only succeeded in producing that optimum numbers of straight A’s. If we want more A’s we have to improvised!

Interpreting the ToV database :

From the interpretation the ToV database , we can see that their numbers at the end of the day that make the total numbers of straights. We need to increase by 5 or 6 students per year with 5A’s ToV. This will make their total to 10, if the multiplier is 5, at the end of the day the number of students getting all A’s will be around 50 students. Thus for the UPSR year 2008 there are 50 straight A’s.

Needed a change :

We need to do these by targeting 5 students increment yearly. That may sound easy but certainly not simple. The emphasis will be all teachers at all level from standard 1 to 5 to play the active role. We need some changes by improvising the system to start early and have more ToV at the onset of the students’ UPSR.

Wanting a different result :

If we keep doing the same thing we will not get a different result, we will get the same result. The new HM name all the classes based on the name of planets. Perhaps I may draw his attention here about the man who derived the mathematical formula E=MC^2, he said many things on many aspects of life.

This sentence here is particularly relevant to us. “Madness is doing the same thing to get a different result.” We have to review and accordingly improved what have been done in the past.

Target Starting 2007 :

I would proposed that the school start making a target for the annual increment of the number. Some sort for a five year planned. Monitor and fire-fight by early next year.

The way ahead – Parents involvement & monitoring :

After the plans are made. The parents would be informed of the plans during the PTA (PIBG) Meeting. On top of that annually at least once a year say the early third quarter the parent are called to an open day, where they will be presented with their child report card. Here the teacher have the opportunity to highlight about the child like discipline problem, too playful in class and other behavioral traits other than be precise in the child problem like weak in Mathematics particularly fractions and decimals system.

This would allow the parent to take special attention to address those perceived weakness.

Relative Abundance Part 2

At the bottom, there is a schedule of expenses for school start up. The places where the materials were procured were shops in Tanah Merah and Machang (by standards of locals here are termed as supermarkets) and the wet market of Machang in Kelantan, Malaysia.

The Tanah Merah Supermarket

Other expenses for the schooling kids are the fees. This term is an anomaly for there are no longer fees for primary and secondary schools in this country. Education is free up to that level. These are actually chargeable items by the school such as for notes and examination costs. It varies from school to school. Together with the exercise books that will come to approximately RM100.00

Pocket money have to be given to the kids too. Generally RM1.00 to 2.00 per day should suffice. RM2.00 is given on days with religious classes in the afternoon known as KAFA here (Kelas Agama Fardu Ain). These afternoon class can be 3 or 4 days a week.

Government Welfare Schemes

The Government have their welfare schemes for the less fortunate too. For example KWAPM (Kumpulan Amanah Pelajar Miskin – Poor Students Trust Fund) is given at RM150 per head. That will be enough to cover the fees and the stationeries. There are no scholarships for Primary School students. For Secondary School Students there is the Biasiswa Kecil Persekutuan - Federal Minor Scholarship which amounts to RM600.00 per annum.

For the less fortunate students at the Primary School there is a before class breakfast scheme which is known as Rancangan Makanan Tambahan Sekolah (RMTS)– Schools Food Supplement Program. In this Hamzah 2 Primary School about 25% of the students received this RMTS.

Inside PM's New Jet.

Welfare & the New Malay.

The former Prime Minister used to lament that these welfare schemes produces subsidy mentality among the Malays. He also did take every opportunity to hit at the dole system in United Kingdom that produces lazy British according to him, without revealing the compulsory minimum contribution imposed and the role played by National Insurance.

The mental revolution and the New Economic Policy aimed at restructuring society has ironically produces Malays that are not poor friendly and viewed poor Malays as troubling the society. With all that had been said, the local federal government representatives here in Kelantan took every opportunity to highlight the federal government hand outs of the state's money to the poor.

This scenario does not take place in say Selangor. Kelantan is the only opposition control state for the past 16 years and the Federal Government had been trying hard to deny any state government credibility, for the party that make up the State Government is not a member of the National Front, a coalition of many parties that formed the Federal Government.

PM's new RM 200million jet.

Last year when the State’s Public Universities (IPTS) was about to be opened there was a massive jam at the Hospital University Science Malaysia (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian. Parents from all over the state was waiting for hours to hear a Federal Minister delivered his speech before collecting some RM1500.00 of State’s money to assist their children to start up at the Universities. Many felt they were being blackmailed but they played to the fiddle. After all the RM1500 per student was an advance of their loan from Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Negara (National Higher Educational Fund), deductible in future. The organizers should have used the State Stadium, probably it would have been a much better and comfortable venue.

READ ABOUT THE RM200million new PM's jet.

For larger family relationship too, it seems that the member of a family that is least successful financially is normally marginalized. The role played by the “middle class” of the family is such that a situation is created where they will be in the good books of the more successful and resourceful members at the expense of marginalizing the least successful members of the family. Now the relationship among individuals have torn up the traditional cultural fabric of brotherly relationship and a new set of relationship based on the interest to have an opportunity for wealth and comfortable living is the new order of the day. This is the end result of the mental revolution of the post independence era of the early sixties.

It should be reminded of the less mentioned saying of Prophet Muhammad SAW that one of the signs of the nearness of the doom’s day is when the rich feel that the poor is troubling them and a burden to the society.

Comparative Expenses

Making kids love School

Hessa seems keen going to school. Unlike her previous year when she was enroll for Pra Sekolah ( Pre School ). Unlike my generation Pre School seems akin to compulsory now a days. By Malaysian law, primary school education is compulsory, parents could be dragged into the court of law if the failed to school their kids. As an extension to that, so is the Pre School enrolment.

In Malaysia nowadays every parent put their kid either in kindergarten which are privately owned and run. These are places for the haves. Those who went to these places are expected to shine above the rest. A cut above in syllabus, upbringing and sharper in English. To start well is the key word. Nobody want to be left behind at the starting block. For the have not, they would have to vie for one of those Pre School places at the school their kids will potentially go to.

Hessa eargerly posing for school

I had observed how my Minister of Home affairs managed my kids – going to school. It is quite a run out from the norm her father, reputed to have been, a hardcore disciplinarian. Records of achievement of his kids proved that he did well. I should say that her softly, softly approach did pretty well too. She is not the kind that pushes her kids to school. Her lacking in emphasis in discipline sometimes worry me. She took it easy even when the kids seems like refusing school on purpose.

Her style have been to progressively make the kids love school. Generally my kids have a bad start. In case of Hessa she had been sickly and had missed school on many occasion. At times I went to school to tell her teacher. Once her, teacher came to the house to know, why she is missing school. Her mum did well, she pampered her, follow her progress in reading and writing and make her felt she misses something for not going to school. It works. The fact that she misses school make her fond of what she would have acquired should she be there. She developed the interest in reading and writing on her own.

At the end of the day she reads and writes reasonably well for her age group before the actual school starts. Mostly importantly she looked prepared and wanting to go to school when it reopens for the recent academic year. I am always for kids to attend the Pre School. It introduces them to school proper observing those slightly older making their ways in school. It is like an orientation program to be accustomed with the ways of schooling proper.

Hessa, first day in class.

A reason that kids normally do not like schools is the way their peer groups behave towards each other. Some of these kids are not really bullies but they are rather harsh and brute. This may make some kids felt uncomfortable. The mum have too always lent their ears to stories from schools which their kids brought home. This is necessary for her to properly anticipate any un-homely and unfriendly atmosphere that developed. The kids may feel that they are bullied, and as such do not like school. When this situation developed the kid is like in a “do, you be damned” and “don’t you’ll be damned” situation. What I meant here is that the kid is faced with a problem of to live with it - will be suffering but to fight it, would leads to more unnecessary problems.

This is where the mum’s role normally comes into play. Whether telling their kids to make more friends or to be choosy of one or whatever. The worst case scenario may be to slow talk to the teacher concerned to change her sitting position, thus re-orientate or re-organize her peer and play groups. The gist of the matter is still to make the kid loves school, like the environment, love their lessons and like the knowledge. That is the best motivation that keeps them going to school and learning.

New broom sweeps clean?

The School - Early Morning, 1st Day

My kids had been in the school going to complete their second year. The Headmistress of the school had retired. She had been good, kind and very considerate to our family. She is a local and had had a long traditional assimilation and association with my larger family. Though we had only spent less than a couple of years with her we could feel the reasons why the parents here like and adore her. She took care of the school and the kids well. She had been with the school since her very humble beginning more than a decade ago.

It was quite a ceremony when she left the school, then her deputy acted as the Headmaster for almost half a year Towards the end of the year a guy was assigned to take her place. He is a stranger to me. If a guy is local or have been here long here, then chances are, a member of my larger family would have befriend him and thus make us connected or feel so. This is a small town where everybody know everybody, somehow.

I was there on the first day of school. It was not for sending my Year One daughter solely but more to see my Year Four daughter’s teacher. To give her a word or two about my daughter and to hand over to the teacher my daughter medical leave certificate. She had an eye surgery to help improved her vision.

The smells of change was there. The teachers were still adjusting to it. When I was at the canteen asking who is the class teacher of my daughter. They had to turn the clock back, thinking from first principle that my daughter will be in Class Four Gigih that will be Four Mercury. The focus were slightly out, every teacher that I talked to, were thinking like that and another standard four teacher , who make a calculative guess (of who would be my daughter’s teacher) did not get it right. Now the school changes the name of the classes to something astronomical, grandiose, intellectual but complicated sounding to the kampong folks. They named it after planets.

As I walked toward the classes I could see, among the first expenditure of change. As usual, the first victims are the signboards. In this case it was the signs on the door front of the classes.

The first day Assembly

I ran into the Headmaster at the front of the school office he pushed the teacher who was the acting headmaster to see me and take the medical leave certificate from me A good sign of first meeting courtesy, I should think. While he was walking away, he mentioned that I need only to call and there is no need for me to come over, a typical very manly welcome. We, man have a thing or two to learn from the ladies. I would thought that the former Headmistress would have handled it slightly differently and had said different things directly to me, if I ever ran into her on that day. She would probably see me in a one sentence meeting, I understand it was a busy day for teachers. She would probably had said,” it is okay now that we know”- period, and that’s her only sentence of our meeting.

The teachers' discussion
There was an assembly. I recalled the Headmaster telling that, there are 997 students with some 53 teachers. I observed that the number of male teachers is about a dozen or so. After doing some background arithmetic. There are about 166 students per Year, distributed into four classes and that make it 41 or 42 students per class. That make the students to teachers ratio of slightly less than twenty to one. How about that comparing to the National Statistics?

The former Headmistress had brought some fame and glory to the school. She had maintain a very green, well landscape and a conducive study environment.. She had also build up a good PR with corporations, local and federal administrative and political leaders. Year in and year out the school had been ranked among the best of the rural schools by the MoE (Ministry of Education) in this country. Anytime I would placed her on the Board of Governors of the school if there is one and I have a say.

Leading to Greater Achievements?

Another New Academic Year?

In less than a fortnight’s time the school in Malaysia will be open, again for the 2007 session. In 2007 I will have 4 kids in Primary school where students spent their first six years of education.

Start Up Expenses

So the issues prevailing here are the cash the parents have to fork out at the beginning of an academic year. They the same old things that we needed those days. A complete uniform, shirts or the girls wear “baju kurung (long blouse), pants and Sarong for the girls, socks and shoes. Then what is needed for the studies, the text and exercises books, bags, stationeries and of course the fees.

Lets put up a budget for each primary school child, in RM, (that is Malaysian Ringgit) for the first item.

The Budget

Rich Man’s					Poor Man’s
Items		Price	No	Amount	Price	No	Amount
1	Shirt/ baju kurung	20	3	60	8	2	16
2	Pants /Sarong	30	3	90	15	2	30
3	socks	10		10	3	2	6
4	shoes	30	2	60	10	1	10
	School Uniform
				220			62
5	School bags			50			25
6	Stationeries			15			10
	Exercise books			30			30
	TOTAL			315			127

That’s basically the ball part figure. I will put up a comparison on how much I spent for my standard 1 kid, a girl later.

A man has to fork out some RM127.00 say RM130.00 minimum per schooling child. Fees can be safely put at RM100.00 per child in the Primary School. Actually it should not be called fees for education is free in this country. It something that the school charges for their administration purposes, cover things like exam papers and notes.

Shopping places.

So that what is occupying the heads of the locals here. It is raining and for those involved in the rubber industry it is not very good, income wise. The kedai pati (kampong hut style open cafes) philosophers were taliking floods. Floods are hitting other southern states of the Peninsular now. On the whole the weather has been okay considering the monsoon period, rubber tapers can still go work, generally 60% of the month of November was workable, if they are up to it. But in a year it is said that the rubber trees are taped for only a hundred days.

Shopping places.

An easy area to go to and get all the stuff at one location will be any supermarket. We have quite a few of them and many, the major ones are located in Kota Bharu. (the capital of the opposition control state in Malaysia, Kelantan, it is now the only state in Malaysia under the control of the opposition who ironically do no form the main opposition in the Malaysian Parlimen). It will be quite a sight in Kota Bharu with many shoppers from all over the state eyeing for schooling goods and gadgets.

Low Cost Areas

Bazar

The are reputable low cost outlet like Bazar UDA located between Jalan Sultanah Zainab and the old Market approachable from both sides. In every town in Kelantan, there are stalls selling apparels for schooling within the wet market itself.

Economic Outlets

There are supermarkets and shops offering cheap stuffs probably China made. China is good now there are responsible for producing cheap and good PC peripherals including for HP Hawlett Packard all those jets (printers).

Exam orientated society.

At the end of the six years in Primary School they will seat for an exam, the major one, known as UPSR (Primary School Assessment Exam). Another two will be in the Secondary school where students here spent five years before they finally sat for the SPM, used to be “O” levels too for the English medium students. SPM is still equivalent to UK “O” level standard. Before that in their third year they will have to seat for their PMR, (Assessment Examination for Lower Secondary).

Last year two of my kids, each sat for one of the Secondary school exam. Results will be out soon for the Third year exam, the PMR. The other one the Fifth year exam result will not be out until circa March. Next year.

In Kelantan most schools have made their standard six students facing UPSR in September / October 2007 to start attending classes from the second week of December 2006. My kid has to attend his from the 10 December. “Over schooled” said my minister of home affairs. Kids like me would probably rebel and run way from school. But we don’t deny there is a need for that. There is probably a need for a “community school” as well. How I wish the school computer center is open 24/7 during the school holidays. My kids would enjoy that. They are queuing up for my PC! They would have no qualms to give it a crack.