HOLDING YOUR GROUND

Native Deen is a musical group of three American individuals who have strong faith in their belief and wish to spread global peace through music. All three are Muslims and sent a message, through their song, "My faith, My voice" which they wish would impact the world to join hands and live together in a community of welfare and equality.


The world nowadays, is facing despair and gloom, as hatred builds, people kill and people despise each other, such as some people refer to Muslims as terrorists. "Native Deen" is trying to bring awareness to the world about this and persuading us to correct our image of Muslims and live peacefully together.


I believe that these three people, are incredible and it is these kind of people who may be a small group but at least people like them send forth a push which guides the world towards the direction of justice and hope. Therefore I included a picture of a man walking towards the light under the shadow of despair and darkness. Similarly, the world is passing through a difficult time , but people like Native Deen show us the path of light and justice.


This act of theirs and what they are informing us about also links to the act of the Nazi party during world war 2,as they literally perished and wiped an immense quantity of the Jewish Race. They targeted a certain society and tore their dignity a part. Similarly, some people call Muslims terrorists and take away their dignity and their voice. If I become a victim of a large amount of people I would never be capable of keeping my dignity or standing up for what I believe is right. However, "Native Deen" showed me that you can stand up and that you can face the irrationalism in the world and convince others to join hands with you.


We are who we are and everyone must learn how to accept that and that you can't take someone's voice away, as we all have the same right to dwell in equality and rationalism as one.

Two Voice Poem Odysseus & Poseidon

What is it that Shapes Your Identity?

Jesus Colon is a Puerto Rican, negro who was put in a painful dilemma of assisting a white woman who had to deal with a suitcase,a baby and two small children or to stay quiet and not pursue his courtesy.


Back then racism was a big thing. A journalist named Jesus Colon had to encounter an experience linked to racism. On his way back home,using the subway Colon saw a lady who needed help,as she was struggling with a suitcase,a baby and two small children.

Colon is Puerto Rican and it is his courtesy to succor others when nescessary. However, he knew nothing about this lady,besides the fact that she is white. Therefore, Colon was intimidated of the outcome if he helps the lady. He wasn't sure whether the lady would accept the offer or think of him as a thug.

Colon did not want to cause a problem so he looked away and sealed his lips. This act of Jesus Colon is completely different compared to Aung San Suu Kyi's act as she took a huge risk and did not look away.

I believe this very experience tells us a lot about Jesus Colon. However, this experience was a turning point in his life,as he promised to not put his head down if he ever is situated in a position like this again.
 I have also encountered a situation of quandary,as I wasn't sure to stand up to injustice or to just stay quiet and safe.

So,your past and your previous experiences do impact and shape your identity,as it tells us what you did in a certain experience and what you may do in the future.

4 Letter Story

John Marsden: John Marsden is a famous writer who wrote great books such as

Tomorrow when the War Began and The Dead of the night.

He requested us to test our capability of word choice and condensing text.

Therefore, I made a story consisting of words composed of only 4 letters.

Four Letter Story:

The moon light was so small along with the dark, cold sky. I came to a road full of busy cars.

I had to stop in pain when I saw a dead dog, my dog full of ants and bugs.

A tear fell from my eyes. The moon light came out and the dark sky fell.

My dog’s eyes were open. The cold shrill on my back went

and joy came.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF INDECISION

I was just another ordinary kid in my old school. However, one day on my way back home I stopped at a general store to purchase a drink. When I was in line I saw two devious and notorius people from my class named Usman and Shayan hiding behind a shelf.

I wasn't quite sure what they were up to but I knew it was no good. It was then when they stuffed random candies and a tennis ball into a small bag. I opened my mouth ready to inform the salesman. However, I hesitated I knew those two were very clever and what they were capable of.

Many other people encountered them before in situations like this. However, they always had a backup plan a rational excuse, a persuading lie, anything that would get them out of trouble.

I then decided to look away and go with the flow and to not look like a halfwit in front of everybody. However, they looked back laughing at me. I felt the fury pump in my veins. I regretted not taking action and letting them aquire more power,more sense of superiority.

This experience of mine links to Jesus Colon's experience,as we both looked away from justice. We knew what was the right thing to do. We were aware of the possible consequences. Therefore, we remained silent.

"It is not power that corrupts but fear" , says Aung San Suu Kyi. Now I realize that those two are intimidated of losing power and therefore they do this. I looked away and did not perform an act of justice. However, due to this experience I promised myself that I would never repeat the same mistake again if I encounter a situation like this. These kind of experiences are turning points in your life. You know what you did in the past,yet due to a certain mistake you know that you won't do it again, you won't look away from justice.

OUR IGNORANT DECISIONS

                                                        

The poem,"No Man is an Island" by John Donne implements that every man has significance and is needed. The quote"Every man's death diminishes me" states that every man is needed, and that we depend on everybody.

An island is a body of land which is seperated from other big lands. Similarly, many people are isolated and ignored such as refugees or beggers. " The quote "every man is a part of the continent, a part of the main"  states that Donne wishes for mankind to live together and to be united,to be linked to one chain.

The video "Mankind is no Island" made by Jason Van Genderen informs us of our ignorant    decisions.We see people who are different from us
like a foreigner or a begger. However, we pass them as though they are not part
of our world.  "But is that true?" "Are they not part of our world?"
They feel like they are situated in an inevitable and interminable cycle of despair and isolation.
"So why can't we just perform a small act of kindness, such as a smile
or to drop a coin in a begger's empty cup, to make them feel that we do notice them
and that they are part of our world?"
 

The poem,"No Man is an Island" and the video "Mankind is no Island"  links to the story "THE ISLAND" , by Armin Greder as the locals of an island assaulted the foreigner and captivated him without realizing that the foreigner has significance and is in a way part of them, an element which makes them whole. "THE ISLAND" also links to our cruel acts today, as we don't realize that others who are isolated, are a part of us and we need them. Donne and Genderen suggest that mankind is all the same no matter where you are from, no man is an alien or an outsider, no man is not needed.


I agree with both Donne and Genderen,as nowadays we don't realize how isolated and lonely others might feel. We must realize the suffering of others and succor them to feel more like us and to not dwell in lonliness and isolation. I too have made an ignorant decision, as I have seen others who were alone,sad and isolated. However, I looked away and didn't do anything about it, just like many of us nowadays. Therefore, Donne and Genderen have motivated me to make better decisions and now I won't repeat the same mistake again.

  We notice the presence of others who are different and isolated. However, Genderen states that we make the decision to look away. Through the eyes of Gendren and Donne we must realize that we are making an immense mistake for isolating others and must know that all of us are linked to one chain,"No Man is an Island"

Hilarious Dancing

 When I saw Matt Harding's video I was awestruck because of how he brought joy to despairful places such as countries in Africa, as well as other places like Australia,India and Zanzibar.

 It looked brilliant to see the delghtful grin worn by so many people. It was intruiging to see so many people joining in to dance it was like joy was contagious.

What fascinated me the most was how one man brought the world closer together. He made the world take another huge step towards equality.

I think that Matt Harding is doing a magnificent job as he motivates others to join hands and to unite in an eccentric yet helpful and interesting way. Many places accross the globes are different,seperated. However, through Harding's encouragement we are united.

This is something that links us together to a chain,  of equality and hope, hope of bringing us,all of us together as one.



 Ten Things and Me

I love many things but there are ten things that I own and each of those things symbolize something that has a lot of sentimental value to me. The ten things I selected for pictures include a pair of football shoes, a pair of running shoes, an mp3 player, a book, a pair of goggles, a deck of cards, a flashlight, a Pakistani flag, a Korean flag, and a watch.


I chose my football shoes as it shows that I am very passionate about football and savor playing it. These shoes don’t fit me anymore as they were my first pair. They are really old. However, I refuse to dispose of them, as they remind me of when I started to play football. I always miss the
rush of excitement that I would have every time I wore them. I honestly think that football is the world’s greatest sport. I can play it everyday and still not find it monotonous. My favorite international teams are England and Spain. My favorite football club is FC Barcelona and my favorite player is Lionel Messi. Football is a terrific sport that includes excitement,strategy and skill and it’s the perfect sport for me.




I selected an mp3 player because it represents the love I have of listening to music. I love listening to music all the time no matter what mood I’m in sad,angry,frustrated,excited or happy. The artists and bands that make me love music are Greenday, The Fray, Linkin Park, Nickelback, Eminem and Lil Wayne.


I chose a book because it shows that I like reading. Books are really fun to read. I like reading more than watching movies as books are usually much more detailed and you can visualise the story in your own way. A book is like a portable movie player as it’s like a movie that plays in your head and you can take it with you anywhere. I like many books such as the Harry Potter series and the chronicles of Narnia. However,my favorite book is Eragon by Christopher Paolini. The reason why I like this book is because the author’s words were so sensible and this helped me to have an evident visualisation of the story in my head.


The reason why I chose a pair of swimming goggles is because it shows that I think swimming great fun. Moving around in the water makes me feel extraordinary. My favorite part of swimming is diving. I enjoy leaping into the cool water after standing under the hot sun. I remember when I first started swimming. I was always intimidated by the thought of drowning in the water. However, I conquered this fear and now I love swimming and I swim regularly.




I chose a deck of cards because it shows that I don’t like playing with them but that I love magic. I thing magic is magnificent. I just love the reaction on people’s faces after you performed a nice trick. I like the way people marvel at you. My favorite magician is definitely Andy Field. This is because he’s a great magician and he does not reveal the secrets of others, however he reveals his own tricks and gives you helpful tips. He was the magician that inspired me to perform the tricks I do now.


Exploring is one of my favorite hobbies. This is why I took a picture of a flashlight. I like entering dark and mysterious places and finding things. I love carrying my gear around and using it to identify strange and unusual things. I love it when my heart beats out of my chest like a gorilla trying to break out of it’s cage when I climb nearly to the canopy of a large tree or when I go into a dark place. When I find something eccentric or different I keep it. Exploring is exciting and adventurous and I love it.


I am a third cultured kid as I come from two different countries. I am half Pakistani and half South Korean. I love both of these countries and this is why I selected these two flags. These flags always remind me of the great friends I made in Korea and in Pakistan. I lived in Seoul, Korea and had a magnificent time there when I had to leave I was very sad and I did not wish to leave at all. I had to move to Islamabad,Pakistan. At first I disliked it, because I did not have many friends and the school was much smaller compared to my school in Seoul. However, things changed soon, as the people there were warm-hearted and they had a lot in common with me. I would go outside a lot with my friends and have loads of fun. I soon started to love the place and I did not wish to abandon my friends there when I had to move to Malaysia I love both of these countries very much and am proud of my heritage.


My watch was a gift I received from my mother a few years ago. I was grateful when I got it. It was stylish and had multiple functions. It is a watch manufactured by the Swiss company SWATCH. I would wear it all the time while sleeping, in the shower, and wherever I would go. Whenever, I wore the watch good things happened. Therefore, I considered it my lucky charm.
However one day while playing football the wrist strap of the watch snapped. I was terrified and I could not believe what happened. It was the most abysmal thing that ever happened to me. Although it was broken I did not wish to repair it or throw it away. I kept it as it reminds me of the great experiences I had while wearing it.


Running is amazing. This is why I took a picture of the shoes I love running in. While I run I feel like I am capable of leaping over buildings. For me it releases stress and is good exercise. When I am infuriated or sad I run. It clears my head and helps me forget experiences I do not wish to be reminded of. Running is amazing for me and really helps me in ways nothing else can.


These things are significant to me, because they represent my personality,the things I love doing and I will keep them forever as they have sentimental value for me.