A touching story of horror and of joy... it is about the Holocaust a MUST SEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXGfngjmwLA

Here is the synopsis of her story in English as the video is in French listen to her voice to get and feel the emotion.  Her name is Francine Christophe she was 8 when she was taken to Bergen Belsen concentration camp she had to wear a yellow Star of David ...  The story is of hope and an act of kindness ...

She is stating she had to wear a Star of David at the age of 8 and was sent to Bergen Belsen camp. People brought few sweets her mom had some chocolate that was to b given to if she was in desperate need ... in the camp a woman had a child baby her mom asked her if she could give it to the newborn she said yes... 6 months later they were released and everyone grew up in various parts of France. The newborn never made a sound never cried until she was released she says that is the day she was born. One of her relatives asked her what would have happened if they had the help of psychiatrist or psychologist after the war, she did not know and she started a conference on the topic for those who had been in a camp. At the conference a young woman who lived in Marseilles comes to her and tells her she had a gift for her, she hands her a piece of chocolate with the words I was the baby in the camp the one whom you gave your chocolate to 

Original painting and art work by artist Vanda Princz it is copywriter

DREAM OF THE HOUSEMAID by Shirani Rajapakse

VerseWrights Warmly Welcomes Poet
​Shirani Rajapakse

Shirani Rajapakse

  Dream of the Housemaid

   Returning home on a stretcher, a
   plane ride to the desert many

months ago gone so wrong. You got much
more than you bargained for with a salary paid

in nails. Hard as hell. Forced inside, damming your
veins, piercing bones, rotting, festering. Tears

all dried up you came back
in pain. Dreams shattered, leaving them

scattered in the sands for scavengers to feast.
The oil merchant’s wife made sure of it. There was

something she didn’t like, or maybe he didn’t like
being rejected. Wasn’t used to it. They

held you down on a chair in the kitchen
writhing and howling in pain, nails

hammered in, one at a time. Your hands,
your feet as you cried out in vain.

Stuffed some down your throat until you were too full
of it all. The X-rays back home confirmed,

but oh the shame. No one believed. No one.
Your story was good, made the news

that night and the next day too. Everyone had
something to say. But no one believed. The press

was amused; you made it all up, someone
sniggered. Couldn’t handle the pressure, the agency

that sent you grumbled and ignored your plea.
Said you did it for a piece of fame; time in the spotlight.

But what a show. You got nothing, nothing. Alone on
a hospital bed swathed in bandages stuffed with

medication they stare and talk in whispers as you
recollect the journey to the Middle East, oasis

of the poor. You went to make money,
like everyone else in the village, build a house,

educate your three children waiting at home
with their grandmother. Your husband

a drunkard, he couldn’t keep a job, so you
took over. They had to live. But all you got were

nails beaten in like Jesus that day. Yet where’s
your cross? Where are your followers?

Money gone, dignity in shreds you yearn to return
as unfulfilled dreams refuse to leave tugging

at your heart calling, calling
come finish what you started.
 ​
Read the poetry of Shirani Rajapakse
Read a profile of Shirani Rajapakse

from the webiste VERSEWRIGHTS  http://www.versewrights.com/

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.

Two Poems on Womanhood by Shirani Rajapakse

March 29, 2016 | By Shirani Rajapakse

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.

March 29, 2016 | By Shirani Rajapakse

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

IS SOMETHING ROTTEN AT THE SAQ?

Would you like to embarrass Quebec, as Quebec so richly deserves?

Please take 10 seconds to write to the SAQ (link below).

Ask them why they do not post bilingual signs at their outlets in predominantly English areas! :o)

On the following SAQ contact form please choose SERVICE/COURTESY. Leave your phone number blank: https://www.saq.com/content/SAQ/en/a-propos/pour-nous-joindre.html

The only way that things in Quebec will ever improve is if Quebec is embarrassed into changing their xenophobic ways!

I sent:

Why doesn’t the SAQ post bilingual signs at SAQ outlets where non-Francophones are the majority or a significant minority?

Bilingual signs are legal in Quebec. If there were more bilingual signs, then everyone would increase their vocabulary. I look forward to receiving the SAQ’s reply. Until I receive word that the SAQ will be posting bilingual signs, I will be shopping at the LCBO outlets in Hawkesbury, Lancaster, Cassleman and Ottawa!

Thank you!

Please SHARE this post far and wide (links below). It is imperative that you stop shopping at the SAQ and encourage others to stop shopping there as well.

OBVIOUSLY this means not purchasing wine at supermarkets, Costco, etc in QUEBEC!

Buy your booze in Kahnawake

For tires save $$$ at Goodleaf’s in Kahnawake  https://www.facebook.com/Goodleafs-AUTO-TIRE-471690579563506/

PLEASE “FOLLOW” THE BLOG FOR UPDATES AND PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION ONCE BUT SHARE OFTEN!  HTTP://PETITIONS.MOVEON.ORG/SIGN/IT-IS-TIME-TO-CLOSE-DOWN?SOURCE=C.EM&R_BY=13077821

Please note: We were planning to spend 2 weeks in The Gaspe this summer, but in view of how Quebec respects Anglophones we decided to spend the 2 weeks in Maine instead!

YEZIDI A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED ON AUGUST 3

Please click on the link to read a heart-wrenching story a first hand account from what a person survived Please read and do share this story

http://criesoftheyazidi.weebly.com/stories