Tuesday, June 28, 2011

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

 
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee. The book became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film (IMDB link here), also a classic.

 

Book Description:
 

To Kill a Mockingbird portrays a society that is supremely, staggeringly unfair: the U.S. South in the 1930s in a small town where racism is part of the very fabric of society. Faced with this situation, an equality-minded person might be tempted to say, "Screw it, wake me up when the Civil Rights Movement gets here," and keep his or her head down until then.

Some people in the novel do just that. But a few decide to do what they can to take action on the side of justice and equality, even though they think it’s mostly hopeless. To Kill a Mockingbird doesn’t sugarcoat the results (minor spoiler: the book does not end with African-Americans and whites holding hands and singing "It’s a Small World"). It does, however, suggest that doing something to make life a little more fair, even if it seems like it’s not having any effect, is still worthwhile, and what’s more, admirable.

Source for description here


My Review:

 
I felt a little bored at the first, but the more I read it, the more I found it interesting. It even turned to be my favourite type. It simply discusses judgment and justice. It shows how fast we are to judge others, even if they are strangers for us. It also shows how we sometimes ignore justice and go with society's word.

What made me think the most is the title "To Kill A Mockingbird". The only line that can you directly related the story with the title is:



“Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.
“Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy ... but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

I maped this to few characters who were nothing but good. Yet they were injuried or squelched.
I believe we all met poeple like this. Poeple who do no wrong, and yet they are injured the most that you start to think that "Bad things happen to good people only".

Review here


خاطرة

"انا أؤمن بأن العشق يخلق المعجزات
اذا التقي شخصان في الحب .. و احبا بعضهما بقوة .. فستحل كل العقد و سيلتقيان لا محال
انت حلمي
كنت بعيدة عني دائما .. لكنك بقيت في حلمي
حلمي الذي اتمني ان احققه الآن
حلمي بأن أدنو منك و انت نائمة
حلمي بأن أقترب منك و أن أهمس في أذنك
أحبك"

منقول

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

I Have A Dream




[Shane:]
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder (wonder) of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream


[Bryan:]
Oh yeah
I have a dream (have a dream), a fantasy (fantasy)
To help me through (help me through) reality (reality)
And my destination (destination) makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness
([Mark:] pushing through the darkness baby)
Still another mile


[Shane:]
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
([Mark:] everything I see yeah)
I believe in angels
([Mark:] I believe in angels )
When I know the time is right for me
([Mark:] time is right for me)
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream


I have a dream (oh yeah), a song to sing(song to sing)

To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder (if you see the wonder) of a fairy tale (of a fairy tale)
You can take the future even if you fail (yeah yeah yeah yeah)
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see (everything)
I believe in angels (yeah)
When I know the time is right for me (right for me)
I'll cross the stream (cross the stream) - I have a dream (have a dream)
I'll cross the stream (cross the stream) - I have a dream

[Mark:]
Oh

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Life worth living

The past few days I passed by things that have one meaning for me "Life worth living".

One is Nada Chatila's video (below), who is a cancer survivor. It is strange that every time I am at deeply down, I imagine what I would do if I had cancer. Strangely, this made me realize how small my problems is.

Other was a video for Paulo Coelho. He was passing by a forest, and noticed that this is the first and last time he is going to see these same trees. Simply because each moment is unique and universe is in permanent change.

No matter how hard, unfair and injustice it is. Life is meant to be this way. It is hard because we are soft. It is unfair because we don't see the other fair in our life. It is injustice because we are the ones who cause harm to ourselves.

Life isn't only people around you. It isn't limited in sickness. It isn't restricted in disability. It won't stop on a dried flower in your book. It isn't reduced in a promise that isn't kept.

Life worth much more than this. Life is you. It is the breath you inhale and exhale. It is the second that pass you.

You need no one to enjoy or success your life. Depending on other for your own happiness is probably the biggest mistake you would make in your life. You must learn how to be the source of your happiness. You must learn how to generate the feeling you need by yourself.

Life is full of happiness's sources that can help you; smile of a baby, soft breath of the sea, smell of a flower, a smile on a face of someone you help, a nice pray from your parents, view of sunrise and sunset, ... etc.

Here is a promise you should make. Shape your life as you want. Enjoy each moment of your life remembering that each moment passes you only once. Share your life with people you love. Be there for whoever needs you. And embrace life as it comes to you.

-------------------------------------------------------

Note: This is a talk between me and myself so "You" is directed mainly to myself.


TEDxCairo - Nada Chatila - A Life Worth Living