The Thief and The Dog (Chapter 1 & 2)

Novel: The Thief and The Dogs
Writer: Naguib Mahfouz
Edition: Anchor Books Edition, June 2008

Chapter One

Said is a young and skilled thief who just got released from jail after being betrayed by his wife and Ilish, his henchman. During 4 years in prison he could not forget everything that has happened to him and will look forward to avenge those who snatched the harmonious life he had before being imprisoned.
There is only one thing that incentives Said and that is his daughter, Sana. He expresses: “Through all this darkness only your face, Sana, smiles" p-14
In order to see Sana, Said visited his former house, unexpectedly, Detective Hasaballah was there. Ilish welcomed Said and invited him to come in. They all crowded into a sitting room and started to talk about the future of Sana. However, the six-year-old did not recognize Said as his father and began to cry. After this reaction of Sana, he felt defeated and emotionally disturbed and decided to leave.

Chapter Two

Said was wandering through Darrasa quarter; this place brings many pleasant memories to him. Suddenly he steps into a room and sees the Sheikh, his late father's religious master, sitting cross-legged on the prayer carpet. They greet each other and start to chat. Said introduces himself to the Sheikh thinking that he might not remember him.
He talked about the four years in prison, how his wife betrayed him and committed adultery, and the fact of being rejected by his own daughter. The Sheikh seems to understand; however, his speaks in the language of old times where words had a double meaning. Said feels turned away but this the only safe place for him to stay.
“I am alone with my freedom, or rather I'm in the company of the Sheikh, who is lost in heaven, repeating words that cannot be understood by someone approaching hell. What other refuge have I?" p-33

Y.D.

Reflections of a Friend.

and then... you are supposed to try again, thinking just about results. The only purpose was to have some fun, but things always get complicated. The unexpected works , most of the times, as a friend said. However when I think about that, something makes me feel uncomfortable. Maybe I'm not taking part, maybe I'm not thinking about results.
So, I have two questions: what do you want?... as another friend asked
and when do you want it?
When, as we know , nobody knows. That's for sure. I like things for sure.
Once again I learned how to dream an uncertain dream. I did it so well. When you finish, I said myself, you will be a better man. But nothing changed, I still have the same taste in my mouth, the same blood in my veins, the weirdest beast in my heart.

“Largo official defends vote to fire city manager”

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This article was publicized in Sun-Sentinel newspaper, wrote by Lorri Helfand on March 26, 2007.
This article also discusses about a Largo city Commissioner, Ms. Gay Gentry, who voted to fire the city manager, Mr. Steven Stanton who had served for 14 years, a month after he revealed he planned to become a woman. Ms. Gentry alluded her decision didn't have anything to do with discrimination. She also stated she had had concerns about the inflexible way he had dealt with employees before, and she felt is was time to inspect this issues. Mr. Stanton disagree that Gentry's vote wasn't discriminatory, but he seems to be concerned not only about keeping his job but supplying information and education about transgenderism.

I chose this article because it has a controversial subject. It talks about how people could react when making decisions dealing with homosexuality. This specific case is extremely polemic because transgenderism is more difficult to understand when refers to a public figure like a city manager is. I consider that is it a little bit suspicious to bring out old managerial problems just after he announced his idea to become a woman. I'm not sure what would I have done I had been a Commissioner but I consider myself more open mind than Ms. Gentry since I see homosexuality as a simple way of being and not a medical issue. Mr. Stanton probably won work as a manager anywhere else, but his case will help anyone else in the future who goes through this.

Y.D.

Ghandi, come and rescue me!

Several characteristics may define a hero. A hero has to be a figure with great strength or certain abilities, a risk taker, someone well known for his or her achievements. My hero was a famous warrior who used only his mind and word as indestructible weapons. Mahatma Gandhi, also known as a “ half-naked Indian fakir” left a message to the world though his own life. His message helps my life to stay away from angriness and violence and leads my thoughts to a peaceful lifestyle. Nonviolence, and Simplicity are two of the most important principles Mahatma Gandhi stood for, and without falling into dogmatisms the way Gandhi developed these three principles makes him my hero.

 

Mahatma Gandhi left a valuable message of nonviolence. He said that all through history the way of truth and love has always won, that an eye for an eye leads to blindness instead of victory.  Applying this message I save myself everyday. Moreover, showing sympathy toward whomever gives me a bad attitude has always left me good results.

 

Simplicity is also one of the greatest legacy left by Gandhi. He encouraged Indian people to spin threads and wear homespun cloth instead of using foreign fabrics.   Furthermore, Gandhi washed his own clothes, reduced his expenses almost to zero, and wore a dhoti part of his life to show simplicity.  He refused to eat meat and became a vegetarian as an economic resource. His determination is an example for me. It gives me the strength to fight against consumerism and blind ambitions.........

 

 

 

Brought from the Milky Way Galaxy.

Talking about myself at this point it is kind of scaring because the space is almost in blank. At least this one is different from the self-criticism papers I used to fill out back in Cuba. This space accepts creativity. I love creativity!At least I can speak about my virtues and dreams, and also humor around. With 28 years old, certain characteristics about myself have become quite clear. It is also right that I had to recall my background, all the events that have taken place in my life, and the way other people see me to understand the way I am.

One way or another, I’ am the result of all the events that have taken place in my life. I used to think I was different, brought from somewhere in the middle of the Milky Way galaxy, and I certainly was, but not literally. I was only child until the age of eight; a cutie pie and non-talkative little girl who used to spend long hours in the backyard cooking cucumber with bougainvillea or watching her dad converting old cars into spaceships. My wonderland seemed to work perfectly even though after my two sisters were born. They gave me strength and patience. I remember that time like going thru a precocious motherhood. I felt more than pleased being a guardian and looking after them. Thanks to all possible divine powers in the sky, my mother was also there. She was the one in charge of lighting up the house with spirituality. I never was a religious person, like many other Cuban people who were cut off from going church every Sunday during the Castro’s regimen; however, my mom showed me an alternative way for being blessed: our African roots. My house was always protected with a shield of flowers, colognes, and tobaccos. I was a happy kid with a happy life until adolescence hit. Adolescence was a desperate race where every time I reached the goal I was automatically kicked to the beginning. No matter how hard I tried, I ended up being everything I was taught to be. This background molded my beliefs, values and attitudes and there is not possible way in the entire world my past could be changed.

Nowadays I am the same person I used to be, but dimensionally changed. Time has tamed me. All those characteristics of my personality that were undefined twenty years ago are settled now. I describe myself as a nature lover, protective toward defenseless people, peaceful, imaginative, introverted but not unapproachable, and a risk taker. Furthermore, my close friends think I am trustworthy, understanding, and respectful. On the other hand, I am very insecure, sentimental, and a bit proud and impulsive. As per my husband, this bit proud and impulsive of me will bring future troubles in our relationship. He also says I am very temperamental. My answer to him is always the same: “Welcome to women’s world”.

There might be much more about myself I don’t even know. I have accomplished who I am by understanding my background, the events that have taken place in my life and the way other people see me. I do not definitively come from the Milky Way Galaxy, but I am still a special person, so is everyone.

Y.D.

Do not forget Holocaust!

“It took this Night to Make Us Know” is a response to the murder of Israeli athletes at Munich Olympics in 1972. This article was written in 1976 by Bob Greene, a Chicago Tribune columnist. In this article, Mr. Greene refers to the young Jews, the assimilated Americans, as a generation that may not feel identified with the passed centuries of hurt, fear, and suffering. Mr. Greene also manifests that it took that night of tragedy in Munich Olympics to make Jews realize that “the hate is still strong enough” to cause murder. However, he doesn’t come up with a solution for getting along with such a tragedy. Hate among Jewish people has always be a controversial debate where every new tragedy it is instantly connected with Holocaust. It is right that the Holocaust was genocide beyond imagination; yet, it not only involved Jews but also disable people, Gypsies, Homosexuals, and others. When it comes to reality, mankind in general has always experienced coexisting difficulties such as Slavery, Homophobia, Xenophobia, or any other type of unjustified discrimination.

With a passionate tone, the author intends to persuade the readers that the young Jewish generation, which might feel bored toward traditions, should never forget its link to the past. The author sounds convincing when he delivers the message; but he mainly supports the article with non-factual supporting details. For him being a Jew, Mr. Greene’s opinion is completely biased. In order to demonstrate an actual and real threat toward Jews, Mr. Greene mentions the existence of people who walk in the night ready to show their hate against Jews. Yet, the identities of those people who walk in the night is not quite define in the article.

As per an article written by a source of Pearson Education, when Munich Olympics took place, German president Gustav Heinemann welcomed the Olympics as "a milestone on the road to a new way of life with the aim of realizing peaceful coexistence among peoples" and most Germans hoped it would, at least in some way, help to heal the racial wounds caused by Hitler. Unfortunately, the Olympics ended up with a terrorist attack where two Israelis lost their lives. Not only Jewish people, but also the entire world went through this tragedy since many countries in the world also had their sportsmen participating in the Munich Olympics.

To summarize, Mr. Greene recalls the Munich Olympics tragedy as an act intrinsically aimed to Jewish people. He exhorts the young Jewish generation not to forget ancient tragedies since they might get repeated once and once again. Ancient tragedies might get repeated once and once again not only for Jews, but also for the entire world because mankind still doesn’t know how to overcome its coexisting difficulties. The Torah indicates: “Love the stranger, for strangers you were in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19). Within the cited words a judicious message is implicit, a message of love and acceptability.

Y.D.

Cuba and Puerto Rico are two wings of the same Bird.

The world today is experiencing an ongoing interaction between people with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Since exposure to people of other cultures is more common everyday, intercultural communication plays an important role. The best way to communicate with other cultures is identifying their broad characteristics and understanding their general tendencies. The way people live, talk, dress, interact, eat, and express themselves is different to the next. Even though two cultures might share a lot of similarities on their background they can also display certain difference toward these characteristic. To gain a better understanding of how these characteristics are displayed in cultures of similar background, let’s analyze Puerto Rican and Cuban cultures.

When it comes to Puerto Ricans and how they feel about themselves and others varies, if one is on their own they think about themselves; they think they are important. But, when it comes to friends and family its all about them, like on holidays and parties they are very much collectivism people. They like to have fun with each other, sing, dance, and play dominos whenever they have a chance. Puerto Rican families are independent to their children; if the child is ready and could afford to move out the house it would be ok. The dating system in Puerto Rico is very low context; verbal speaking. If a couple was dating for 2-3 years that didn’t mean they are going to get married. It would have to be asked by the man and talked over; they just won’t assume they will automatically get married just because they were dating for a long time. Not so long ago I went to

Dominican Republic and a lady asked me If I had a boyfriend and I told her yes, I have been with him for a year and half now. Her respond was “Oh really! So when is the wedding?” I was confused and later she told me in her culture if you are with a guy for that long or longer that meant they are planning to stay together. Many cultures assume and imply that rule about marriage.

Cuba has both tendencies, individualistic and collectivist. Cuba has a political structure that forces its society to an extreme collectivism. The Cuban government has set up entities per block called CDR. The CDR’s are tasked to keeping a detailed record of each neighborhood’s inhabitant’s behavior and look for any counter-revolutionary activity. The purpose of this entities has changed its meaning as time has passed, giving to people the right to get involved in the affairs of others. Another example that shows traits of collectivism in Cuba is seen through its dwelling system. Since the possibility to obtain a new residence is almost none, it is usual to see different generations living in the same house. Consequently, Cuban families are likely to be cooperative, they are expected to support each other especially in the case of unfavorable events, and a personal problem is broadly debated within other family members. On the other hand, Cubans have developed an individualistic tendency that has aroused with their increasing opposition to the regimen. It seems that everyone tends to pursuit his/her freedom individually. As many other Latin American countries, Cuba has a high-context culture characteristics. High–context cultures tend to attribute behavior according to the situation or factors that are external to the person. They relay on nonverbal communication and prefer tradition over change. Cubans feel more comfortable expressing ideas by using a lot of body gestures. To illustrate, when listening to a conversation within Cubans, a person from a different culture might infer a fight is taking place; however, most of the time, said conversation has not a remarkable meaning. Cubans also tend to have a high sense of humor independently how serious is the context of the situation. Cuban culture can be mostly defined as a low-power distance culture. Cubans treat one another informally, even when two persons are not acquainted. It is also easy to see a colloquial relationship between a patient and a doctor, a student and an educationist, or an employee and a client. Since different social classes are no allowed in Cuba by Castro’s regimen, people are not usually addressed according to their qualifications, academic degrees or diplomas; they all are called “compañero.” Nevertheless, a high respect towards the elders is still prevalent. In addition, Cuban culture has difficulty dealing with ambiguity, uncertainty, and diversity. Even though Cuba has a varied ethnicity, a strong feeling of regionalism is clear seen on its population. For example, people from Havana, the capital city, express certain rejection when people from Santiago de Cuba, the estern part of Cuba, come to live them.

To summarize, the best way to communicate with other cultures is identifying their broad characteristics and understanding their general tendencies. Puerto Rico and Cuba have similar backgrounds. They share a lot of similarities when it comes to their cultures. Both cultures can be mostly described as collectivistic, high-context, and implicit-rule, and it is essential to understand their tendencies before making any assumption of a Puerto Rican or a Cuban person.

Y.D.