Secret of Happiness

I met an old woman in a wheelchair yesterday at a rehab centre. She could only move her right thumb and perhaps another finger. Her head she could not move because of a recent muscle issue. She was completely paralyzed otherwise. She had a blue tooth device connected to her ear which allowed her to control her wheelchair. The amazing thing was that she appeared to be happy and was even smiling during my conversation with her. There was genuine peace on her face and her eyes showed this. I thought that this must be a recent injury- recalling something from the Batman movie that you die young enough to retain your innocence or live long enough to be a villain when faced with extensive pain and suffering. To my surprise, she said she was born this way. I have often prejudged that anyone who is born this way cannot attain or appreciate true happiness- at best they live a life of compromise. I was positively surprised. I left my contact information for her and I to speak more. Her friend advised me that this woman is brilliant and she believes in God. It reminded me of what I had written, in response to my own experience which is far less “traumatizing” (again, a value judgment) than hers, that:

The Life Force
Posted on May 29, 2011 by Moiz Billah

I met an Arched Tree like myself:

Though broken it shot its branches towards the sun.

The Arched Tree showed me:

The most evident purpose of life is to live it as our nature dictates,

If we must, we walk to heaven without legs

___

I suspect that this “Life Force”, something that permits us to live even when faced with what we perceive to be the worst, is what may be her secret of happiness. If I get to speak to her again, I will share what she has to say. In the meantime, I remain inspired by meeting a very advanced soul.

Support Freedom of Mr. Nasser al-Raas a Canadian citizen sentenced to 5 years in Bahrain for Peaceful Assembly

The Bahrain government sentenced Mr.  Naser al-Raas, a Canadian citizen with a disability, to five years in jail on October 25th, 2011 for “gathering” and “spreading false news” for the alleged crime of being present, or at worst, participating in a pro-democracy peaceful assembly in Bahrain.

“”I didn’t chant against the government; it’s not my business,” Mr. Nasser Al Raas told the Star. “The country was in chaos.”

“He remembers three mock executions held under the desert sun. And he remembers the dingy cell in the notorious Al Qala prison, where he said he spent more than a month in solitary confinement, beaten and electrocuted daily, the screams of other tortured prisoners echoing through the halls.

This  torture was recorded in a medical report filed by Doctors Without Borders obtained by the Star.

Whether or not al-Raas joined protesters, his sentence violates his “fundamental rights to human expression,” said Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada.

During his military trials, al-Raas said he received regular visits from Canada’s consul in Saudi Arabia, Michael Erdman, but couldn’t get a new passport to leave the country. Canada does not have diplomatic representation in Bahrain.

Neve said he raised al-Raas’ case with Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird’s office earlier this month.

“While it’s clear the Canadian government has been giving the case some attention, there’s no indication it’s been given high-level attention,” Neve said. “That’s what we’re looking for now with a verdict in.” ” (The Star, October 25th, 2011- see link at the end of the post)

I urge you to write or email   ( john.baird@international.gc.ca ) to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs to request him to give the case of Mr. Nasser Al-Raas the high level of attention it deserves.  The Honourable John Baird may be reached as follows:

The Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Parliament Hill:

Telephone: 613-996-0984
Fax: 613-996-9880

Department:
Foreign Affairs
Lester B.Pearson Building, Tower A
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2

Telephone: 613-995-1851
Fax: 613-996-3443

E-Mail:  john.baird@international.gc.ca

The copy of the Star article is enclosed:

Freedom struggle of a Canadian imprisoned for being present at a pro-democracy gathering

The Update on Mr. Nasser al-Raas can be found in the following CBC report: Update

Born Again

I cannot fit into my Old Shoes:

I have Different Feet now.

I am Born Again.

Moiz Billah

Note: This poem is dedicated to persons who have survived a life changing experience and have to give up their “old self” and find meaning in their new reality.  The metaphor suggests that One’s self is not defined by the shoes one wears (the reality of one’s life) but rather is an invisible, life defining force within you which says, nay screams, “I am Born Again”.