Understanding Syria

Posted on Apr 7, 2017 by Rahman

An intense conflict; friends and foes fighting side-by-side
Rahman Mohamed
Updated April 9, 2017

Today when a someone hear’s “Syria” they often think of ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and Levant), or DAESH (Arabic acronym for ISIS). What’s commonly misunderstood is the complications of the conflict in Syria. Today conflict in Syria is made up of civil war, war against terrorism, and proxy wars that are evolving into direct war involving nations outside of Syria. Continue reading →

Northerners Laugh, Not Howl

Posted on Apr 1, 2017 by Rahman

April Fool, a Canadian love
Rahman Mohamed

The laugh. No historian has confirmed but it’s likely our human ancestors had a sense of humour, the ones who invented paper in China around 500 BCE but didn’t think of toilet paper for another 2300 years, 1857 CE. It’s been reported that Chimpanzees, the ancestors of our ancestors, have been observed laughing. If they can laugh at each other for dropping a banana it’s likely our ancestors laughed at each other for burning themselves while cooking a bunny or stubbing toes on the beta wheel.

It’s widely known many consider that “laughter is the best medicine”. What many don’t know: Canadians are not just polite, they’re funny. (It’s true. They’re not always smiling at you to be polite. In the future it might be smiling because they’re high.)

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Silent Movement On Toronto Street

Posted on Mar 31, 2017 by Rahman

Posters on lampposts condemning discrimination
Rahman Mohamed

The war in Syria has brought many actions to Toronto including funds being raised by the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac Student Union (ACSSU), raising awareness of Syrian culture and current survival conditions, and displaying the life of a Syrian refugee by imitating it. Recently a silent movement has appeared; a series of posters has appeared on lampposts at Spadina, south of Bloor. The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre is at the corner of Spadina and Bloor, across from the TTC Spadina Station. Further down the street is the University of Toronto Multi-Faith Centre. Along the way there are a series of posters promoting acceptance of Muslims and encouraging an end to fascism
Featuring silhouettes and short text a set of three simple paper posters are seen along Spadina on lampposts covering regular sale and help wanted signs.