STOREEZ

Outsider Witness Response to the Life Certificate Presentation

The following recording is the outsider witness response to the Life Certificate presentation we did at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture (TRC) in Ramallah, Palestine.

The respondents are: Ala' Harb, a psychologist from the TRC; and Mehmet Dinc, clinical psychologist and lecturer from Istanbul, Turkey. Hana Masud is doing the translating.

 

Why some beliefs might not be useful

 

Person I talked to (PITT): My knee has been extremely painful lately. Feels like a million needles sticking through it. The pain is throbbing. So I suspected something was not right. So I went to a healer.

Me: So what did the Doctor say?

PITT: Its not a doctor, a healer, a medicine man. A learned man who is gifted with the skills to see what others cannot see.

Me: You mean, like ghosts?

Happy Social Worker's Day: reflect beyond your box..

 

It's Social Worker's Day in Singapore today.

One would think that I would be excited for this day, I remember being part of the very first one we had many years ago (where I had the unfortunate opportunity to become an emcee). Certainly I am very proud of how it has evolved over the years, and that I manage to play some small part over the years. 

However, I'm even more perturbed by how affected I am with things happening in Japan, where countless millions are suffering from the current quake-tsunami disaster, and the possible death toll reaching 10, 000 and counting. 

Ramadhan: Cultural and Religious Immersion 101

 

Was reading my bro Farid's Blog about his thoughts and opinions on Ramadhan; and started reflecting on the meaning of this Holy Month for us Muslims. Even more interesting is the fact that common misconceptions about Ramadhan are still ubiquitous amongst non-Muslims, which unfortunately is also partly due to the messages and perceptions of Ramadhan transmitted by Muslims in Singapore. 

Sociocultural norms such as going to Geylang, getting expensive new clothes, and purchasing new furniture become infused with religious doctrines, making it difficult to distinguish that which is religiously obligatory in Islam, and that which are merely cultural nuances.