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Classical Progymnasmata

By Nada Salem Abisamra

 Auburn University Montgomery

EH 606

Dr. Robbie Jean Walker

Spring 2000



Index

Description: Cynthia AbiSamra

1- Refutation
2- Confirmation
3- Commonplace
4- Fable
5- Narrative
6- Chreia
7- Proverb
8- Thesis
9- Legislation
10- Encomium
11- Impersonation
12- Comparison

The 14 Progymnasmata explained
Progymnasmata: What does this word mean?

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Description

..

There she was, all dressed in white, from head to toe, like an angel coming from the sky to pour her light on humanity. White flowers around her head; a white veil flowing on her back; a pearl necklace decorating her neck; a long white dress falling on minuscule white shoes; an angelic smile illuminating her face, and, best of all, a snow white soul ready for Sacrament!
Beautiful contrast, didn't you see? Black hair, black eyes, black eyebrows; white crown, white veil, white dress. Hadn't we known better, we would have thought she was a young bride waiting to be wed to a fairy king...
A young bride she was indeed, but waiting to be wed to the Soul of God! Would there ever exist a purer and more beautiful wedding?
Cynthia AbiSamra, a precious nine-year-old flower, was waiting to take the body of Christ for the first time.
She had longed for that moment,
for that first meeting with Christ,
for quite a few years.
This was her Holy Communion Day!
"Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me
will never be thirsty."
John 6:35 (NRSV)

Lord Jesus, bless all those
who are receiving you in
Holy Communion for the first time,
May they, and all who receive your Body,
come to know God's love.
Amen

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Life After Life.
Refutation

Life after Life??? What a joke! How could any sain person believe that once they are dead, their "Soul" will just go to Heaven--or to Hell!! On which scientific proof are people based when they say that? What happens to flowers? to animals? Will they go to Heaven too?!!
"Be good, you will be rewarded when you die; you will go to Heaven, not to Hell." This is a sentence that we repeatedly hear throughout our life, especially in our childhood. We live our life in fear, afraid to do anything wrong lest we should go to Hell. What is Hell??? If there really were a God that loves us all, just as parents love their children, and much more, would he send us to "Hell" if we misbehaved?? Would any parent send his child to Hell??? So how can we say that God would do that??? Is there Hell?? What is Hell? Is there God??? How do we know? We accept everything on earth hoping to be rewarded "later on." What a pity! There is no "later on!" There is just "Here" and "Now". Ever since the dawn of humanity, people have been trying to prove there is Life after Life. "When we die, our Soul goes through a dark tunnel, then, if we were good, we reach the light. We go to a place where there is only Love, only Happiness." No one has ever succeeded in proving that, why???
There is No Life after Life, that's why! Our life stops the moment our heart stops beating. That's it. Could you imagine all those generations going to Heaven or to Hell?? Where would they stay, there would surely be a biiig traffic-jam!
Live your life to the fullest, do everything you want to do here, on earth, before you die, and don't you let anyone convince you of unproven things!

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Confirmation

Life after life? No sain person can deny its existence! Can you imagine us coming on earth just for those few years, and then vanishing without any trace?? What would be the purpose of that? Why would we have been born? Life would be nonsense!
Can life be nonsense? What about the feelings of love and happiness... can they also be nonsense? It would be nonsense to say they are!
We all know that when we love, we are happy; when we acquire knowledge, we are happy; what is this feeling of happiness that we need so much? Why is it present in our lives? Why do we need it? Why do we need love? Why do we need knowledge?
We simply need them because they are the ones we take with us when we die. We take them since we have a place to go. We go to another life, to a better life, where there are only love, knowledge, and happiness. We know that because we do believe. We believe in God, the Creator.
We need no empirical proof to believe in God, we just need logic, and love. We all agree, I suppose, that there is a power beyond us that controls our lives and everything surrounding us. This is a fact we cannot deny. How were we created? Where did we come from? Why are we born in this family not in another one? In this country not in that one? Why are we good-looking or bad-looking? Smart or stupid? Rich or poor? Did we decide on all that? When? How? Why? Does anyone have an answer to these questions? I don't think so, then there is a creator, who has all the answers and decides for us; who decides when we are going to come on this earth, in which circumstances; when we are going to leave it, and also, in which circumstances. It is as clear to see as the blue sky; there is not a single doubt about it.
Beware, human beings, there IS life after life, since there is a creator who loves us all, who sent us on this earth for a purpose. We need to give as much Love as we can, to acquire as much knowledge as we can; these are the only two we are taking with us. Be good, not only because you might go to Hell, but also because this is the only means for you to reach Happiness on earth; and I think this is everyone's ultimate goal!

One last argument for immortality or life after life comes from Plato in the Republic:

1.Evil is all that which destroys and corrupts. . .
2.Each thing has its evil . . . for instance, ophthalmia for the eye, and
disease for the whole body, mildew for corn and for wood, rust for iron . . .
3.The natural evil of each thing . . . destroys it, and if this does not destroy it,
nothing else can . . .

(a) for I don't suppose good can ever destroy anything,
(b) nor can what is neither good nor evil,
(c) and it is certainly unreasonable . . . that the evil of something else would destroy anything when its own evil does not.
4.Then if we find something in existence which has its own evil but which
can only do it harm yet cannot dissolve or destroy it, we shall know at once
that there is no destruction for such a nature. . . .
5.the soul has something which makes it evil . . . injustice, intemperance,
cowardice, ignorance. Now does any one of these dissolve and destroy it?
6.Then, since it is not destroyed by any evil at all, neither its own evil nor
foreign evil, it is clear that the soul must of necessity be . . . immortal.
 

Useful Links:

Professor Peter Kreeft- The Case for Life after Death- Truth Journal.
http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth28.html

10 Reasons to Believe in Life after Death.
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/rtb/7rsn/

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Refutation & Confirmation
Protocol

I knew I wanted to write about life after life. I was really amazed to see myself writing that refutation! I had never thought I could do that. Its content is so much the contrary of what I believe in! I couldn't help laughing when I wrote about the traffic jam in Heaven or in Hell! I really couldn't believe I was the person writing that.
As for the confirmation, it was more difficult to write than I had thought. I wanted it to be much more persuasive than the refutation; after all, this is my real opinion.
I guess that when it comes to religion, it is much easier to write against it than for it. Faith is not that easy to prove.
Nada A.S.

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Commonplace

Against Adultery

The seventh of the Ten Commandments says, "Thou shalt not commit adultery!" Exodus 20:14.
On our wedding day we say, "I _____, take you ______, to be my wedded wife/husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness."
Are all these words said in vain? Marriage is a commitment that requires love, honesty, sincerity, faithfulness! Without these vital virtues no relationship can survive.
Harry betrayed his wife, the woman to whom he promised eternal love. He betrayed her with her sister! He tore her apart twice, as if one time were not enough! Even a person's worst enemy couldn't do as much harm as Harry did to Helen.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, (...,) shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6: 9
If an adulterer is rejected even by God, the great Savior, why should we, then, ourselves, accept and forgive him? Why should we condone his behavior, the behavior of a person who always desires to have more, who is never satisfied with what he has. Whoever betrays a spouse out of greed and discontentment would do anything else to satisfy his needs, be they sexual, social or even related to work.
"Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death." Galatians 6:8
We ought to reject any idea of mercy toward such human beings.

Useful Links:

Adultery
http://www.probe.org/docs/adultery.html

Wedding Vows
http://www.bible.org/docs/pastor/weddings/vows.htm

The Book of God's Promises
http://www.cbn.org/bibleresources/thebook/godspromises/
gods-promises-b2-52.asp

Avarice (& Greed)- From the Seven Deadly Sins Series
http://capo.org/sermons/7deadly/deadsin2.html

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Fable
Happiness: Getting or Giving?
Four people lived in that house,
Mother, father, daughter and son;
Everything was provided by each spouse,
Some might say it was overdone.

"I want this, I want that, I want more,"
The only language the offspring knew,
The parents bought all their "babies" asked for,
Not wanting them to feel blue.

Loss, misery, and despair,
Are the feelings that reigned in that place,
"We are doing our best and can't bear
To see you ignoring God's grace!"

The days went by
And the mother got ill;
They thought she was going to die,
And no one could alter God's Will.

The children finally realized
How much their parents had sacrificed.
It was their turn to take care
Of the person who for them was always there.

They did so and felt great delight
To see their mom regain her strength.
They knew life had never been so bright
And that they had to relive it at length.

No one had ever told them
How easily happiness could be reached,
They didn't know it could just stem
From what God has always preached.

Give, give, give, give,
Don't just seek to take,
This is the only way for you to live
Without spiritual ache.

If giving is the key,
To the best life on earth,
Then don't you, parents, agree,
Kids should get the chance to GIVE, from birth?

Moral:
We can only reach happiness through giving. The more we get, the more we want to get, and the LESS satisfied we are; the more we give, the more we want to give, and the MORE satisfied we are. If parents would provide their children with the opportunity to give as well, not only to receive and BE given, their kids would grow to be much happier.

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Narrative
(This narrative is a mixture of Facts & Fiction)

"Whose body is this? Can it be mine? Whyyyyyyyy? I am not ready to die! I am still young. There are sooo many things I would like to do! I would like to get a degree, to work, to find the girl of my dreams, get married, have children, take care of my parents who devoted their life for me. My teachers always told me I had the qualities of a leader; I NEED TO MAKE USE OF THEM!!! I want to save my country from all those foreign troups that are tearing it apart! I want to free it, to give it back its independence. Oh my!! There are sooo many things I still want to do! I want to liiiiiiiive.....

Dying at 19!! I would have never thought this could happen to me!"

"ESIB student killed by grenade blast (Beirut- Lebanon- Tuesday, April 11, 2000)
19-year-old engineering student David A. was killed
and 6 other students wounded last Tuesday when a grenade he was
manipulating exploded in a classroom at Saint Joseph University's
Engineering campus (ESIB) in Mansourieh, Lebanon.
While the university administrators said that the grenade was brought
on campus by David A., his friends and family maintain that David
found the grenade wrapped in a gift box outside a lecture hall and
touched it because he thought that it contained no explosives."
Friday, April 7, 2000
"Did you see it?"
"What?"
"The grenade! Who on earth could have put a grenade in our classroom?!! It must be a joke. Maybe one of the students placed it there to make us lose some time."
"It can't be real! It must be a toy!"
"Of course it is; no one would put a real grenade in a classroom! Look at it, in that cup, all wrapped up like a nice present."

Monday, April 10, 2000
"I would like to go back to our classroom to see if that grenade is still there. I want to take it home with me, show it to my friends and parents. It would be a good souvenir."
"You can't go to class today! You know we have exams and are supposed to stay in this section of the university. Concentrate on your exam and stop thinking of that grenade, whoever placed it there must have taken it back!"

Tuesday, April 11, 2000

8:00 A.M.
"How was your exam? I found it difficult! That French system!! Why do they have to make exams extremely hard?"
"I know, it was not easy, but I think I managed.
Do you see it?!! I told you it would still be here!!! No one has taken it back! I will ask the teacher if I can take it."
"Are you crazy? What do you want to do with a grenade? Leave it on that chair and let's go to our seats."
"Where is the cup it was in? Do you see it anywhere?"
"No, I don't... do you?"
"No."
(And David goes to get the grenade, he inspects it for a few seconds...)
"Look, it is so old. Let me ask the teacher what he thinks about it."
(David shows the grenade to his teacher who also thinks it is a toy and suggests that David put it aside and pay attention to the explanations.)

9:45 A.M.
"A ten-minute break, this is all you can have now," said the teacher; "at 9:55 class will resume."
BOOM! The detonation was heard throughout the university!
One body was lying on the ground, inert, full of blood... a few others were also full of blood, but not inert.
David was dead! The grenade was in his hands!

******************************

"On Tuesday, April 11, 2000 a grenade exploded in one of the classrooms of the faculty of Engineering at Saint Joseph University in Beirut killing the student that brought it and was toying with it, and wounding four of his classmates..."

This is what the administrators said about the incident. Who can blame them? They know that David is not the person who brought the grenade, but can they admit it? If they do, wouldn't this be a big threat to the university? What do you think should be done?

(This narrative is a mixture of Facts & Fiction)

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Chreia

Mohandas K. Gandhi
(Mahatma = The Great Soul)

.

There is not a single country in the whole world where the name of Mahatma Gandhi is not known. Some say he was a saint, but some others refuse this idea lest people should think that what he did cannot be redone or applied by any other human being.

Independence, Human Rights, Truth, Liberty for every person, regardless of religion or race! This is what Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) dedicated his life for. Non-violence and passive resistance were the only means he used to achieve his goals. Gandhi spent his whole life campaigning for what he believed
in. He never resorted to violence, but to fasting instead. He suffered much humiliation, faced many problems, but did not give up. He wanted to free his country, India, from the British. Effectively, India attained freedom on 15th August 1947, just one year before Gandhi was killed.

Unlike what happened in many other countries seeking to get their independence, India did not have many losses in souls and property. In Algeria for example, where the people carried out ambushes, assassinations, and bombing raids against the colons and the French forces in order to get their freedom, more than 250,000 French and Algerians died in the fighting. (http://school.discovery.com/)

Non-violence and passive resistance are indeed the best ways to follow in order to get what we want. If in Irak, for example, Saddam Hussain hadn't resorted to violence, he would have spared himself and his people a lot of hardships and deaths. As Gandhi said ""Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man."

Gandhi devoted his entire life to the service of his country, and to the service of humanity. He taught the importance of truth, brotherhood, peace, non-violence, equality and simplicity. The best tribute that we can pay him, is to follow his path.

"Gandhi was inevitable.
If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable.
He lived, thought and acted,
inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward
a world of peace and harmony.
We may ignore Gandhi at our own risk."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Proverb

Virtue is its own reward.

"Virtue", this word that conveys the purest of meanings, is indeed its own reward. What better gift can Man expect from God? Why seek to get credit for doing a good deed? Being able to do this deed is our own recompense. We know that we are much happier when we give than when we receive--of course, as long as we have received a minimum of affection and recognition-- so, why expect something back when we do good and expose ourselves to disappointment when the deed is not returned? If instead of waiting for a reward, we learned to enjoy performing a virtuous act for itself, then our life would be much better. Would we rather do good--even if not rewarded-- or abstain to do anything at all? Would we rather be full of virtue or full of vice? Let's analyze the life of a few persons we know, who do you think is happier? For example, if you had two children one of them behaves so well and the other quite the opposite, which one of the two would be happier? It goes without saying that the good child would be, and this is a gift in itself. Even Jesus says that we should do good without expecting anything in return. Just believing in this is enough. If we are seeking real happiness, we need to believe that virtue is its own reward and not to expect anything in return.

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Thesis

Should a Teacher be Friends with her Students Outside the Classroom?

A teacher who takes the time to befriend and understand her students will quickly figure out the best formula to ensure the best learning environment, to educate and build tomorrow’s leaders.

By being friends with her students and organizing out of class activities, a teacher gains several benefits that affect the class’s ability to learn. Indeed, these out of class activities foster the students' unity and morale; allow them to connect with each other in a stress-free environment; and give the teacher the opportunity to see closely her students and the way they get along together outside the classroom. Additionally, these activities enhance the effectiveness of teaching, the commitment of the students, and the devotion of the teacher for the success of her course.

The positive impact of these relationships can be seen in all types of classrooms. However, they also reveal some drawbacks.

In reality, some teachers mix this friendship with being "one of the guys." They do not know where to draw the limit for their students. Additionally, some might restrict this friendship to some privileged pupils, which would jeopardize the class’s cohesion and the integrity of the teacher. Friendship would be more important than grades. Proteges would be more fortunate than other committed students. By the same token, some students might tend to carry this relaxed informal off-class atmosphere into class. They mistakenly take the concerns that the teacher shows for their troubles as a privileged personal friendship. Finally, these off-class activities might create clans within the classroom as they gather some and exclude others.

The disadvantages to a teacher-student friendship might be numerous; however, if the teacher knows how to impose limits, mutual respect, and trust, the friendships she would nurture would be extremely efficient. Teaching methods and techniques, curricula, materials, books, etc… are very important, but real strength remains in the persons who use them.

Useful Links:

What is Required of Teachers ?
http://www.nadasisland.com/givetime.htm

Difference, Authority, and the Teacher-Student Relationship
http://x.ed.uiuc.edu/EPS/PES-Yearbook/94_docs/BECK.HTM

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Legislation

According to the American Law, Drugs are illegal in the United States.

The aim of drug control strategy is to cut illegal drug use and availability in the United States by 50 percent by 2007 – and reduce the health and social consequences of drug use and trafficking by 25 percent over the same period, through expanded prevention efforts, improved treatment programs, strengthened law enforcement and tougher interdiction. This is the right way to proceed.

However, there are some social analysts that are lobbying for a law that makes the use of drugs legal. Their arguments are based on two main ideas. The first one is that illegal drugs encourage the existence of black market. Without this black market, drug dealers will have no incentives. Drug addicted can legally buy from the market their needs. Thus, traffickers will be out of work, and our children would be safe from their evil activities. The second one is that, while doing that we would be saving the people and government’s time and money. These saved resources, instead of being spent on counter-drug activities can be used in the re-habilitation of the addicted users, in educating and enabling America’s youth to reject illegal drugs.

This utopian approach, although tempting, cannot be effective in the fight against drugs. Evil will always be there. If drugs were made legal, even the people who have not considered taking drugs might do so at the first crisis they encounter. The only way to increase the safety of America’s citizens is by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence. Concerted efforts by the public, all levels of government and the private sector together with other governments, private groups and international organizations will be required for the US strategy to succeed. We should not be tempted to solve the problem of drugs by creating a much bigger problem.

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Encomium

President John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, (1917-1963), 35th President of the United States. The youngest ever elected to the presidency and the first of the Roman Catholic faith, John F. Kennedy won the election of November 1960 by a razor-thin margin, but after taking office he received the support of most Americans. They admired his winning personality, his lively family, his intelligence, and his tireless energy, and they respected his courage in time of decision.

Kennedy was descended from Irish forebears who immigrated to Boston. His grandfather, Patrick J. Kennedy, started as a saloonkeeper and became a Boston political leader. His father, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, graduated from Harvard, became a bank president at 25, and married the daughter of John Francis ("Honey Fitz") Fitzgerald, mayor of Boston.

John was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Mass., the second of nine children. As an infant he lived in a comfortable but modest frame house in that suburb of Boston. John had a happy childhood, full of family games and sports. Encouraged by his father to take part in school athletics, John, wiry but thin, played in half a dozen sports without making the varsity. When John graduated from Choate in 1935, he ranked only 64th in a class of 112. His classmates, however, voted him "most likely to succeed."

John spent the summer of 1935 studying at the London School of Economics. He then entered Princeton University but was forced to leave during the Christmas recess of his freshman year because of an attack of jaundice. In the fall of 1936 he enrolled at Harvard University, where he devoted himself strenuously but not very successfully to athletics and injured his back playing football. During his first two years at Harvard he continued to be an easygoing student; then his work improved.

Two trips to Europe, in 1937 and 1939, gave Kennedy the opportunity to observe international power politics at first hand. He graduated from Harvard in June 1940. He then spent some months in 1940 and 1941 studying at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in California and touring a number of the countries of Latin America.

Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier on Sept. 12, 1953. The couple had two children who survived infancy--Caroline Bouvier, born on Nov. 27, 1957, and John, Jr., born on Nov. 25, 1960. A third child, Patrick Bouvier, died two days after his birth on Aug. 7, 1963.

Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic to become president of the United States and, at the age of 43, the youngest man ever elected to that office. He was inaugurated as president on Jan. 20, 1961. He devoted his entire inaugural address to international affairs.

President Kennedy inspired Americans by his sound and challenging visions. He led the country at the peak of the Cold War. He launched the way of mankind to the moon. He promised equality at home and democracy abroad.
At times when humanity was endangered by the threat of an unconventional war, JFK stood tall, defending right from wrong, not afraid to "pay any price" and to "meet any challenge" to assure the United States national security and freedom around the globe.
JFK’s leading steps left their traces, not only in the foreign affairs, but also in the scientific world. A long dream of mankind, the travels of Jules Verne to the moon, were finally reality. Although man landed on the moon after his death, JFK deserved credit for it. He was the one who challenged his nation to send a man on the moon and bring him back safe to the earth before the end of the "decade"--the sixties. JFK initiated the Apollo Program on May 25, 1961.
His giant steps set also the pace and the vision not only for Americans, but also for the entire world. His inaugural speech urged Americans to share responsibility with their government and policy-makers in order to build a better America: "Ask not what your country can do for you," he said, "ask what you can do for your country." By the same token, he challenged the people of the world to fight for their freedom, promising the U.S. would aid any friend and oppose any foe.

Although his assassination in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963, forbade him from accomplishing all his dreams, it was he who initiated domestic racial equality and economic opportunities. This great leader was able to create innovative ideas. He challenged his country and himself with great visions. He took the appropriate decisions, identified mistakes when made, and quickly corrected them. He fought what was wrong and stood up for what was right. Finally, he promoted his country’s strength and welfare both domestically and abroad. He was a real charismatic leader.

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Impersonation

A murderer in Jail...

What have I done? Why did I end up here? All I wanted was love, affection, and recognition! I wanted to live peacefully. I did not want to kill anyone.
My mother... poor mom! She has lost everything, now. At first, she lost her husband, who was supposed to be there to protect her, to protect us; instead, he was always beating her... beating us... WHY? Why did she have to leave him? I wanted a father... all my friends at school had a father; why didn't I have one? Why did my mother have to work as a prostitute day after day, so that she could send me to school?! Why wasn't she like any other mom? It's sooo unfair! Life is so unfair! What can I say, even to myself... if my grand-father had sent her to school, she wouldn't have had to sell herself for a living; but again, my grand-father didn't have any money to send her to school! so she couldn't do any other job; poor mom... she struggled so much for me, but she was never there when I needed her! Can I blame her? She thought she was doing good, she was preparing me for a better future than hers. She didn't know that I didn't need food or even school as much as I needed her presence at home, with me, when I was weak. I would have preferred to starve rather than see her lose herself for me. Now she has lost me too. Look at me, here I am, in jail! I killed my mom's lover!!! But he was beating her!!! As if she hadn't had enough!
Why did god send me on this damned earth, is it to torture me? to torture my mother? to make me kill? I would have liked to be like all those people, who were born in decent and loving families. I didn't ask for much, after all.
I JUST WANTED TO BE LIKE THE OTHERS!! IS THIS TOO MUCH TO ASK, GOD!!! Where are you? Are you here somewhere? You can't be! If you were here you would listen to me, you would see my pain! My mother's pain!!! Where are you? Why is life so unfair??? Why does my family have to pay such a big price? For what? What did we do before we came here on earth? Is there anything BAD we did and you are hiding it from us? If we are paying the price for that, then I beg you to tell me, I would feel much better and accept my fate. But if we haven't done anything... Tell me why we have to suffer so much? Why did my father behave so badly? Why didn't his parents educate him? Why do I have to pay the price for that???
You're not answering, God, then I think you're not there; maybe you don't even exist! Life is nonsense... nothing has a reason.. everything happens just because... I don't even know because of what! Did you want me to watch that man beat my mom and do nothing??? Would you if you were me???

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Comparison
Lady 
Diana
&
 Mother 
Teresa
Two women died in the same week... A princess... and a Saint!
Lady Diana, wife of the "future" king of England, the center of attention everywhere, and mother Teresa, just a nun, the center of attention nowhere--if I may say. Lady Diana died with her lover, in a car accident, mother Teresa died in her bed, of a heart attack.

Lady Diana was born in England on July 1st 1961. Many different nannies looked after her. When she was 6, she went to a boarding school. Shortly afterwards, her parents got divorced. This part of her childhood was not very happy.
Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, the youngest of three children of an Albanian builder, on August 27, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. Mother Teresa's family was a devoted catholic family, they prayed every evening and went to church almost everyday. It was her family's generosity, care for the poor and the less fortunate that made a great impact on young Mother Teresa's life.

Diana first met Prince Charles in November 1977 when she was 16 years old. Charles came to her house to visit her sister Sarah. Her sister was in love with Charles and they went out together for 6 months. Charles didn't speak very much to Diana because he was more interested in her sister.
In 1980 Diana moved to London and got a job in a kindergarten as a teacher. She shared a flat with some friends. The romance with Prince Charles started when she went to watch him play polo. They got married on July 29, 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral in London.
As for Mother Teresa, at age 18, she decided to dedicate herself completely to God and "to serving souls." she joined the Irish Catholic Order of the Ladies of Loreto. This order operated missions in Bengal. After time in Ireland, she was sent to St. Mary's High School in Calcutta, India to teach. She taught geography, catechism, and history. Soon, she was made the principal of St. Mary's. In 1930, she was given the name Teresa in honor of St. Teresa of Avila who was a Spanish saint of the 16th century.

Princess Diana had two children: Prince William who was born in 1981 and Prince Harry who was born in 1982. She was very popular and she appeared in the newspapers everyday.
Mother Teresa had no children of her own, but had all the children of the world. She was not famous, and didn't appear in any newspapers.

Princess Diana understood the suffering of other people because she suffered herself; her marriage was not happy. Prince Charles had another woman.  Eventually, he and Lady Di divorced in 1996. Diana had problems with an eating disorder called bulimia and sometimes she was very depressed. However, she did a lot of work to help and comfort people in unfortunate situations such as the homeless and those with Aids. She also supported many charities and other causes such as the campaign to forbid the use of landmines. In 1997 she met Dodi Fayed. For the first time in many years she seemed to be very happy.
Mother Teresa dedicated every day of her adult life caring for "The dying, the cripple, the mentally ill, the unwanted, the unloved" and she loved every minute of it because she was loving, she was cleaning, feeding "Jesus in disguise". Yes, she fed them, sheltered them, cleaned their wounds, but what is more important she made them feel good, loved, wanted, she gave them back their dignity that poverty had taken away from them and even if they died they died with a smile on their face.... Mother Teresa was awarded the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Lady Diana died in a car accident on August 31st, 1997 in Paris. Millions of people from all over the world watched her royal funeral.
Mother Teresa died in her bed, of a heart attack, on September 5, 1997, not even one week after Lady Diana's death. She was said to be a Saint, yet, did not get the attention Lady Diana had at her funeral, not even in India.
WHY? Is money more important than Sainthood?!!!

Useful sites:

Mother Teresa
http://www.ascension-research.org/teresa.html
http://www.albanian.com/main/culture/famous/teresa.html
http://www.drini.com/motherteresa/index2.html

Princess Diana
http://www.freeality.com/princessdi1.htm
http://yulia.com/diana/diana.html

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Page created on April 2, 2001
Last updated on April 23, 2003
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