The shoemaker and his son

             There was once upon a time a successful shoemaker living in a small village. He earned his living through making the best of the shoes to the people of the village. He got the leather from sheep slaughters. He started from scratch and there had been no one to help him. His sole son was less successful student. He then dropped out of school to work with his father.

            A local war was about to be ignited. People of the village would need some boots. One evening, he was driven to the castle to meet the king. The latter asked the shoemaker to prepare about one hundred shoes overnight. It was a hard task to fulfill in a short period. However, the old shoemaker had no choice but to accept with a few conditions. He asked about the leather and some servants to help him. Certainly, the king provided h with what he wanted. Two days later, the neighboring city's warriors were on the town's verge. A call upon men's village to help the numerous soldiers was the clear solution.

               The shoemaker hadn't finished all the shoes but had reached about 75 shoes. It was a great job. The king and his ministers were satisfied with the number of the shoes as they already had some on the castle. The trained soldiers guided by the chefs to the borders. They were followed with hesitating and panic citizens with different of the weapons. They suffered the long road to the border. But their horses and camels were as tough as their will. As they reached the verge at the dust, the chef provided them with the plan A. They had to scatter along the border in groups of fives. The plan b was that if they faced any danger, they had to whistle three times consecutively with a view to warn their friends and retreat back to the starting point. The soldiers gathered together and had some meal then they pray for victory. They scattered as the Chef ordered them. They found the enemy having fun and big fiesta. The soldiers sneaked and started to kill them one by one. They succeeded to expel the enemy out Of The borders.

              Back to the village the great warriors had a special party owing to their victory. Indulging in the luxury and food and entertained by the comedian of the village, two strangers managed to hijack the princess.

          Panic-stricken the son of the shoemaker screamed “They have stolen my bride to be”. The guards gathered to look for the princess. The king asked Pablo, the groom to be to look for his bride to be. He said: I promised you to marry you my only precious girl I have. But you have to prove that you deserve it as a man.” The king went on:” Take anything you want with you. Some guards will escort you to provide any necessary help”. Pablo decided to go in a tough adventure in his life. It is a matter of being or not. He decided to try to sit a trap for his envious friends.

        He asked about all his friends. They are all in the village except Larry. The latter has left earlier to an abandoned house mile away from the village. The reason being why Pablo went directly to that house was that Larry had no special thing to do there.

        On his arrival there, Pablo heard loud sharp screaming. It was the brave princess who was fighting defensively her kidnapper. Larry sneaked to the house, but there was a fierce dog near the fence. He asked the guards to get the dog busy with a view to sneak safely to the house. The guards killed the dog.  

         As Pablo break into the house, he came across Larry. The two rivals had a tough battle. Finally, Larry, escaped wounded. Pablo saved his princess and met the king halfway. Eventually, they went back to the village. A new ceremony has launched. It was the wedding ceremony of the shoemaker’s son and the princess. They lived a happy life and have two kids.  

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Today is a bit special and different rfom other  days. It is differnt due to many reasons. The first one is that my sister in law has left us to join her husband in USA. My two brothers, my sister and her husband accompanied her to the aeroport in Casablanca. I wish I had a chance to go with them for they are visiting different cities in the country, say Ifrane, Meknes, Imouzar and Azrou.
I am waiting for my brother to connect to see whether his wife arrived or not yet.
I did many activities. I went to run errands, I did shopping.I played soccer with friends too.
The good thing is that I have prepared the Local exam for my students that will take palce tomorrow

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A Lion's Big Share

           There was once upon a time, four allied animals who fight together to keep food on the table for themselves. They always went out to sit a trap and to hunt new preys.
           As usual, the fox went to seduce animals to follow him. His colleagues, the tiger, the lion and the bear sneaked in different places waiting for the preys to pass by. Each member in the deceiving team was doing specific task allotted by the lion who was the group's leader.
       Annoyed by the fox, a young well-built and fat deer decided to leave the herd moving away from where the fox is.  The further it went, the closer it became to death trap. No sooner had it passed near the three animals had they surrounded it. Obliviously, she skipped in the air for fear to flee. Alas, she collided with the beer's claws. She fell in her back but succeeded to stand on the four feet. She dodged the lion and fled. The tiger followed her as a flesh going out of the bow. After a small chase, the tiger managed to hamper the fastest prey. Then a lion's hit was received followed by glue like tightening with the claws. The deer couldn't surrender. She kept budging and moving. As the fox and the beer arrived consecutively, the fox started to yell and cry due to extreme happiness. The lion ordered him to divide the prey.
          The fox divided the dead deer but he kept a big share for himself. When he was asked about the reason behind keeping the big share, he said:" I am the fox, the most cunning of you. I do most of the job. I searched for the prey for a Long time. Then I suffered to seduce her and most of all I endangered my life going into a big deer's herd."  The three animals didn't like his arrogance. The lion killed him on the spot.”
           The boss ordered the tiger to separate the prey.  He divided into two. When they ask him about the reason behind it, he said:  “I am the fastest. I succeeded to hinder the deer. Then you lion caught it. I will take half of the prey, the bear is going to take another half; and the lion is going to take the dead fox.”
         The lion hit the tiger as soon as he finished his speech. The tiger fell dead. The boss asked the bear to divide the preys. The bear suggested taking the deer and half of the fox. However, the lion was to take the tiger and the other half of the fox.
          Since the lion didn't advocate the bear’s suggestion, a fierce fighting was ignited. The bear surrendered by the end. He left with bruises on his body. He managed to steal some parts of the body of the deer. Finely, he left the lion with his big share. 
 

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The Small Horse

             One day, a small horse went out to hang around. There in a small hill appeared a glimmering rainbow. His curiosity provoked him to go there.  As he came closer he saw offspring of different animals playing together. The cub addressed the foal: “come closer friend; let us hear from you." The foal hesitated and asked the lion: “What are you doing?".  The baby lion answered: “We are discussing our parents’ qualities”. The horse hesitated. When they ask him about his father's quality, He said: my father is full of good qualities. He is fast, brave, beautiful, and calm; and most of all is that he is humble and not arrogant.”
"Objection": said the animals at once.
"You selfish little horse, we all have parents having the same qualities.’
"You are right; we all have many things in common. But the horse is a bit special"
The lion replied:" what makes you so?

          The foal went on saying: “Men are taking advantage of us. They say the horse is beautiful and they use us in beauty contest, I said brave since they use us in wars, I said that we are fast since we are used in course contests. I said I am humble since I accept all the things men ascribed to me.”
The cub intervened and asked all the animals to ask their parents about the qualities that distinguish them from others. However, the piglet rejected the idea of the fox. He said that if they keep searching for the differences they may fight or fall apart. It would be better if they look for similarities. The crowd welcomed the idea. The next meeting the animals discovered they have many things in common. Eventually, they united and play more games.

Cub: baby of fox
Piglet: baby of the hedgehog
Foal: small horse.
Lion baby= cub

The moral: There are things that make some unique. However, we are all human beings and have many common points. We need to get rid of biased ideas and selfish doctrines. We need to accept others as they are so that we can live a better life.

By Unes Khartit.

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Moroccan women: The typical images on Moroccan women.

              Psychology has proved that all its branches agreed upon the fact that environment affects on the upbringing and personality of people. The environment moulds and shapes one’s personality. A person is affected by his parents doctrines, bias, stereotypes held toward different things and people. The same thing is proved to be true by the theory of Mustapha Hijazi.

            The theory is called “The psychology of depressed people”. It states that a depressed person yields to the things ascribed to him. If the person, for examples, is labeled stupid and less successful by his family, with time he will take it for guaranteed and assume that the claim is true. The fact is true with Moroccan women. They are regarded as inferior; henceforth they surrender and made themselves weak and margin. Accordingly, the environment affects much on a person’s personality than the biological and inherited features.

             Women in some Moroccan areas are much marginalized. Men use some degrading slogans and words while speaking about or addressing women. To mention but only a few,” the saying which is deeply disgracing and degrading women: “Lamra hashak “. This phrase is used in the south east of Morocco. However, it is about to distinct nowadays thanks to many factors.

             Moroccan women are known by many characteristics that make them so special. One of these typical images on Women in general and on the Moroccan in particular is Satanism. Demonism, foxiness and lack of faith are the ascribed characteristics to women since ancient times. The most known religions admit that woman is the origin of the sin. They are the cause for Man to be dispelled from God’s mercy. Christians believe that the French word” femme” from the Latin language refers to “Fe Minus”. The word means “carence de foi”; a French phrase that means lack of faith. Accordingly, Jews claim the same thing as Christians. So does pious Islamists who assume that men outweigh women in terms of hygiene, and mental and corporal ability. They base their judgments on menstruation and some preachers’ sayings. Furthermore, the recipes used by women to beautify themselves or to heal casual sicknesses are not wanted by men. They send out a stink smells. But this does not mean that women have poor standards of a hygienist.

            The standing point of outside observers is completely different from the one of the target or observed people. To the people of Golf and some other countries, Moroccan women are prostitutes. The European and American people believe that Muslims are terrorists and their wives are fortune tellers and sorceresses. I should admit that there is prostitution and sorcery in Morocco and so is in all over the world. But the degree varies from one country to another. The outsiders tend to over generalize to the extent that quick judgments on women on the street overflow. Because of this overgeneralization girls in the street face sexual harassment from Moroccan and tourist who fail to distinguish between innocent and prostitutes.

              The first thing a visitor may notice on Moroccan women is art. They are rather than men artists in their society. The Arabic and especially the Amazigh women shape the Moroccan identity per se. They decorated their faces with tattoo dyed their hands and feet with henna and painted their faces with saffron. They also embroider their clothes and scarves and head coverings brightly colored arabesque motifs. They sew their clothes by themselves. They are creative in essence that they find solutions to small troubles they encounter in life.

                 There are many characteristics but I will just these few ones. First, most of them are talkative especially when they met in ceremony where there are only females. Secondly, they are shy and easy-going. They tend to believe things at first time. Hence they spread rumors and new incidents. In addition, in everyday life, women use all the tricky means to get their needs. Sometimes they achieve their needs on the expense of means and values.

                A big discrepancy is clearly seen however in some stereotypes on Moroccan women. An example would be, if a woman is characterized by foxiness then she is cleaver. Her mental capabilities are great since she can deceive smart people. Another discrepancy is that women are deemed to be untidy and not clean. But, they pass all day long doing homework, cleaning, ironing, washing clothe and catering for their offsprings. Women are the driving force for a nation’s development. If a mother, sister, cousin and daughter are very weak in all domains no nation will develop because Women are half of the society.

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Water & Fire

Water & Fire

Water: I’m a drop of water. I’m the essential element in life.

Fire: And I’m fire, the essential element for development.

Water:  You’re essential in what development?

Fire: I’ve helped Man throughout his life. I helped him in different domains, such as industry and cooking.

Water: But I see that I’m more important than you!

Fire: I don’t think so.

Water: Yes, I’m.

Fire: How come?

Water: People can’t do without me; but they can do without you.

Fire: (laughing sarcastically) hhh! That was in the previous ages.

Water: I’m one of the important things in food and drinks. People’s stomach contains three main components:  One third of air, one third of food and (pointing to himself) the other third of water.

Fire: Oh! You’ve become a third. Aren’t you the main one anymore?

Water: Yes, I’m a third, but I exist in the other two thirds.

Fire: How come?

Water: I’m composed of two elements, say hydrogen and oxygen. I produce the oxygen which is necessary for humans. I aid in cooking. Therefore, I exist strongly in the two other thirds.

Fire: Who cooks food?

Water: I think you do.

Fire: Don’t think, but believe it and confess!

Water: well, it’s you.

Fire: How do you think life will end?

Water: Water will conquer lands.

Fire: But fire will burn everything, whether it is green or dry.

Water: Life began with the Big Bang. It will also end with fire. Wars will end everything. People use massive weapons. They will use nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Then fire will be everywhere.

Water: How about seas and oceans? Will they be burnt too?

Fire: It will be conquered by volcanoes and lava.

Water: Sorry, You are wrong!

Fire: why?!

Water: Haven’t you ever heard of global warming?!!

Fire: What’s global warming?

Water: Well, the massive pollution which is made by Man caused a hole in the ozone layer.

Fire: So, what?

Water: It’s through this hole that sunrays pass.

Fire: And what then?

Water: That’s why it is getting warmer on the earth.

Fire:  If it’s getting warmer, it will be easy for fire to burn everything.

Water: You are wrong again!

Fire: Why?

Water: If it’s hot, my grandparents will melt.

Fire: Who are your grandparents?

Water: My grandparents are ice and icebergs. If they melt the level of water will increase.

Fire: If we meet, who do you think will overcome the other?

Water: But who are “we”?

Fire: “Me” a flame and “You” a drop of water.

Water: It depends; if we are equal in quantity, no one will win. But we will relinquish.

Fire: You are right! So, why are we arguing aimlessly? Let things come as they are!

Water: Ok, I agree.

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The Faithful Dog

          Dogs have been man's colleagues and best friend. They were there to escort, protect and help them. I heard a very touching story from my brother told by his friend. It is a true story about their dog.

          The family had a nice and fierce dog. It's used to protect them day and night. But the dog stared to get older and older, the family then decided to send him away of the family. Henceforth, they tried their best to get rid of it. The son took the dog to the remotest area of the village and came back home with tears in his eyes.

As soon as he arrived home he found the dog prior the door moving around with tongue out of the mouth.

          As the family’s recurrent essays to get rid of the poor dog failed; the mother went directly to the dog and shouted in his face "go out and never come back here. You are no more wanted in here.

The dog   moves away with a tail between legs and bowing head. As days passed quickly, there were no sign of the dog neither in the outskirts nor in the forest. The family was astonished on how the animal disappeared with his dignity like human beings do.

           With time people of the village face a problem. There were some lost dogs cutting the road and prevent people from doing their duties and job in the fields. It happened that the mother was caught by the lost dogs in the woods. She had no solution but to pray God to help here. Fortunately, there was her old dog with the group of lost dogs. He is in the head of the group. He was not there to attack here, but he stood to protect here against the other dogs.

         Eventually, he escorted here until she arrived home then he disappeared as usual.

The mother urged her children to find the dog and bring him home but in vain. There were no sing. He extinguished as usual and never be back again.

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