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REMEMBER, remember the 5th of november

28/10/2014

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Bonfire night to most people is a sign of winter coming. It is a time for friends and family to huddle together under bursts of fireworks, drinking hot cups of soup and swirling around sparklers by the dozen. But there is a genuine story behind bonfire night which must not be forgotten. At the heart of the catherine wheels, rockets and comforting food, lies an ingrained historical tale of religion, oppression and human rights. It marks the defeat of a terrorist plot to blow up the King and the Houses of Parliament in 1605. One of the members of the terrorist group, Guy Fawkes, was discovered by the opposition the night before the explosion was due to take place. But the core intentions and reasoning behind this historical tale are a little more complicated than just a failed attack. It all stems from the deeply rooted conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics in the time of Tudor England. Guy Fawkes was part of a Catholic uprising who wanted England to return to Catholic rule. At this point in time, England was ruled by a protestant King, and Catholics were deprived of many basic human rights amongst society. On one hand, Guy Fawkes was seen as a violent criminal, plotting against his King and Country, from another perspective, he was fighting for religious and political freedom. One man’s criminal is another man’s hero. A core reason to why we may have misplaced the story, is that it is a little too close to home: Radical members of a religion planning to overthrow the government at any violent cost and inevitably making life unbearable for honest, peaceful member of their religion. This is not by any means, a situation buried within history.

TrueTube have provided a film and accompanying assembly script that reveals the interesting story behind this annual tradition. The film takes on the humorous role of reporting the news in the time of 1605, presenting the key features of the dramatic event. The accompanying assembly script provides suggested activities, the story of Guy Fawkes in depth and even safety precautions on the use of fireworks. These resources are bound to get your students thinking a little deeper this year when they’re clustered together, gazing up at an 
illuminated sky. 
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Diwali

22/10/2014

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The underlining principle of Diwali is something everybody can relate to, regardless of faith. It represents the notion of light overcoming darkness, good triumphing over evil, hope above despair and love over hate. In the Indian calendar, it is celebrated at the end of the lunar month, Ashwin which falls sometime around October or November. This year, it is celebrated on the 23rd of October and the global anticipation is indisputable. Lights are already starting to beam around the world, symbolising a principle that the realms of Hinduism strive towards. The celebration is based on ancient Hindu literature, namely the story of Ramayana. It is the story of how Rama defeated the evil demon Ravana and protected his wife Sita from harm. He was welcomed back to his Kingdom with open arms and a stream of lights. Hindu’s believe Rama was the God Vishnu in human form. He represents courage, integrity, and the power of light over darkness, all of which, underline the essence of Diwali.  

TrueTube have provided a range of resources to help you bring this colourful tradition to life in your classroom. An assembly script, lesson plan and three films can be found on the website, each approaching the festival from a different angle. Two of the films focus on the Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden. TrueTube explores the celebration by asking a range of temple visitors what Diwali personally means to them. The third film takes the team around the Diwali celebrations going on in Trafalgar Square, exploring the range of activities taking place and interviewing the public. The assembly script and lesson plan provide a detailed story of Ramayana, starter activates, main activities and a plenary. Diwali traditions and teachings do not have to be limited to Hindu celebrations around in the city centre, they can be illuminated within your classroom walls. 

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What is jihad?

16/10/2014

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Throughout history, ignorance has cast its shadow over the realms of religion as it has done for many ideologies. The act of jumping to conclusions without in-depth knowledge of what is being judged, can often lead to generalisation and fear. If we are to form an opinion of a whole religion, we need to look beyond specific violent groups of people who hijack the religious terminology. Extremists have used religion to justify their unimaginable crimes throughout history, and it has not by any means been limited to Islam. We must not forget the violent Crusades undertaken by Christians in the Middle Ages or the Zionist militants in Palestine who carried out terrorist attacks in the 1940's. Or the Sinhala Buddhist groups in Sri Lanka who promote violence against local Christians and Tamils right now in the 21st Century. This is highlighting just a few examples amongst many. People have not only committed hideous criminal acts in the name of their faith, but also in the name of their political, racial, or sexist agendas. They are only fuelled by the hatred of outsiders. It is through the power of education that people can see beyond the stereotype of the religious extremist. Whether you are an atheist, agnostic or a religious follower, respect for different beliefs should to be at the heart of each opinion formed. It is this variety of different perspectives and beliefs within communities, which makes our world so interesting. The ability to understand and tolerate such differences amongst the same society, plays a key part in community life and holds a key position in our sociocultural evolution. It is an essential component of peace.

Teachings of all religions are often misinterpreted by the media, public and certain groups of people. In light of current news, the word Jihad has been falsely used by the media to represent terrorism. The importance of defining terminology accurately in a religious context plays a vital role in avoiding the simplification mentioned earlier. The word Jihad literally means ‘to struggle’. It can refer to the personal, inner struggle to be a good person and the external struggle, to defend peace and the religion itself. Violence should only be used as a last resort in such a defence, and this is where the confusion can lie. It is not a declaration of war against other religions as so many people think. TrueTube have recently produced the film ‘What is Jihad’ which explores the true meaning of the word. The accompanying Teachers’ Notes also offer a range of activities and discussion questions to help you get started.  By interviewing an Imam, a Muslim youth worker and a Muslim journalist on what Jihad means to them, the audience will gain a better understanding of this often misunderstood concept. Approaching this topic from a religious perspective, allows Muslims to personally defend themselves from the generalisation and prejudice they constantly face from the media. The growing shadow of ignorance can be lifted for the next generation if we allow such voices to be heard in your classroom. 

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    Jessica Toogood
     


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