How to Not Give Up 

Try to relax, it will get better. If you are in stressful period of your life and you have done everything you could to strengthen the matter out, then the hardest thing for you could be having patience and believing that right things will happen sooner or later. 

Take some time off. Sometimes you need to take a time off from trying to do too much, get yourself into doing some other things. This may clear your head and give you more ideas later when you are ready. 

It’s time to change and move out from work places that causes you stress. Some work environments put you down. Do not recognize your capabilities or qualifications properly. Keep dealing with you with lack of full respect. 

Make realistic goals. Make sure that your goal is moral and worthwhile, for example, you are not trying to put right a situation that can’t be fixed. In other words, make realistic goals that involve you and depend only on you. 

Be truthful. Accept the fact that the goal might be hard to reach. There will be difficulties, setbacks, ups and downs, it may or may not take years or of life, depending on how fast you are willing to improve the necessary knowledge and skills.

Make small steps. Think of a realistic plan on how you will incorporate the time for obtaining new skill into your life. Make smaller steps and proceed with smooth transition. 

Manage stress. Do not work on your goal while stressing out. If you find yourself stressing out, find relaxing techniques and activities that nourish you. Take time for yourself and develop patience. Patience has lots to do with being able to work on and reach your goal. 

Find support from a friend. Realize that success does not come easy; Change will require time and belief. for the most part it is a result of a lot of hard work. Finding support from someone you trust is helpful while working on goals. Share your ideas with supportive friends or someone you love and appreciate who encourages you and believe in you and be careful to be around people who tell you that you can’t do something. 

Don’t give up, think of those who love you and rely on you. Giving up in most of the cases will harm not you only, but, those who rely on you too. Depression is not answer to problems especially if you are not alone in this world.

Important questions: 

• Ask yourself “Why am I giving up?” Be specific. Write it on a piece of paper.
• Review what will happen when you give up, and what will happen when you don’t.
• Give yourself a pep talk. Talk to yourself and give positive comments.
• Repeat the words “Don’t give up” to yourself for at least 10 times. Some people like to do it 100 times.
• Think of your loved ones as your inspiration to keep going.
• Focus on those who believe in your capacities.
• Listen to support words and live in your successes, even if they are not as big.
• Ask yourself “is’t true that I am alone in this world? Or there are others that care?
• Ask yourself “are my problems the much worse, or there are other bigger ones?
• Remind yourself of the so many other things that you have and own.

Suggested Steps 

 مونتريال في 07/09/2012

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

قيل الكثير عن تداعيات وصول الحزب الكيبكي الى الحكم وامكان تأثيره على مستقبل الجاليات الاثنية وخصوصا العربية والاسلامية . “صدى المشرق” تامل معرفة رأيكم في هذا الحدث المهم والتاريخي .

–         كيف تقيمون مشاركة الجالية العربية والاسلامية في كيبك في الانتخابات النيابية وخياراتها بعد وصول الحزب الكيبكي .؟ 

 –Oلا شك ان تفاعل الجالية بالشأن العام قد تزايد بشكل ملحوظ في السنوات الاخيرة. و هذا يعود لوعى ابناء الجالية لاهمية المشاركة في كل النواحي المؤثرة داخل مجتمع الكيبيكي .ويعود ايضا لاستقرارها المادي و الاجتماعي بعدما اصبحت من نسيج الوطن الكندي و جزء من ديمومة حركة مقاطعة كيبيك.

هناك عوامل اخرى زادت من مشاركة الجالية في الانتخابات  الاخيرة التى جرت في كيبيك و اهمها برأى الخاص مااعتبره الكثير مشروع اسفزازي وعدت به السيدة بولين ماروا، رئيس الحزب الكبيكي، في حال وصولها الى سدّة الحكم.  اثناء حملتها الانتخابية ،اطلقت السيدة ماروا عّدّة وعود منها تبنّي ما  اطلق عليه “ميثاق العلمانية” و الذي يحمل في طّياته مشروع قوانين يمنع المرء فيه من ابسط حقوقه المدنية في التعبير الحر عن معتقاداته الايمانية من خلال لباس تختاره المرأة بحريّة و اختيارها.

الهدف المعلن لهذا الميثاق المقترح هو منع “اظهار الرموز الدينية” في الدوائر العامة. و لكن لمواقف السيدة ماروا المعروفة بعدائيتها لحجاب المراة المسلمة، وجدت الجالية نفسها في خضم معمة الحملة الانتخابية مفضلّة المشاركة المدنية الحضارية من خلال التصويت بكثافة لتعبير الديمقراطي عن هواجسها و رغبتها في المساهمة في رسم الخارطة السياسية لمسقبل كيبيك. و ايصال صوتها لدوائر القرار.

اني امل بأن وصول الحزب الكبيكي الى سدّة السلطة ان يدفع الجالية للتفاعل الايجابى من خلال المشاركة البنّاءة و المستمرة و الفعّالة في كل المجالات، السياسية، و الاعلامية، والمدنية و غيرها . و ان تبتعد الجالية حصر اعمالها في ردّات الافعال التى طالما تأتي متأخرة. 

–         هل تتوقعون تأثيرات سلبية على الجالية بعد وصول الحزب الكيبكي الى الحكم في المقاطعة؟

  -Oان انتصار الحزب الكيبكي و قيامه بتشكيل حكومة المقاطعة القادمة سوف يشكّل تحدّي حقيقي لكثير من جاليات كيبيك. الاشكال الاساسي في هذه المرحلة هو ان ادبيات الحزب الحاكم القادم من خلال تبّنيها  لمفاهيم متطرفة و استعلائية في بعض الاحيان  “تخلق” و تساهم بشكل كبير بتوتير علاقات بين افراد المجتمع في كيبيك. و تزيد بشكل ملفة حالة الاسلاموفوبيا و التعرض للحقوق الانسانية للجالية من خلال الهجوم المستمر على كرامتها و معتقاداتها و حتى الاستعداد لقطع ارزاق الكثير من افرادها اذ هم لم يتخلّوا عن مطالبة  و ممارسة حقوقهم المدنية و الدينية. 

نأمل من الحكومة القادمة التعامل مع ابناء و مواطني كيبيك بالتساوي في حقوقهم و واجباتهم. و ان لا تعتمد التمييز العنصري ضد اى مجموعة انسانية بناء على اللون او المعتقد او اللغة. و ان تسعى الى المساواة بين المرأة و اختها المرأة بغض النظر عن لباسها و حجابها و معتقدها. 

ما هي تصوراتكم لعلاقة ايجابية مع الحزب الكيبكي ؟

 -Oبكل صراحة ان نجاح اي علاقة بين طرفين او اكثر يتطلب، اولا، النيّة الصادقة في انجاح هذه العلاقة. ثانيا، الاحترام المتبادل لمفاهيم و ايمانيات و كرامة كل الاطراف. ثالثا، التواضع و تجنّب الاستعلاء في التعامل بين الاطراف. رابعا، الايمان بالمساواة بين المتحدثين. و اخيرا و ليس اخرا الواقعية في مطالب  ولايجابات.

اني اعتقد ان على الجالية التفاعل الايجابي و تجنب السلبية في العمل العام. نرى تحرك الجالية فقط في المناسبات او عند المحن و هذا يؤدي بنا الى عمل قليل النتيجة والى احباط يتلوه احباط. اننّا ابناء وطن و نعيش في مقاطعة تتمتّعان بهامش كبير من حرّية العمل السياسي و الاعلامي و العام و لذا لا يفهم هذا الغياب الكبير في تواجد ابناء الجالية في مواقع مؤثرة في دوائر القرار الا انه تقصير لا تبرير له.

اؤمن بامكانية العلاقة الايجابية مع الحكومة القادمة من خلال التواصل معها و مع فعاليات المدنية الاخرى. كماهو معروف، لا يوجد ما هو مستحيل في عالم السياسة و المصالح المتبادلة. فما على الجالية الاالتحرك و سوف نرى نتائج ايجابية على اكثر احتمال.

سامر مجذوب، رئيس المنتدى الاسلامي الكندي

Samer Majzoub, president, Canadian Muslim Forum

PARTIES:

–          Parti Quebecois (PQ): The PQ scored a victory and suffered defeat.  They expected a majority or at least a strong minority but were only left with 55 seats and only 32% of the popular vote.  However, the PQ has energized its base by having the Premier of Quebec within its ranks.

–          Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ): The PLQ won 50 seats and far surpassed most projections that foresaw a PLQ freefall.  Perhaps more tellingly, they trailed the PQ by only 1% in the popular vote.  Notwithstanding this, Jean Charest has resigned as the leader of the PLQ and the party will be rudderless until they elect a new leader.

–          Coaltion Avenir Quebec (CAQ):The centre-right CAQ won 19 seats and captured 27% of the popular vote.  Though the CAQ is left with a sizeable caucus at the National Assembly, it was likely a disappointing result for CAQ supporters who believed that they would capture a greater portion of the PLQ votes.  The CAQ’s gambit of focusing their campaigning at PLQ supporters was not enough to sway voters to change their choices at polling stations.

–          Quebec Solidaire (QS): The left-wing party that was founded in 2006 was hoping to establish a broader base widen in the National Assembly but they finished with two seats.  However, while the QS has a minuscule caucus, the track records of Amir Khadir and Françoise David suggest that they will make their voices heard.

CAMPAIGN ISSUES:

–          Economy: Quebecers have proven in this election that they are far from accepting the right wing parties’ positions on welfare and economic choices.

–          Social justice: Quebecers have proven again that they are correctly known for their inclination toward social justice and their tendency to support center-left social programs and policies.

–          Union movement: Jean Charest’s stated reason for calling the election was the student movement against increasing tuition.  This reinforces the strength of the student and union movement in Quebec politics.

–          Sovereignty: The majority of Quebecers cast their ballots in favour of pro-sovereignty parties: the PQ, CAQ and QS.  However, this belies the fact that there is significant diversity in the manner in which sovereignist Quebecers see the path to independence.  Some hold an extreme view that envisions immediate separation preceded by a referendum led by the PQ.  Others share the goal of independence but are considered soft sovereignists who do not favour an immediate referendum and who incorporate other considerations in their political preferences.

–          Language: It’s the theatre of war for the PQ.  The PQ has promised that they would toughen language laws and seek to further sideline the English language in the public and private sectors.  For the PQ this issue is both a question of identity and ground zero to the path to Quebec sovereignty.

–          Relations with the Federal government: The PQ believes that the best way to keep the battle of independence front and centre is by maintaining a tense relationship with Ottawa. The PQ will do so by demanding more power.  If they are successful in being granted more power, for example, over employment insurance they will be laying the groundwork to an independent Quebec.  If they are unsuccessful, they build a case that as part of the Canadian federation, Quebec can never live up to its aspirations.  With the Conservative Party of Canada having little support in Quebec but nonetheless holding a majority in Parliament and with the official opposition, the NDP drawing strong support from the province of Quebec, the tension between the PQ and the federal government will have significant ramifications in federal politics as well.

–          Islamophobia: Under the guise of defending Quebec values, the PQ’s stated agenda is to establish a policy of extreme secularism.  The PQ’s notion of secularism will see the exclusion of individuals who wear religious symbols such as hijabs, turbans and kippahs, from working for the provincial government and perhaps even receiving government services.  It may be difficult for the PQ to enact a secularism charter per se due to their minority status but they may propose other ideas along the same vein that seek to marginalize individuals from minority communities.  Moreover, on this point it is important to note that the PQ’s minority status does not guarantee Quebec’s minority communities freedom from discrimination as the National Assembly voted unanimously in 2011 to ban the Sikh kirpan from legislative buildings.

The Quebec election has produced uncertainty in provincial politics and federal politics. The fact that the three main parties are almost equal in the popular vote reflects sharp divisions in Quebec political preferences and suggests that the PQ and the National Assembly may be hard pressed to push through a coherent agenda.  This uncertainty may lead to political turmoil and trigger another general election in the short or medium term.

Samer Majzoub

President, Canadian Muslim Forum

smajzoub@fmc-cmf.com

No Knock Out In Quebec Election Campaign

As September 4^th, the date of Quebec provincial elections, approaches, voters are left with several choices at the polls.  None of the choices, however, has presented Quebeckers with a palatable vision for the future of Quebec.  Indeed, advance polls indicate that the Parti Quebecois’ xenophobic vision of Quebec’s future may become a reality.

Calling an election in Quebec was the only exit for the Liberal government to shift the spotlight away from the students’ strike and the controversial tuition increase. Jean Charest hopes to win another term that will give him the mandate to impose his views over the tuition increase and to end the students’ protest in a manner that meets his economic policies.

However, the Liberals’ request to drop the writ for a provincial election carried the risk of losing their status as the governing party in Quebec for the past nine years. Accusations of corruption, a large budget deficit and the controversial Bill 78 that limited fundamental civil liberties have hurt the Liberals bid for another majority government.

On the other hand, the Parti Québecois (PQ), a separatist group, entered the election campaign relying on the weakness of the Liberals and relying on votes in rural areas.  In doing so, they promised painless economic policies and engaged in identity politics, placing at issue Quebec values and the French language and proposing a “charter of secularism”.  In her original declaration on the charter of secularism, Ms. Marois indicated that the PQ will prohibit all religious symbols from government institutions.  Coming under enormous media backlash, Mrs. Marois made exceptions to her proposed charter of secularism and suggested that Crucifixes and Stars of  David would be permitted.  Ms. Marois did not address the hijab, worn by Muslim women or turbans worn by Sikhs, for example.

François Legault, the leader of the Coalition pour l’avenir du Québec (CAQ), previously served as cabinet minister in a Quebec government that was led by the PQ.   The CAQ was founded by Mr. Legault in February 2011.  Its policies have been described as centre-right, but the party describes itself as belonging to neither the left nor the right.  The CAQ also describes itself as centre-right on economic matters and centre-left on social issues.  The newly-formed party attracted “soft” sovereignists and federalists. Trying to distinguish itself from the PQ, CAQ has called for a ten-year moratorium on referenda on the issue of sovereignty.  The CAQ has considered the Quebec economy and welfare to be priorities and has indicated a sense of inclusivity with respect to members of minority communities.

Two other emerging smaller parties, one on the left, Quebec Solidaire (QS), and an extreme nationalist party at the centre-left, Option National, are struggling to build a presence in National Assembly, though it appears that QS has a more realistic chance of winning one to two seats.

It is clear that a three-way battle has emerged among the three main political parties to gain voters’ attention in advance of the September 4^th election.  Notably, despite enormous efforts on the part of the three main parties, none have been able to take a decisive lead for any prolonged period of time.  Since the campaign started, polls have swung significantly in favour and against all three main parties.  This suggests that none of the main parties have made a compelling case to voters.

The latest polls indicate that the PQ would win 64 seats, the Liberals would win 33 seats, the CAQ would win 26 seats and two seats would belong to QS.  The threshold for a majority government is 63 seats.  As such, the latest polls suggest that the PQ is on the cusp of forming a majority government.  A more nuanced analysis suggests that the PQ will win between 54 and 73 seats – leaving Quebec with either a majority PQ government or a minority PQ government.  The Liberals, projected to win between 27 and 43 seats, may form the Official Opposition.  Though less likely according to polls, the CAQ could also form the Official Opposition as they are projected to win between 19 and 32 seats. The remainder of the seats would go to QS, projected to win one or two seats, and Option Nationale, with potentially one seat.

Samer Majzoub, president

Canadian Muslim Forum