The new featured poet of the Week is Lucilla Carrillo born March 18, 1943 Passed Away September 27, 2014. I met her on PoetrySoup and was blessed to have had many chats with her, to know both her and her poetry.
 
I have to say this was most difficult in selecting poems, as reading brought back memories of our last discussions. Not all poets on PoetrySoup know this but Eve Roper is her sister, another very kind hearted woman, and blossoming poet in her own right.
 
A few weeks before her passing Lucilla asked me to look out for Eve on the site, and to help and encourage her. I was so touched that this close to the end of her life, she was still looking out for others. Bare this in mind, for this also has something to do with a very special poem featured here
 
I took her last poem, and after discussing with Eve, I have done collaboration with Lucilla, that we both are sure she will be very pleased with. The idea for this actually came from when Natalie Cole did the duet song with her passed away father.
 
I have selected two more poems of hers to feature, FIRE and Ode to a Veteran, and these poems sum up for me what she was all about. Also her Veteran poem has been re-posted on many sites on the web!

Her book can be found on many book selling sites!

Sparkling Thoughts by Starlet
ISBN-13: 978-1424134427

The Burka , Sharia Law and Taqiyya
 
First of all, let me be clear, racism, targeting minority’s whether based religion, color or place or origin should not be tolerated. The case I am about to show could apply to many situations, a black man, a women, an immigrant, anyone at all making a false accusation.
 
Second of all, I am using one example, on one religion that currently has many extremists in its midst, this in no way is an accusation that all are one. The acceptance of all, who respect all, who respect diversity, should in turn be respected, no matter of religion. Also all religions should be accepted, however in secular societies that does not mean acceptance of all customs at all times. Secular means we are all free to practice as we wish, within the confines of the secular legal system. What is little known is most main stream religions also teach the acceptance of this, albeit in many forms and teachings.
 
Here then is the issue. I would submit the Burka is a cultural symbol and a non religion one, however if one, were to claim otherwise, then ok, even there, lets look at this particular situation. In any Muslim country, a woman would have to identify herself to the authorities. Case closed, all arguments end here!
 
Now due to cameras this case of false accusations was clearly caught as it should be. An Officer doing his duty. However, lets look at Sharia law. What should happen to a person who falsely accuses another? Oh I have an idea, lets apply Sharia law
The Holy Prophet (S) has been reported to have said,
“The person who accuses falsely a chaste man or a chaste woman of indecency, Allah invalidates all his good deeds (and does not give him any reward) and on the Day of Judgement seventy thousand angels lash him from the front and behind and continue to do so till the order is passed for him to be put in Hell.”
Seems far, if you use present value accounting principles I am sure 1000 lashes now will do just fine.
Then again maybe not, its seems even Mohamed was ok with a wee bit of lying.
Another example of lying is when Muhammad used deception to trick his personal enemies into letting down their guard and exposing themselves to slaughter by pretending to seek peace.  This happened in the case of Ka'b bin al-Ashraf (as previously noted) and again later against Usayr ibn Zarim, a surviving leader of the Banu Nadir tribe, which had been evicted from their home in Medina by the Muslims.
The near absence of Quranic verses and reliable Hadith that encourage truthfulness is somewhat surprising, given that many Muslims are convinced that their religion teaches honesty.  In fact, many Muslims are honest because of this.  But when lying is addressed in the Quran, it is nearly always in reference to the "lies against Allah" - referring to the Jews and Christians who rejected Muhammad's claim to being a prophet
Now some might say, what brought me to this, well, brothers in arms, or pens, attack not a poet who uses peace and the pen to debate and discuss for this brings forth only bloodshed of the innocent.
Today's Muslims often try to justify Muhammad's murder of poets and others who criticized him at Medina by falsely claiming that they broke a treaty with their actions.  Yet, these same apologists place little value on treaties broken by Muslims.  From Muhammad to Saddam Hussein, promises made to non-Muslim are distinctly non-binding in the Muslim mindset.
All this being said, ok what is the punishment? If it was I, children need their mother, they are innocent of crimes, however with such vile disregard and respect for human values, I would consider monitoring by child welfare and if I saw no change in behavior, removal of the children from a criminal mindset. Thus far better than any Sharia law, stoning, etc  as the all merciful might be inclined to dish out.

Often,we close our eyes to the lowest of the low of society. Its sad and I myself am just as guilty of it. Although Poetry can be beautiful and lovely to read, well sometimes its not. If this poem, makes even one human being do an act of kindness to those less fortunate then, this poem is a winner in more ways the one.

You can view Jan's poem here        Lowest of the Low

I would therefore like to show that yes, its possible, if a Twelve year old can open her heart, maybe we all can a little? This therefore is a lovely story.

Newsfeed U.S.12-Year-Old Arizona Girl Collects 1,000 Coats for the Homeless
copied from Time Magazine web site.

• Daniel White @danielatlarge     Jan. 1, 2016
  

"I just want people to know someone cares about them"A 12-year-old Arizona girl spent her holiday season collecting coats for those in need.
Makenna Breading-Goodrich dropped off about 1,000 items at Phoenix Rescue Mission Shelter on Dec. 12, after going door-to-door collecting coats, jackets and hoodies for the homeless. The seventh-grader told People that she wants to help those in need keep warm for the winter.
“It gets really cold around here at night, like 30 degrees, and I want to make sure homeless people aren’t walking around without jackets or blankets at night!” Makenna said. “I just want people to know someone cares about them.”
She has been taking donations for four years through an organization she started, called Makenna’s Coats for a Cause. Each November, she begins traveling her neighborhood in Surprise, Ariz., collecting jackets on her red wagon.
“Something small can make a big difference,” she told People. “I want this to spread. A little kindness can inspire others!”