That man must have spent his whole life honing his sword-buckling craft...only have his life and all those skills snuffed out by a 10/c bullet.
Would have been more fun to see Mr Jones use his whip flipping skills, probably also perfected over his lifetime, to neutralize the enemy. That would have been more balanced, but wouldn't make for a good chortle in the cinemas, don't you think?
Anyway.
Could I indulge you in reproducing something someone sent me?
Its humble message is most telling:
Would You Permit Me?
In a country where thinkers are assassinated, and writers are considered infidels and books are burnt. In societies that refuse the other, and force silence on mouths and thoughts forbidden, and to question is a sin, I must beg your pardon, would you permit me?
Would you permit me to bring up my children as I want, and not to dictate on me your whims and orders?
Would you permit me to teach my children that the religion is first to God, and not for religious leaders or scholars or people?
Would you permit me to teach my little one that religion is about good manners, good behaviour, good conduct, honesty and truthfulness, before I teach her with which foot to enter the bathroom or with which hand she should eat?
Would you permit me to teach my daughter that God is about love, and she can dialogue with Him and ask Him anything she wants, far away from the teachings of anyone?
Would you permit me not to mention the torture of the grave to my children, who do not know about death yet?
Would you permit me to teach my daughter the tenets of the religion and its culture and manners, before I force on her the 'Hijab' (the veil)?
Would you permit me to tell my young son that hurting people and degrading them because of their nationality, colour or religion, is considered a big sin by God?
Would you permit me to tell my daughter to revising her homework and paying attention to her learning is considered by God as more useful and important than learning by heart Ayahs from the Quran without knowing their meaning?
Would you permit me to teach my son that following the footsteps of the Honourable Prophet begins with his honesty, loyalty and truthfulness, before his beard or how short his thobe (long shirt/dress) is?
Would you permit me to tell my daughter that her Christian friend is not an infidel, and ask her not to cry fearing her friend will go to Hell?
Would you permit me to argue, that God did not authorize anyone on earth after the Prophet to speak in his name nor did he vest any powers in anyone to issue 'deeds of forgiveness' to people?
Would you permit me to say, that God has forbidden killing the human spirit, and who kills wrongly a human being is as if he killed all human kind, and no Moslem has the right to frighten another Moslem?
Would you permit me to teach my children that God is greater, more just, and more merciful than all the (religious) scholars on earth combined? And that his standards are different from the standards of those trading the religion, and that his accountability is kinder and more merciful?
Hi HH, I only came across your blog last week or so - and greatly enjoyed your writings. Maybe because I am in your age-band and possibly infused with the same values in the days of old! Keep up the good work - I am a fan!
TomCat...same age band! We oldies have to stick together...I use to look distinguish with hair graying at my temples...now that it is all white...I am just old!
Yeah. Modern technology vs ancient arts.
ReplyDeleteThat man must have spent his whole life honing his sword-buckling craft...only have his life and all those skills snuffed out by a 10/c bullet.
Would have been more fun to see Mr Jones use his whip flipping skills, probably also perfected over his lifetime, to neutralize the enemy. That would have been more balanced, but wouldn't make for a good chortle in the cinemas, don't you think?
Anyway.
Could I indulge you in reproducing something someone sent me?
Its humble message is most telling:
Would You Permit Me?
In a country where thinkers are assassinated, and writers
are considered infidels and books are burnt.
In societies that refuse the other, and force silence on mouths and thoughts forbidden, and to question is a sin,
I must beg your pardon, would you permit me?
Would you permit me to bring up my children as I want, and
not to dictate on me your whims and orders?
Would you permit me to teach my children that the religion
is first to God, and not for religious leaders or scholars
or people?
Would you permit me to teach my little one that religion is
about good manners, good behaviour, good conduct, honesty
and truthfulness, before I teach her with which foot to
enter the bathroom or with which hand she should eat?
Would you permit me to teach my daughter that God is about
love, and she can dialogue with Him and ask Him
anything she wants, far away from the teachings of anyone?
Would you permit me not to mention the torture of the grave
to my children, who do not know about death yet?
Would you permit me to teach my daughter the tenets of the
religion and its culture and manners, before I force on her
the 'Hijab' (the veil)?
Would you permit me to tell my young son that hurting
people and degrading them because of their nationality,
colour or religion, is considered a big sin by God?
Would you permit me to tell my daughter to revising her
homework and paying attention to her learning is considered by God as more useful and important than learning by heart Ayahs from the Quran without knowing their meaning?
Would you permit me to teach my son that following the footsteps of the
Honourable Prophet begins with his honesty, loyalty and truthfulness, before his beard or how short his thobe (long shirt/dress) is?
Would you permit me to tell my daughter that her Christian friend is not an infidel, and ask her not to cry fearing her friend will go to Hell?
Would you permit me to argue, that God did not authorize
anyone on earth after the Prophet to speak in his name nor
did he vest any powers in anyone to issue 'deeds of
forgiveness' to people?
Would you permit me to say, that God has forbidden killing
the human spirit, and who kills wrongly a human being is as if he killed all human kind, and no Moslem has the right to frighten another Moslem?
Would you permit me to teach my children that God is greater, more just, and more merciful than all the (religious) scholars on earth combined?
And that his standards are different from the standards of those trading
the religion, and that his accountability is kinder and more merciful?
Would you permit me?
Nizar Kabbani
Syrian Diplomat, Poet, Writer
Thanks a million.
This was my favourite scene in this movie!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I SO get your point!!!!
Bojangles...DONE!
ReplyDeleteTqs for sharing that with us...
Hi HH,
ReplyDeleteI only came across your blog last week or so - and greatly enjoyed your writings. Maybe because I am in your age-band and possibly infused with the same values in the days of old!
Keep up the good work - I am a fan!
TomCat...same age band! We oldies have to stick together...I use to look distinguish with hair graying at my temples...now that it is all white...I am just old!
ReplyDelete