| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Land of Footprints by Stewart Edward White: that lies behind it. Our people are trying to pattern themselves
on white men, and succeed in giving a more or less shambling
imitation thereof. The native has standards, ideas, and ideals
that perfectly satisfy him, and that antedated the white man's
coming by thousands of years. The consciousness of this reflects
itself in his outward bearing. He does not shuffle; he is not
either obsequious or impudent. Even when he acknowledges the
white man's divinity and pays it appropriate respect, he does not
lose the poise of his own well-worked-out attitude toward life
and toward himself.
We are fond of calling these people primitive. In the world's
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Koran: is right, there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. But
those who say my signs are lies, and who are too big with pride for
them, these are the fellows of the Fire, they shall dwell therein
for aye!
Who is more unjust than he who devises against God a lie, or says
His signs are lies? These, their portion of the Book shall reach
them until when our messengers come to take their souls away, and say,
'Where is what ye used to call upon instead of God?' they say, 'They
have strayed away from us;' and they shall bear witness against
themselves that they have been misbelievers.
He will say, 'Enter ye- amongst the nations who have passed away
The Koran |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Divine Comedy (translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) by Dante Alighieri: Whence comes the smoke that vitiates thy rays;
So that a second time it now be wroth
With buying and with selling in the temple
Whose walls were built with signs and martyrdoms!
O soldiery of heaven, whom I contemplate,
Implore for those who are upon the earth
All gone astray after the bad example!
Once 'twas the custom to make war with swords;
But now 'tis made by taking here and there
The bread the pitying Father shuts from none.
Yet thou, who writest but to cancel, think
The Divine Comedy (translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) |
