
A young couple looks at the names of Portuguese soldiers killed in the colonial wars in Africa from 1961 to 1974 at a monument to the fallen, in Lisbon Nov. 24 2007. A groundbreaking television documentary series currently being aired on RTP is confronting Portugal with unsettling aspects of its recent history. Aspects previously unknown to some... (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
In Portugal, they are finding out that, behind polished appearances and political propaganda, they are just as bad as the Spaniards, the Belgian and every other colonizer... Aye, they are hospitable - sim, they worship Nosso Senhor and Nossa Senhora de Fatima - but they have their dark side too... (At least, what they did, well, it wasn't without provocation...!)
In Pakistan, modern-day Christians are finding out what it was like for the First Christians - and to those ignorants who say that Christians are "not persecuted anymore" and are, instead, the ones persecuting and committing "atrocious, unspeakable acts" - read this: Muslims in Pakistan are threatening the lives of the Christian minority telling them to conform to Islamic Law or they and their loved ones (and their homes) will be bombed to smithereens! This information has been broadcast through many sources, including the VOICE OF ISRAEL! Now, why would I, for instance, doubt the veracity of this news story - when it comes from the Jewish, whom we accuse of having killed Our Lord? They are kind to accept the blame (while looking forward to the advent of "their" Messiah...) and hold it not against us to feel as we do (and we, in turn, have no hatred in our hearts - for the Lord Jesus Christ CAME TO BE CRUCIFIED IN THE FIRST PLACE! It takes some getting used to the concept, I suppose... Not every Rabbi can do it... I do not expect an Imam to embrace the concept any more easier! But I digress...)
In Sudan, of course, it was all over the news - an English lady's intent was her life saver as she had very harmless intentions and some extremists were still calling for her head... Mercifully, Allah showed her Grace through the Sudanese Premier... (Thus, quite obviously, there we found out that, in Sudan too, there are those with too much zeal and there are moderate muslims who will listen to reason.)
In Canada, meanwhile, in the absence of any significant problem a parade of little inconveniences has been going on, in Quebec, over the "REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS" un-debate... What people are finding out there, is that, under all the apparent gentleness and openness, Canadians (for they still are that, whether they want to admit it or not, in the province of Québec) are truly racist pigs at the core. They cry about, lament over and lambaste because of truly insignificant little annoyances of everyday life - the sort of which cannot be avoided when cultures and religions clash. It is utterly pathetic - and totally predictable, coming from the historical mistake that is Quebec...
What we can retain from ALL this though is the following:
Never dare think any class or creed is "all white" and blameless - there is good and bad everywhere. There are zealots everywhere. There are rotten apples everywhere. There are dirty secrets everywhere. There are cover-ups everywhere. Nothing is "pure" down here, on this Earth... Think about that this holiday season and watch your guests under a whole new perspective. Maybe now, you'll REALLY WATCH them!
No rampant paranoia required now - only calling for CAUTION here!
Don't trust everything your government tells you or even your kins, pals or guru!
And don't follow the masses.
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