Wednesday 7 March 2007

'When' An Arab poem


There is a satirical poem titled "When," that has been posted on Arabic reformist websites including www.aafaq.org , reformist Saudi author and journalist Wajeha Al-Huwaider lamented what she regards as the conditions in the Arab world.

In the introduction to this poem, she wrote: "'When' is an ode to the troubles of the Arab citizen. Both men and women participated in its [writing], and it is still open to additions. This ode will be hung on the walls of the palaces of the Arab rulers, [1] so feel free to add you contributions."

[1] This is an allusion to the Seven Mu'allaqat, famous sixth century odes which, according to Arab legend, were hung in pre-Islamic times on the walls of the Qa'ba in Mecca.


When
"When you cannot find a single garden in your city, but there is a mosque on every corner - you know that you are in an Arab country…

"When you see people living in the past with all the trappings of modernity - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country.

"When religion has control over science - you can be sure that you are in an Arab country.

"When clerics are referred to as 'scholars' - don't be astonished, you are in an Arab country.

"When you see the ruler transformed into a demigod who never dies or relinquishes his power, and whom nobody is permitted to criticize - do not be too upset, you are in an Arab country.

"When you find that the large majority of people oppose freedom and find joy in slavery - do not be too distressed, you are in an Arab country.

"When you hear the clerics saying that democracy is heresy, but [see them] seizing every opportunity provided by democracy to grab high positions [in the government] - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country…

"When monarchies turn into theocracies, and republics into hybrids of monarchy and republic - do not be taken aback, you are in an Arab country.

"When you find that the members of parliament are nominated [by the ruler], or else that half of them are nominated and the other half have bought their seats through bribery… - you are in an Arab country…

"When you discover that a woman is worth half of what a man is worth, or less - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country…

"When you see that the authorities chop off a man's hand for stealing a loaf of bread or a penny, but praise and glorify those who steal billions - do not be too surprised, you are in an Arab country…

"When you are forced to worship the Creator in school and your teachers grade you for it - you can be sure that you are in an Arab country…

"When young women students are publicly flogged merely for exposing their eyes - you are in an Arab country…

"When a boy learns about menstruation and childbirth but not about his own [body] and [the changes] it undergoes in puberty - roll out your prayer mat and beseech Allah to help you deal with your crisis, for you are in an Arab country…

"When land is more important than human beings - you are in an Arab country…

"When covering the woman's head is more important than financial and administrative corruption, embezzlement, and betrayal of the homeland - do not be astonished, you are in an Arab country…

"When minorities are persecuted and oppressed, and if they demand their rights, are accused of being a fifth column or a Trojan horse - be upset, you are in an Arab country…

"When women are [seen as] house ornaments which can be replaced at any time - bemoan your fate, you are in an Arab country.

"When birth control and family planning are perceived as a Western plot - place your trust in Allah, you are in an Arab country…

"When at any time, there can be a knock on your door and you will be dragged off and buried in a dark prison - you are in an Arab country…

"When fear constantly lives in the eyes of the people - you can be certain that you are in an Arab country."

The main stream media would have you believe that the British National Party is made up of racists. Thinking people know this to be false. The British National Party has the greatest sympathy for all people who are forced to live under the heel of an evil cult religion.

Our hearts go out to the contributors of the poem "When" and hope that their countries one day enjoy true religious freedom.

" He who draws noble delights from the sentiments of poetry is a true poet, though he has never written a line in all his life."

4 comments:

Yankee Doodle said...

You know, if given half the chance, people in the Islamic World would overthrow the tyranny, and we in the West wouldn't have to do anything except offer humanitarian assistance.

Nobody suffers more under Islam than Muslims. Tyrrany follows them to the grave.

Anonymous said...

Most of the members of the House of Lords are appointed; the church and state are one in the UK, the Queen is head of the Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury is selected by the Prime Minister, Bishops sit in the Lords, etc. And that system's been around for a long time.

Anonymous said...

The church and state are certainly not one, the Left has seen to that.
No one listens to the Archbishop.....do you?
Arab countries rule their people a bit more forcefully than anything you could imagine. Why not listen to those apostates of Islam and hear their stories?
Go to www.faithfreedom.org and see how the brave ones are helping those still trapped in a cult that kills apostates.
There is no comparison between Britain and the sentiments expressed in the poem, stop desperately trying to find any.

Anonymous said...

I agree anon, there is no comparison, and its the life work of the Left Wing to play down the threat of the rabid dogs of Islam they think they have on a leash.
Lefties have systematically destroyed the family unit by promoting alternative lifestyles (Islam wont do that) promoted the defeminisation of young women by turning them into sex objects (Islam does that already but covers the booty head to toe)
and foments hatred against patriotism and decency.
The women of the Left while promoting the rights of "sex workers" to government grants completely ignore honour killings forced marriages and domestic violence in Muslim communities.
Double standards anyone?
They want prostitutes to operate out of nice clean brothels but dont care care if Muslim women are enslaved and abused.
I'm missing something, where are the "women rights" in either scenario?
As the wonderful Billy Connelly once quipped in an unrelated joke, the Left "have a shark on a leash" in their little Muslim friends which cant tell the difference between Left and Right Wing infidel meat.
They may well be last on the menu but the Left will be consumed too.