No, He was not watching CNN.

The world is at war and the human race is in travail and mortal combat. The dark night of hate hath taken over, and the light of good faith is blotted out. The peoples and kindreds of the earth have sharpened their claws, and are hurling themselves one against the other. It is the very foundation of the human race that is being destroyed. It is thousands of households that are vagrant and dispossessed, and every year seeth thousands upon thousands of human beings weltering in their life-blood on dusty battlefields. The tents of life and joy are down. The generals practise their generalship, boasting of the blood they shed, competing one with the next in inciting to violence. ‘With this sword,’ saith one of them, ‘I beheaded a people!’ And another: ‘I toppled a nation to the ground!’ And yet another: ‘I brought a government down!’ On such things do men pride themselves, in such do they glory! Love--righteousness--these are everywhere censured, while despised are harmony, and devotion to the truth.


'Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p. 2

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

what does CNN have to do with the quote ?

Gaijin21 said...

It could have been any news network, but I meant it as a symbol referring to “current events”. Watch any news channel, or read any news paper and then read this quote.
All these things mentioned in here seems so relevant to this very day, including certain people being proud of toppling a nation and others beheading their perceived enemies. (It was only a few days ago that Russian diplomats were beheaded and shot in Iraq.) If someone did not know that this quote was from late 19th century to early 20th century - about 100 years ago give or take a few years - they might think it is indeed referring to the current events.

Next quote will be the alternative choice we have - an invitation to safety and love, to amity and peace.

Anonymous said...

If someone did not know that this quote was from late 19th century to early 20th century - about 100 years ago give or take a few years - they might think it is indeed referring to the current events.


//then perhaps it should have read
no, He was not watching CNN.

Gaijin21 said...

Ah, OK. I have made that change. Thanks!