"We cannot know one language unless we know two, for by knowing another language we raise into distinct consciousness and clear prominence the qualities of our own -- the qualities of its vocabulary, its idiom and its rhythm." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(1749-1832: German poet, novelist, playwright, and statesman)
Pope Francis
Photo Courtesy: gulfnews.com/
Pope Francis is the first Catholic pope to endorse same-sex civil unions. His support of this civil union came in interview given in the documentary film 'Francesco,' which premiered at the Rome Film Festival on October 21, 2020.
Pope Francis said,"Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God. You can't kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered."
On March 15, 2021, Vatican's doctrinal office, with Pope Francis' approval, officially decreed that gay or same-sex unions cannot be blessed in the Catholic Church because God 'can't bless sin.' Previously, in spite of Pope's voicing of support for same-sex civil unions, this stand of the Church is under criticism and denunciation from Catholic and non-Catholic observers and gay persons.
To know the details, please read the following:
"In Germany they [the Nazis under Hitler] came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up for me."
--Martin Niemoller
German Lutheran pastor
A quotation of William Arthur Ward on 'doing more than
Today is the International Mother Language Day. This day emphasizes the use of one's mother language and culture without any interference. This leads to sustainable development.
In human history, we see how victors, to subdue the defeated peoples, forced their own language and culture on them. The story of the Bengali (Bangla) language movement of Bangladesh in 1952 is an example of how the people of Bangladesh successfully resisted the imposition of the Urdu language on them by the West Pakistani authorities. This ultimately inspired UNESCO to declare February 21 as the International Mother Language Day worldwide.
Another example is Lithuania. The Russian empire, to Russianize Lithuania, banned books written in Latin script and imposed Cyrillic script from 1864 t0 1904. To save their language and culture from the Russian onslaught, some patriotic Lithuanians resorted to smuggling books to Lithuania from different countries. To learn more, kindly read the following:
A quotation of Jessica Herrin on 'failure,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
A quotation of William Ellery Channing on 'difficulties and conflict,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
He is the instigator of chaos and confusion
and the wrecker of U.S. democracy
Photo courtesy: CNN
Photo courtesy: Wilmington Star-News
Thousands of President Donald Trump's supporters, mostly white, from all over the U.S. descended on Washington, D.C., yesterday and protested against the so-called "rigged election" that resulted in the Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden the winner. Their intention was to force Vice President Mike Pence and the Congress to cancel the confirmation of electoral college votes and declare the losing Republican candidate, President Trump, the winner.
At one time, a mob of hundreds breached the barricades and stormed the Capitol (Congress) building, entering and ransacking different rooms. Some people even stole some items from there as souvenirs! Government security personnel, ridiculously inadequate for the situation, miserably failed to contain the insurrection. The crowd descended in Washington, D.C., at the call of President Trump, the instigator of this domestic terrorism and lawlessness. It took police four hours to quell the situation.
During the rioting, four persons died -- one from gunshot and three from their medical conditions. It is interesting to note that only about four dozen protesters, mainly 6:00 p.m. curfew breakers, have been arrested by the police. The question is if the rioters were blacks or browns instead of whites, how would the law enforcement personnel deal with them? With guns and grenades? With hundreds of arrests?
It has already been proven in the U.S. that President Trump is a compulsive liar and blame shifter. He does not have the capacity to take responsibility for anything. Under his watch, the presidential election was held on November 3. He was fully responsible for this election -- whether the election was free or rigged. If this election was "rigged," it was his fault, because he failed to let it happen. Infantile President Donald Trump behaves as if he lives in another country and he does not have any responsibility for it!
Many in the U.S. and abroad were shocked and perturbed to see such a low-life behaviour of President Donald Trump and some of his party members and associates who incited these minions and goons to undermine democracy in the U.S. -- the first of its kind in the country's history. Former U.S. presidents -- Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama -- condemned President Trump's recent actions. Many foreign leaders also expressed their disappointment with Mr. Trump.
Evangelical Christians, mostly white, are the greater segment of President Donald Trump's political supporters. They consider him as Jesus' anointed person and an 'honest' man who is 'morally upstanding.' They also consider him as the country's saviour who will install God's law in the country -- forbidding abortion, homosexual marriages, LBGTQ lifestyle, and others. In spite of being a devil incarnate -- he has proven it many times in the last five years through his actions and words -- President Trump still enjoys their relentless support and homage. Now, what happens to this God's chosen person who let the devil win over him?
To know more, please read the following:
Artwork by Jerome D'Costa
