Friday, April 24, 2015

Food For Thought

“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind” is a quote oft attributed to non-violence champion Mahatma Gandhi. Fred R. Shapiro, editor of the Yale Book of Quotations (YBQ), has more to contribute on the subject: "The Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence states that the Gandhi family believes it is an authentic Gandhi quotation, but no example of its use by the Indian leader has ever been discovered."

Apparently an important biographer of Gandhi, Louis Fischer, used a version of the expression when he wrote about Gandhi’s approach to conflict. Fischer used the expression himself as part of his explanation of Gandhi’s philosophy. Some readers may have decided to directly attribute the saying to Gandhi based on a misreading of Fischer’s works.

There is a more authoritative biblical injunction in the Book of Exodus: "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (King James Version, Chapter 21, Verses 23, 24).

We are not sure from which entity, God or mammon, ex-pastor and General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) Dr William Wan derived his inspiration when he included following in a press statement (which was not published in the mainstream media):
"Tasteless videos and posts are no excuse for responding with vindictive attacks and threats of unspeakable violence. There is a difference between objecting, however strongly, to something that offends us, and meting out an eye for an eye, or worse."

SKM was pretty sure Dr Wan did send a letter expounding on said position to one of the local papers, before conveniently going away on leave. That's how serious discussions on religious topics can be in this town. Remember, local doctrine has it that the little boy's sin is criticising a religious figure, not the dead political one.

[Interesting aside: anon@4/24/2015 12:39 PM is theorising that the choice of banana is a mockery of the cookie monster determined on stuffing phallic shapes into oral cavities. More research may be needed here; the precocious child could be experimenting with different shapes, wondering why sycophants have a fascination with oblong elongated objects, instead of the natural banana contours.]

9 comments:

  1. Banana shortcomings4/24/2015 7:23 PM

    LOL.you are right.

    He most certainly is giving a positive demonstration to the necrophiliacs to go chew a banana as old man used to say "if you need to chew gum (or any oblong object for that matter), try a banana!

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  2. Recalled Dr William has his piece regarding Anton Casey and Amy Cheong.

    So Wan-of-a-kind, that ST.

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  3. One young gun have the whole L*Y propanganda screwed upside down until one of their running dogs gone bonkers threatening to chop off the young kid's banana. Just wonder whether it is to more to declare one's loyalty but nothing really to do with that religious thing.

    I really don't know whether to cry father cry mother if some kid were to be honest enough to call my dead father mothersomething . What a joke of the year that must be, some more happening amidst our 50th anniversary celebrations.

    Three cheers to Amos for bringing our 50th celebrations to a climax.

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    1. Truly, only a child can see through all the bullshit and exclaim "The King is naked."

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  4. Amos Yee has truly celebrated what our 50th Independence Anniversary should be.

    Thanks Amos Yee. You have more guts and nerves than most of the Men Of Multi-Million Greed.

    Three cheers for Amos Yee!
    You shall be Our National Martyr Of True Freedom!

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  5. If the hysterical mob is baying for Amos' blood, then what do you call the Authority's charging the 16 year old? Is it "…. a proportionate response, .... the mark of a civilised society."??? What is Dr William Wan going to do about this after he has said his piece? Does Dr William Wan say what he means, and mean what he says? Conveniently go on leave? Who will believe what he says!

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    1. We have one word for this chap in our local idiom. NATO - No Action Talk Only.

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  6. Knowing the court routine, I say the banana antic was premeditated. He showed how the nation eats the founder cock?

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