Fundamentalism In Córdoba, southern Spain is a Roman bridge, still in use after more than 2000 years. It is guarded, since Moorish times, at the further bank of the Guadal-quabir River, by the Calahonda Tower, now a museum, and dedicated to the legacy of Moorish Spain – and very considerable a legacy it is too. For more than 700 years all or part of Spain was under Arab Moslem control and Moslems, Jews and Christians managed to live together. On the day the last Moslem kingdom fell the Jews were expelled from the country, along with any Moors who would not convert to Christianity. After September 11th 2002 (the twin towers) and July 7th 2004 (the London transport bombings) I wrote this little sonnet looking gloomily at fundamentalism. It isn’t strictly an environmental issue at all, of course, but it springs from the same strand of self-centredness. Fundamental View One said, ‘The planet’s yours, you meek.’ And, ‘When they strike you, turn the other cheek.’ ‘Vengence is mine,’ saith the Lord; ‘Cast no image, listen only to my word.’ Another said that people of the book Were special too - not infidel, mistook. For seven hundred years lived without strain Jew, Christian, Moslem all in Moslem Spain. For centuries we ‘ve burnt or hung all those Who differ, fought crusades and holy wars Against those others of that greatest book - While Prophets wept, great liberties were took: God, Allah, Yahweh can but stand and watch in vain While humans kill, and claim to do it in his name.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 08:14:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015