OUTLOOK — By Majed Al Sulaimany — The world suffers now not because of evil people but because of good people who have decided to remain silent
— Albert Einstein
Change before Change changes you! — Anon
It is a fact of life that some people and places will never change even if the whole ground below them crumbles under their own feet! They will always continue to think and act as if they are more equal to others — have more rights — and are always perfect and correct!
A few days back I met this good friend of mine. He asked me what happened to me because he saw that I was complaining again about issues and topics that I used to talk about after the business collapse in 2003 over nine years ago. He asked me: I thought you had moved on and left the past behind you? Then he told me about this great book he had read entitled The Secret.
According to Wikipedia The Secret is a best-selling self-help book written in 2006 by one Rhonda Byrne, based on the earlier film of the same name. It is based on the Laws of Attraction and claims that Positive Thinking can create life-changing results such as increased wealth, health, and happiness.
The book has sold over 21 million copies and been translated into 44 languages, but has nevertheless attracted a great deal of discussions and controversy, as well as being parodied (misrepresented/distorted) in several TV programmes. You can find more information and details of the book by asking for "The Secret" in any search engine.
He then went on to tell me about this film he had seen titled What's Love Got To Do With It? He persuaded me to see it as it was being shown free in ShowTime — already subscribed for!
The film is a biographical sketch of the life of Tina Turner (Actress Angela Bassett), and her disastrous marriage to singer and husband Ike Turner (Actor Larry Fishburne) — the man who had started her on her career while nearly destroying her life. She struggles to escape from under his constant abuse. The film offers a glossy but intense portrait of her rapid rise to stardom and the jealousies and envies of her own husband because she had become more popular than him.
Despite Ike's attempts to woo her back, Tina Turner eventually prevails and finds solo success, accomplishing her dreams without Ike. The film shows of her courage and determination to overcome and succeed — finding within her the inner strength to fight back and overcome. She is shown as taking chances and refusing to remain under the domination and control of her bullying husband.
There is this part that I really liked. There is a metaphor drawn about the lotus flower. The lotus is a flower that blooms in the mud. The thicker and deeper the mud, the more beautiful the lotus blooms!
It is a metaphor meaning that in real life there is cause and effect. You can still bloom (blossom) even when you are surrounded by mud or dirt! Sometimes you are required to change your inner self first — so to cause effect and change. What it means is that the more tests in life the better person you are likely to be. That is if you handle yourself well — starting with your inner self first and foremost — to fight back, overcome and to succeed.
A few days back, I watched this programme The Inner War In Syria in Al Jazeera Television. It was an interview of the famous Syrian Artist, Cartoonist and Activist Ali Farzat. He is seen to casually comment: Nothing you tell these people will have any effect on them! What it meant was that you are just wasting your time, effort and energy to tell them things that they are not going to hear and secondly by doing so you are just exposing yourself to outmost dangers and risks — if not your own life even!
My friend was asking me: Once you yourself had said that you will stop banging your head against brick walls! Because in the process you only hurt your head! And you like to quote Napoleon: Do not interfere with someone set in destroying himself!
What is destined to happen will happen! Take a break and rest! There is nothing that you can do that can stop anything that can or will happen!
The point is — if you just leave one alone — do not poke your fingers into his eyes and then expect him to remain silent and not squirm — or expect him to turn the other cheek! Or if you think you are better than him and have more rights to say and do what you want! Then simply there should be no problems existing between anyone in the first place!
My friend was saying: You had said many things in the 1980s and they all came true even more than what you had expected! Yet your own career was tainted and you were marginalised — you suffered the consequences of your own actions — all this because of your sincerity. You have always ended as the Loser! Marked as 'trouble-maker'! Even if you had not cast the first or even the second stone!
It is time to for you stop my friend! They are only mocking and teasing you — speaking evil of you behind your back! Take care now of your own health and life and the time left for you on earth. For once be selfish and just take care of yourself and your family, your children and your grandchildren! The rest are not important. Take your own advice and use it. You did what you could and the time is now over!
Thank you my friend from the bottom of my heart. Only a person who really cares and feels for you will tell you the truth! Thanks again my good friend!
Take Care!
