the other "Ekushey"...

[al Furqaan]

For most of us, 21st of February is a time to remember martyrs who sacrificed the dearest thing they had. Indeed who knows what language we would speak today had it not been for their fateful gallantry.

But there is another martyr of the 21st day of February. Perhaps it was just coincidental that his martyrdom fell on Black History Month.

He is well known, at least in the US, and virtually unheard of in Bangladesh. But he is man of extreme wisdom, bravery and unfortunately of misperception. Nevertheless, he is one of the few good role models any person can have.

He is Malcom X also known as El Hajj Malik al Shabazz.

A dictionary of adjectives might not be enough to describe who he was in just the 40 short years in which he lived. Son, juvenile delinquint, hustler, drug dealer, burglar, womanizer, pimp, preacher, racist, demagogue, hate-monger, fearsome, angry, zealous, selfless, enlightened, and martyred. All these words are apt to describe at least a part of him, yet none can ever capture the greatness of his story, or the power of his message.

Below are just a few quotes from this legendary civil rights hero, who has always been in the cultural shadow of Martin Luther King, Mohandas Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela.
___________

"We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary."

"Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world."

"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."

"I'll say nothing against him. At one time the whites in the United States called him a racialist, and extremist, and a Communist. Then the Black Muslims came along and the whites thanked the Lord for Martin Luther King."

"Dr. King wants the same thing I want -- freedom!"

"It doesn't mean that I advocate violence, but at the same time, I am not against using violence in self-defense. I don't call it violence when it's self-defense, I call it intelligence."

"I don't favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. But I'm also a realist. The only people in this country who are asked to be nonviolent are black people."

"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."

"If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary."

"I am not a racist.... In the past I permitted myself to be used...to make sweeping indictments of all white people, the entire white race and these generalizations have caused injuries to some whites who perhaps did not deserve to be hurt. Because of the spiritual enlightenment which I was blessed to receive as a result of my recent pilgrimage to the Holy city of Mecca, I no longer subscribe to sweeping indictments of any one race. I am now striving to live the life of a true...Muslim. I must repeat that I am not a racist nor do I subscribe to the tenants of racism. I can state in all sincerity that I wish nothing but freedom, justice and equality, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people."

**a lot of Bangladeshis should read this one (hint, hint Khaleda and Hasina)**

"You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or who says it."

"If you are in a country that is progressive, the woman is progressive. If you're in a country that reflects the consciousness toward the importance of education, it's because the woman is aware of the importance of education. But in every backward country you'll find the women are backward, and in every country where education is not stressed its because the women don't have education."

"I'm the man you think you are.... If you want to know what I'll do, figure out what you'll do. I'll do the same thing -- only more of it."


"I had blind faith in him. My faith in Elijah Muhammad was more blind and more uncompromising than any faith that any man has ever had for another man. And so I didn't try and see him as he actually was."

"If we don't stand for something, we may fall for anything."

"I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won't let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion."

"I believe in Islam. I am a Muslim and there is nothing wrong with being a Muslim, nothing wrong with the religion of Islam. It just teaches us to believe in Allah as the God. Those of you who are Christian probably believe in the same God, because I think you believe in the God Who created the universe. That's the One we believe in, the One Who created universe--the only difference being you call Him God and we call Him Allah. The Jews call Him Jehovah. If you could understand Hebrew, you would probably call Him Jehovah too. If you could understand Arabic, you would probably call Him Allah...."

"Anytime you see someone more successful than you are, they are doing something you aren't."

"All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds."


"I am and always will be a Muslim. My religion is Islam."

[SMHasan]

Nice comments. Brilliant.

[al Furqaan]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4jHoe4KKtCw

[Orpheus]

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
A dictionary of adjectives might not be enough to describe who he was in just the 40 short years in which he lived. Son, juvenile delinquint, hustler, drug dealer, burglar, womanizer, pimp, preacher, racist, demagogue, hate-monger, fearsome, angry, zealous, selfless, enlightened, and martyred.

you know there is a saying that all criminals after going to Jail become Muslims.

[al Furqaan]

Originally Posted by Orpheus
you know there is a saying that all criminals after going to Jail become Muslims.

i don't know about all, but many do...