|
|
 Memoirs of a Benevolent Despot
|
Many of the members of the board welcomed me to the forum and invited me to write and contribute to the ongoing interesting discussion and debate. But because of the difficult times our home country Sudan is undergoing, any thing not political sounds trivial, out of place, obscene and banal. Yes I want to write something lighter, something that would bring a small smile on your faces, a nice memory of the good old times – no politics.
I decided that I hate politics. Politics brings out the Goering inside me – whenever I hear the word politics, I touch my gun. Politics drives me mad. Well, I really shouldn’t use the word mad; it is politically incorrect. I should say politics drive me off the wall. “The best of wine turns into vinegar when men start talking politics” – this is a famous quotation from Calphurnia, Julius Caesar’s wife.
If I become the ruler of Sudan I will abolish politics and anything to do with politics. I will declare myself a ‘Benevolent Despot’. I will have only one ministry in my cabinet – the Ministry of Good and Refine Taste, Arts and Good Behaviour. My dear friend Salwa Alsaeed will be my one and only minister. Period I don’t want anyone to discuss my decision. That is the idea! Salwa has good taste and excellent despotic tendencies exactly like me. She will make an excellent minister in my one ministerial government.
‘Rome has spoken, the matter is settled’ – Saint Augustine.
Khalid has spoken, the matter is settled, and Salwa is my minister. Period.
Anyone who defies Salwa or me will be locked up in an educational institution and to be taught how to behave and how to acquire good and refined taste in arts and literature.
My first experience of playing a ‘benevolent despot’ was when I was teaching at Juba University in 1988
To be continued.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Re: Memoirs of a Benevolent Despot (Re: khalid osman mahgoub)
|
لا ترغب فى الحديث عن السياسة. حسنآ. ولكن سوف يقول قائل: هذا حديث موغل فى السياسة رغم اعلان الكاتب جفاءه لها. السياسة أعنى. ولماذا سلوى السعيد أيّها المستبد العادل؟
ما هى الكريدينشيالز بتاعتها؟ ترجموا لينا الكلمة دى كان رجال أو نسوان؟
سلوى السعيد لا غبار عليها. بيد أن حوّا السعيدة والدة
هل تشترط علينا أن تكون الردود باللغة الانقليزية؟
عم صباحآ أو مساءآ أيّها المستبد المتفرنج!!
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Memoirs of a Benevolent Despot (Re: khalid osman mahgoub)
|
My Dear Benevolent Despot Saint Augustine
Your word is above all.
What we need to do is to educate these commoners of what a good taste is about. They live too long in ugliness, but you don’t need to spoil your lovely face or gestures with these details. The offer is accepted, and I can see young ignorant brains flourishing and I’m the one to collect.
What these people need in our new kingdom is to study by hard “The Love in the Time of Cholera” as a starter, and then we will move to the main course. They need to be excused because they are the product of abused and deprived childhood, neglected teens and loveless adulthood. In normal situations they must all be hospitalized.
Anyway forget about all these details let us go into our sweet memories.
I can remember vividly when we decided to obtain tickets to try the English Theatre and as you know English Theatre is not a joke! “The Three Mary’s” was our choice after we read the text. I can still visualize the sceneries, the costumes and the talented actors and actresses. But above all, your sweet company, your persuasion and encouragement. You insisted that, I can make it through out the play. At the end I did made it, thank to you dear friend, my passionate St Augustine.
(عدل بواسطة salwa elsaeed on 05-26-2004, 08:47 PM)
(عدل بواسطة salwa elsaeed on 05-26-2004, 08:48 PM)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Adil Osman
salwa elsaeed
Rawia
فيس بوك
تويتر
انستقرام
يوتيوب
بنتيريست