WHO IS THIS GUY CALLED ARIEL?

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Thursday, October 20, 2005

OLD MEN WEEP. a repost 'cos I'm not feeling so good right now

Old men weep, in the darkness, and the silence of the night: deep inside, where no-one sees. They do not weep for what is to come: for what can come, that has not been, in a long, eventful life? Old men weep for the wet sponge of Age, which wiping clean the slate of Memory, makes wraiths of old friends; old loves; old comrades long since gone to Death’s dark night. They mourn for harsh words spoken, which may never be unsaid; for love withheld and affection spurned; for slights given and hurts... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

LA SUSANA, A FIFTEENTH CENTURY TRAGEDY. FINAL PART

In the course of her profession as a prostitute, La Susana bore several children, ( history does not record what became of them ) and as her beauty faded her noble customers lost interest in her, and she later went to live with a humble grocer in Seville. Dying in poverty, she asked that her skull be placed over the door of the house where she had been a prostitute. Whether this was to serve as a reminder of the sinful life that she had led, or of her great betrayal is not clear, but the skull... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

LA SUSANA. A FIFTEENTH CENTURY SPANISH TRAGEDY, PART 2

This re-imposition of the ancient anti-Jewish laws, which had largely lapsed in Seville and elsewhere in Spain, had come about because many conversos, or New Christians ( Jews and Moors who had converted to Christianity ) practised, or were suspected of practising, their ancient rites in secret. This, to such religious bigots as Isabella and Ferdinand was intolerable heresy, which must be extirpated by any means. The Holy Office, ( the Roman, or Papal ) Inquisition, already existed in Aragon,... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 17, 2005

LA SUSANA, A FIFTEENTH CENTURY TRAGEDY, PART ONE

n.b. At the risk of being repetitious, the Spanish Inquisition is referred to as such, to distinguish it clearly from the Papal, or Roman Inquisition that existed in other countries. Oppressive as it was, the Roman Inquisition was a far more lax and tolerant institution than its Spanish offshoot; which operated not only in Spain, but throughout her empire and her possessions in continental Europe I first read about “ La Susana ” shortly after leaving school at the age of 14, and still at the age... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

LADY ARIELA'S AND ARIEL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE IN SEVILLE PART 6

On our last morning in Seville, we went to see if we could visit the cathedral, but not before we’d explored “ The Archives of the Indies”, which was close by. The thought of maybe seeing a letter from Queen Isabella – in her own handwriting! – to Cristóbal Colon, saying something like “ Okay, Cris, the deal’s on, so get down there and kick some South American ass!” fired me with enthusiasm. Now, why on earth didn’t I guess that it was not to be? I mean, Goddamnit, I’ve lived in Spain long... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

LADY ARIELA'S AND ARIEL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE IN SEVILLE PART 5

On our way to find a horse-drawn carriage to take us on a tour of Seville, I must have had one of my occasional little psychic moments, for we passed a young couple, and as they moved away, Lady Ariela said “ How did you know that she was German?” Puzzled, I said “ You what?” only with my London cockney accent it came out as “ Yer wo?” Lady Ariela’s tone was … well, somewhat icy one could say, and she said “ Try not to be a cockney guttersnipe all your life, darling. That girl we just passed,... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 14, 2005

LADY ARIELA'S AND ARIEL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE IN SEVILLE PART 4

As we drifted up the Guadalquivir, I in my dream-like state, musing on the history of Spain, and Seville in particular, on one level of consciousness, I was aware of, and admired one of the bridges over the river. It was inspired by the Iron Bridge over the river Severn in Shropshire, England, having similar thick steel rings of varying diameter supporting the span. The Iron Bridge was the first bridge in the world to be built of cast iron, and was not only a marvellous feat of engineering in... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

LADY ARIELA'S AND ARIEL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE IN SEVILLE, PART 3

As so few people are reading my blog these days, I am considering abandoning it entirely, for I see little point in continuing. Moreover, even during my three months in Blogit, it seems to have changed radically; becoming more of a chat room that anything else. I have come to the conclusion that the bloggers in here fall roughly into three categories: those who only read posts whose views accord with theirs; those setting forth views with which they disagree vehemently, and can earn a lot of... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 10, 2005

LADY ARIELA'S AND ARIEL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE IN SEVILLE, PART TWO

We had arrived in Seville about 12.30, and settled into our hostal, which we had chosen for its cheapness, and its reasonably close proximity to the city centre, the cathedral and other interesting places. I’ve never been to France, but I assume that Spanish hostales are similar to French pensions; although I’ve never heard of a hostal having the famed French dragon of a concierge. I guess our hostal was about typical, being a small bedroom, with en-suite minute shower room and toilet; the beds... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, October 8, 2005

LADY ARIELA'S AND ARIEL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE IN SEVILLE

There was a palpable air of anticipation and excitement as Lady Ariela and I rose from our bed for our trip to Seville, at ten minutes to the crack of dawn. Much to do; the final bits of packing etc, and the dogs. Now, it must not be assumed that our departure would necessarily be a sedate affair, because of Quigley and Harry, our two dogs. They wander free during the day, but we do shut them in at night, or when we go out during the day, because they race after the truck, and follow us for a... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 7, 2005

LADY ARIELA AND ARIEL HAVE RETURNED FROM SEVILLE TODAY.HERE IS A REPOST

I had just applied the blazing tumbler to Paco’s bare back, when Fraquito, the transvestite goat-herd, came to invite us to coffee at the hogar de jubilados. Quite a nice young fellow, Fraquito; the sort that one would be happy to invite to tea and seed cake with one’s mother. Although one doubts that she would approve of his dress sense. The knee-length, spike heeled boots with fishnet tights looked quite fetching, really, but a lime green mini-skirt with a purple blouse betrays a certain lack... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, October 6, 2005

THE VILLAGE, A SHORT STORY

The car breasted a long slope, and Mark pulled into a slightly wider section of the road. High in an achingly blue sky the dark soot flakes of honey buzzards and eagles soared, while closer at hand the razor sharp sickles of the swallows and martins reaped the sky for its harvest of insects, their twitterings like the voices children at play in some infinitely far distant place. The air was filled with the harsh stridulation of crickets in the nearby olive trees – a mechanical, sawing sound,... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

THE LONG-FORGOTTEN TRADE IN WHITE SLAVES BY MUSLIMS PART 3

This section may appear to be a digression from the subject of slavery, but in fact it is very germane to the issue, and are necessary to explain how the Spanish people – and more particularly their monarch – King Philip 111 of Spain sowed the wind; and how his subjects reaped the whirlwind. It was the Romans who introduced the vine and the olive, into the botanically impoverished Iberian Peninsula; and turned the great plains of Spain into “ The Granary of the Roman world.” From the 8 th... Sign in to see full entry.

LADY ARIELA AND I WILL BE AWOL FOR A FEW DAYS

We are going on a short trip, to sample the fleshpots of Seville, but I've posted another part of my series on Muslim slave traders, and I hope to keep up with you all via internet access in our hotel. This is not an excuse for you all to stop reading my blog LOL Catch up with all my friends in Blogit when I return; to find lots of comments for me to get my teeth into! Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 3, 2005

THE LONG-FORGOTTEN TRADE IN WHITE SLAVES BY MUSLIMS. PART 2

It is worth repeating here that the purpose of this, and other posts on the subject of slavery is to rebut the racist argument among black people and Muslims that only the white races practised the wide-scale enslavement of their fellow humans. It was noted in part 1 of this series, that it was black African chieftains and kings who sold their fellow countrymen and women into slavery, and that Muslims too practised this abominable trade as enthusiastically as their Christian counterparts. Only... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 2, 2005

ANOTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE BLOGIT DEBATE ON CHRISTIANITY AND ATHEISM #2

The profound questions that I pose in this post are not intended to mock Christian beliefs; nor to undermine them in any way, but are posed in a genuine spirit of enquiry. I ask them simply because I would like to know what are the Christian answers to them. Of course, one cannot lump all Christians together, and say that “ they ” believe or disbelieve this, that, or the other, but one can ask if they are still an integral part of Christian doctrine; being believed in greater or lesser degree by... Sign in to see full entry.

A SINCERE APOLOGY TO GOMEDOME

In the first part of my post about the ongoing debate in Blogit between Christians and atheists, the term “ Bible Thumpers ” occurs in my condemnation of atheists who vilify Christians, and I have received a comment from gomedome, who is rightly concerned that other bloggers might infer that those remarks were directed at him. As far as I am aware, he has never used any of the contemptuous terms that I cite, and I wish to make it clear that I had neither him, nor any other blogger in mind when... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, October 1, 2005

MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE BLOGIT DEBATE ON CHRISTIANITY VERSUS ATHEISM PART 1

I have been reading with great interest the debate ( well, sometimes a feud! ) that’s been raging in here between the Christians and the atheists, and rather than sending a lot of comments, in which one can’t really express one’s opinions properly, I thought I’d write a post on the subject. Many words in English have a strictly literal meaning, and a widely understood colloquial one, which often departs markedly from its literal meaning; sometimes becoming endowed with an exactly opposite... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, September 30, 2005

A SINCERE THANK YOU TO MY NUMEROUS FRIENDS IN BLOGIT AND " HISTORY"

As a footnote to my last post, my I once more offer my friends in here my sincere thanks for your support and friendship. To be so valued by one’s friends is indeed humbling. HISTORY I am an irredeemable idealist where history is concerned, and I am a firm believer in the maxim that “ He who knows not his history is doomed to re-enact it.”. But some historical events – set as they were in social conditions radically different from those in which we live – seem to be so absurdly impossible of... Sign in to see full entry.

About this Blog

Fiction, poetry, articles and a whole lot of other Ariel's stuff ; musings and ponderings ; they're all here, and i hope you'll find something here that you like. But I have a deeper purpose in mind. See, reading the papers and watching TV, it's so easy to think that the whole world's motivated by racial and religious hatreds of various kinds. Well most of us aren't, are we? We ordinary people are moved by love and compassion for our fellow humans ; and respect and tolerance for their differences. It's true that all that it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing, so we who are motivated by love have a duty speak out against the evils of the world ; not to be ashamed of our histories, nor embarrassed about being and saying clearly what we are and what we believe. If we don't learn to love each other, we'll perish. Although I am an atheist, my guiding principle is, and always has been, Christ's adjuration to " Love thy neighbour as thyself"

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