69 million page views

IF ONLY

Reader comment on item: Suicide Reversal? Polling the Muslim world

Submitted by IVAN CHER (Australia), Jul 30, 2007 at 07:46

In Melbourne's broadsheet "The Age" of July 30, a columnist, David James published his variation of Kipling's famous poem "IF". After reading his version I offer my own -- for my cousins in Israel. Kipling must've been prescient about the Mid-East, as well as India: "If you can keep your head...." indeed!

IF

If you can keep your head on, while about you

They're cutting throats and blaming it on you;

And leaders turn their own folk into victims

Manipulating blame to fall on you;

If you can hear the hist'ry that you've spoken

Atwist by knaves who seek to boycott you;

If you can trust yourself when media doubt you

The ign'rant journo's gull'ble point of view;

If you can hear the hist'ry that you know's true

Misrepresented by the BBC, on cue,

(Their spin don't sound too good, P.R. wise)

But being lied about, don't deal yourself in lies.

If there's a Six Day Triumph or a blame-game

You keep your cool and persevere the same;

You're confident your heart and nerve and sinew

Will serve your cause long after it began,

And so hold on and offer Peace again;

Then neither foes nor mis-led friends can hurt you;

You've earned your nation state, NOW THAT IS TRUE.

IVAN CHER

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (20) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1islam just changing tatics ... NOT goals [118 words]Phil GreendAug 31, 2007 23:46107419
A Fine Dream [312 words]Rebecca MouldsAug 13, 2007 06:02106068
Subversion and Spawning [189 words]Brian HAug 3, 2007 17:50105440
Wrong questions [461 words]Archimedes2Aug 3, 2007 11:30105393
1the only way is let them taste their own medicine [54 words]susanAug 1, 2007 16:53105243
Re education/Aid $ tied to reform towards prosperity producing capitalism. [54 words]infosifterAug 1, 2007 07:28105216
One battle being won, several to go [202 words]Henrik Ræder ClausenJul 30, 2007 15:12105138
The Gramsci-ization of Islam [365 words]David W. LincolnJul 30, 2007 10:25105119
IF ONLY [212 words]IVAN CHERJul 30, 2007 07:46105115
NOT JUST A "TACTIC [822 words]Ron ThompsonJul 29, 2007 17:04105087
Suicide Reversal? "Working the System" is not tantamount to working against destruction and death ... [78 words]Paul la DemainJul 27, 2007 19:17105008
"Working the System" [412 words]Carol DerbisJul 28, 2007 16:49105008
Cultural strategies [141 words]David W. LincolnJul 27, 2007 10:47104968
dare we hope...? [50 words]richard landesJul 27, 2007 07:05104955
A better way to stop IEDs and acts of terror. [24 words]naclJul 27, 2007 02:35104942
A change of tactics, not a change of heart [185 words]Richard B.Jul 26, 2007 23:21104937
Suicide Bombing. Why? [40 words]John RJul 26, 2007 20:30104928
why jihad ??? [69 words]archiesSep 1, 2007 02:30104928
What are the motivations for suicide terrorism? [18 words]Camilla MukhammadaminovaJan 4, 2008 02:33104928
What difference does it make? [260 words]Romesh ChanderJul 26, 2007 17:08104911

Comment on this item

Mark my comment as a response to IF ONLY by IVAN CHER

Email me if someone replies to my comment

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

See recent outstanding comments.

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)