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Wisdom From A Scholar From Timbuktu |
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WISDOM FROM A SCHOLAR FROM TIMBUKTU
The scholar Djneh Mohammad from old Timbuktu wrote:
“Knowledge is universal and eternal but it has a social and cultural stance,
It has also a purpose and a commitment to a particular worldview. It therefore cannot be neutral.”
To further explain his point he wrote this poem.
“Whoever does not inform his children of his grand-parents,
Then he has destroyed his child, Murdered his descendants,And the injuries to the child will
dog the child till the day the child dies.
Whoever does not make use of his ancestry, Then he has muddled his reason,
Whoever is not concerned with his decent, Then he has lost his mind.
Whoever neglects his place of origin, Then his stupidity has become critical,
Whoever does cause his ancestry to be abandoned, Then his incompetence has become great,
Whoever does not increase his place of descent,
Then he has abolished his honor. And what is a human being without honor?”
Please visit and support The Timbuktu Educational Foundation www.timbuktufoundation.org
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Tecumseh's Words to the Wise |
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Tecumseh's words to the wise
So live your life that the fear of death can never
enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion;
respect others in their view, and demand that they
respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your
life long and its purpose in the service of your
people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when
you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a
sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even
a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to
all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the
morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of
living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the
fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no
thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs
the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to
die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with
the fear of death, so that when their time comes they
weep and pray for a little more time to live their
lives over again in a different way. Sing your death
song and die like a hero going home."
Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Nation
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