This story was told by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister late Lakshman Kadirgamar at his after dinner speech OFF THE CUFF, in UK, at which Sri Lankan cricketers were present in the year 2003.
Hon. Foreign Minister, Late Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar
Ugandan president Idi Amin told his foreign minister that he wanted to change the name of 'Uganda' to 'Idi'. The minister was asked to canvas world opinion and return in two weeks. He did not do so. He was summoned and was asked to explain.
He said, "Mr.President, I have been informed that there is a country called Cyprus. Its citizens are called Cypriots; If we change the name of our country to 'Idi' our citizens will be called ......................... Idiots".
The wise minister avoided from changing the country name due to a foolish decision.
Can
you hear the drums fernando? I remember long ago another starry night like this In the firelight, Fernando You were humming to yourself
and softly strumming your guitar I could hear the distant drums And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar
They were closer now, Fernando
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternity I was so afraid, Fernando We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And I'm not ashamed to say
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando
Now we're old and grey fernando
And since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums Fernando?
Do you still recall the frightful night we crossed the rio grande?
I can see it in your eyes
How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Yes, if I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando..
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
(This was a text once published in the Reader's Digest magazine. Not aware of the writer.)
“something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire
and wrote the first faint line,
faint without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom,
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open.”
From "Poetry", Memorial de isla negra (1964).
Trans. Alastair Reid
