When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the impact of colonialism and the loss of land and culture due to religious and ideological imposition.
Desmond Tutu's quote poignantly critiques the historical events surrounding colonialism and missionary work in Africa. It highlights the ironic situation where the missionaries, armed with the Bible and their beliefs, asked the indigenous people to pray, leading to a scenario where the colonizers gained control over the land while the locals ended up with foreign religious texts. This reflects broader themes of power dynamics, cultural exploitation, and the devastating consequences of colonial practices.
In practice
Referencing this quote in a lecture about the effects of colonialism on indigenous cultures.
The fossil reserves that have already been discovered exceed what can ever be safely used. Yet companies spend half a trillion dollars each year searching for more fuel. They should redirect this money toward developing clean energy solutions
As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greateer instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.
Gaza is going to test who believes in the worth of human beings.
Where we come from does not determine who we can become. What we look like places no limits on what we can achieve. We should all have the right to express ourselves, all have the right to be heard, all have the right to be what we can be: To reach for the sky and touch the stars. No matter who we are, no matter whether we are man or woman, or rich or poor: _x000D_ My voice, my right. My voice counts.
We are but whirlpools in a river of ever-flowing water. We are not stuff that abides, but patterns that perpetuate themselves. _x000D_ A pattern is a message, and may be transmitted as a message.
If given the choice between Righteousness and Peace, I choose Righteousness.
Ireland sober is Ireland stiff.
Here we go mother on the shipless ocean. Pity us, pity the ocean, here we go.
Everyone says you've got to do a foundation and legal structure to finance social change. What nonsense!
Life is teleology par excellence; it is the intrinsic striving towards a goal, and the living organism is a system of directed aims which seek to fulfill themselves.
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