The lost turkey

Submitted by Act Now (United States), Oct 11, 2006 at 12:51

Muslims are inheritors of the Arab culture and lore. There is an old story about a turkey and an old Arab which Muslims seem to have learnt a lesson. If I remember correctly, Tom Friedman wrote it in his From Beirut to Jerusalem. I am reproducing from memory, my wording may not be exactly the same. Let me relate the story:

Some one told an old Arab if he ate turkey, he will become virile again. So he bought himself a turkey and fed it the best grain and watched it grow big. Every day he said to himself: > One of these days I am going to eat this turkey and be virile again. I am going to be a stud.= He started eyeing the good looking young women around. One morning he found his turkey has been stolen. He gathered his sons around him and said in a somber voice; > Sons, we are in grave danger. My turkey has been stolen. Go, find my turkey.= The boys laughed at him and said, > So what is the big deal, Old man? What do you need the turkey for anyway?= The old Arab replied, > Never mind, what I need the turkey for. The important thing is that our turkey has been stolen and it must be found. Go, find my turkey.= The boys walked away and paid no more attention to the old man or look for his turkey. A few weeks later, old Arab= s camel was stolen. This time the sons went to the old man and said, > Father, your camel has been stolen? What shall we do?= > Forget about the camel. Find my turkey= the old Arab told his sons. The sons did not bother about the turkey but looked for the camel for a few days and soon they forgot about the camel too. Another few weeks later the old Arab= s horse was stolen.

The sons once again went to their father and said, > Father, your horse has been stolen, what shall we do?= > Forget about the horse. Find my turkey.= the old man replied. The sons again did not bother about the turkey but looked for the horse in the neighborhood. Again, after a few days the sons forgot about the horse too. Finally a few weeks later old Arab= s daughter was raped. The sons were furious, went to father and said, > Father, our sister has been raped. We shall kill the bastard.= The old man looked at his sons and said, > No use showing your temper now. It is all because of the turkey. Once they found out that they can get away with the turkey, everything was lost.=

Muslims make sure that they don't let the turkey be stolen. So when they feel even the slightest infarction on their religion they react violently and full force.

They also follow the example of another legendary Arab lore of the Camel and the Arab where the camel starts with putting his nose in the tent and then ends up sleeping inside the tent while the Arab is outside.

They know if they can just get the nose in they would end up with the whole enchilada.

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