A Talking Picture Page #5

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The English language

has colonized the world,

and today we all need to speak...

English.

But it was not the basis

of our civilization.

Greece was the cradle

of our civilization.

You're right, Helen.

Greek is only spoken in Greece.

This table is an exception to the rule.

Outside Greece, nobody speaks Greek.

Perhaps not the language,

but Greece is still

the cradle of civilization

and will be

as long as the world goes around.

It's a civilization

that's been forgotten.

And with it,

fraternity and the rights of man

and the utopian ideals

of the French Revolution.

Later adopted by the US.

But they're also being forgotten,

as is happening on other continents,

like Europe,

not to speak of Africa.

No civilization lasts forever.

Time will tell how best to preserve

the memory of the past.

That's how

Alexander the Great saw it

when,

under the influence of Aristotle,

he decided to found a universal library.

Built after his death.

Exactly.

Built and destroyed in Alexandria.

And then lost forever.

But what I find most curious

is the case of the Arabs,

who, having spread Greek culture

in Europe and beyond,

were the ones to destroy it,

burning all the books

in the blindness

of their religious fervor.

The beginnings of fundamentalism,

which is everywhere today.

However, the Arabs

also founded a great culture.

Now it is in decline.

What haunts the Arab world nowadays

is the development

of the West,

with its many technical advances

and scientific progress.

This creates

religious prejudice,

which is what divides us.

What is needed

between East and West

are convergent values.

The question is not one of politics

but of civilization.

Politics create civilization,

and action creates history.

The sad history of humanity.

The sins of the fathers

are visited upon the sons.

Long before the Tower of Babel,

it all started with original sin.

That's a good idea.

I would quickly

open another supermarket

or a warehouse or something.

Brilliant. Good idea.

I'll be your first customer.

Unless you want me as a partner.

Oh, no. A sailor?

Never.

You command your ship

and I'll command my business.

Very well.

What are you talking about?

Our polyglot interaction.

Don't you find it extraordinary?

Extraordinary.

Why are they all so cheerful, Mommy?

Perhaps it's a birthday party.

Are we already in another sea?

Yes, Maria Joana.

This is the Red Sea.

Is it really red?

They call it red because

in some places it has red coral,

but now it's night

and we can't see land or sea.

We have our back to Africa,

and we're facing Arabia,

the land of the Arabs.

- Who are the Arabs?

- The Arabs?

We must go far back in time,

all the way back to antiquity,

to the days of Abraham.

Abraham had a son, Ishmael,

by the slave girl Agar.

Then he had another son

by his wife Sara whom they called Isaac.

Sara persuaded Abraham

to cast out Ishmael,

because he was not her son.

So Ishmael and his mother

went out into the desert,

and from Ishmael are descended

the Arabs, or Ishmaelites.

What are we?

- We, who?

- You and me.

We're Portuguese.

What else would we be?

- Then what happened?

- Then there were many wars.

- Did lots of people die?

- Lots.

But that's how nations are born.

- Including the Portuguese?

- Yes, all nations.

Why were men so wicked?

That's how it was.

They weren't really wicked.

They were people like us.

Lust for power leads to war.

That's our nature.

- What do you mean, nature?

- How can I explain?

It's like being hungry

or wanting something very much.

Suppose you had a doll

and someone tried to take it away.

You'd hold it tight to keep it.

Understand?

It's more or less like that.

I think so. But if I had a doll,

would they try and take it?

No, darling, of course not.

Then I can ask you in Portuguese.

Tell me frankly, Captain.

Would you mind

if I decline your kind invitation?

We would prefer

to be just the two of us.

Yes, we do. Bombay.

Why not?

We are going to join her father,

who is an airline pilot

and my husband.

My father's name is Joo Amorim.

The crew changes at Bombay,

and we're then going

to take a vacation together.

It's a logical question,

but I have a good reason.

My name is Rosa Maria.

I'm a history professor

at Lisbon University,

and I'm on this cruise

to visit in person

the places I talk about with my students

but know only from books.

It's been a wonderful trip.

Do you say that because

I speak to people so openly?

Thank you, Captain.

Yes.

Mommy, aren't you

going to introduce me?

How do you do, dear girl?

I'm Captain John,

at your service.

I'm Maria Joana.

I'll be eight soon.

I'm going to join my daddy in Bombay.

Very good, Maria Joana.

You must give your daddy a big hug.

He speaks Portuguese too.

- I like him.

- He's very nice.

At the time of the discoveries,

the Portuguese tried in vain

to conquer this city several times.

- Were many people killed?

- There are always people killed in wars.

Do you know why they wanted

to invade the city?

To facilitate the sea route

for the ships that sailed to India.

Look. How lovely.

Shall we look?

- Do you like it?

- Yes.

Yes, we saw you talking

on the bridge this morning.

May I see?

Of course not.

Captain, how kind of you.

You shouldn't have.

Shall we take a look?

- Would you like a sweet?

- She loves sweets.

I want my doll.

It's your doll.

Nobody will take it.

Yes, I know who they are.

I've seen them

in magazines and on TV.

I understand.

Kilometer.

Telephone.

Utopia.

Philosophy.

We'd all be speaking Greek.

My daddy flies airplanes.

- Say that again.

- My daddy flies airplanes.

Little orange tree, thick with leaves

Where are your flowers

Where has your beauty gone

Where is your loveliness of old

The north wind rose up

And blew them all away

I beg you, north wind

Blow gently

Mommy, why is the captain leaving?

The captain?

We don't know, darling.

- Is the ship sinking?

- No, of course not.

If we sink,

who will look after my doll?

That won't be necessary.

Everything will be all right.

Come on.

Maria Joana!

Don't be afraid.

I'll look after you.

Come on, sweetheart.

Let's go. Come on.

I beg you, north wind

Blow gently

SkyFury

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