Restrictions on
freedoms of Muslims in so-called secular EU countries such as France and
Switzerland are a matter of concern for all civilized people. Although fully
uncovered women are free to walk on the streets, fully covered women can’t.
According to latest information the Swiss have stopped giving work visas to all
people from Muslim countries. It seems that the messages of religious extremism
and hatred embedded in western art and literature are getting triggered and
becoming active. I have previously pointed out the provocative nature of
illustrations in books such as Dante’s Divine Comedy and various religious war
paintings in Europe’s art galleries. Now I have come across a very disturbing
explanation of a popular nursery rhyme which may have subconsciously prepared
western citizens for religious discrimination and violence.
http://www.rhymes.org.uk/goosey_goosey_gander.htm
Goosey Goosey Gander poem
Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander,
Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.
Goosey Goosey Gander poem
Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander,
Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.
Goosey, Goosey Gander is a Rhyme with Historical undertones - an attention grabber for a nursery rhyme which uses alliteration in the lyrics designed to intrigue any child. The 'lady's chamber' was a room that once upon a time a high born lady would have her own chamber, (also referred to as a solar). The origins of the nursery rhyme are believed to date back to the 16th century and refer to necessity for Catholic priests to hide in 'Priest Holes' (very small secret rooms once found in many great houses in England) to avoid persecution from zealous Protestants who were totally against the old Catholic religion. If caught both the priest and members of any family found harbouring them were executed. The moral in Goosey Goosey Gander's lyrics imply that something unpleasant would surely happen to anyone failing to say their prayers correctly - meaning the Protestant Prayers, said in English as opposed to Catholic prayers which were said in Latin!
Our grateful thanks go to Stan Evans for the following additional information:
"I read that it referred to the post Civil War period (middle 17th century) and Cromwell's soldiers who marched in "goose-step", which gives the title and first line. Also, the version of the rhyme I heard had the third line as, "There I met an old man a-saying of his prayers". This referred to (as you mention) a Catholic, possibly a Priest, praying and the line: "I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs" alluded to the nickname "left-footer", that a Catholic is sometimes called in Britain. The overall meaning was that the Roundhead soldiers were searching out Catholics, particularly Priests, hiding in the houses of friends, and when found they were ill-treated".
Now, if such bigoted, sadistic, parochial or racial prejudices are embedded in the minds of the population through childhood education, it would not be difficult for an aspiring Hitler to transform one of the finest nations into Nazis or for a future Bush/Blair nexus to create the situation through which the world is passing today.
