I was stopped today by a man missing a tooth who tried to make me accept the leaflet of the Word or at least a casette containing spiritual songs in front of Anttila. Five minutes later a woman tried to give me the same leaflet.
Why do they do this? Is it the same motivations as when you're very happy and wish to share the feeling with the rest of the world to make them feel happy, too? Do they do it because that what Christianity and possibly especially their church requires spreading the Word? Or do they get paid for that (I seriously doubt this theory, though)? Why do people in general try to make others share their view of the world, force their interpretation (usually just downright rigid and strict and narrow-minded) of this world upon them? Do they get some kind of satisfaction out of it? Out of converting people to intolerance and hatred? Out of feeling superior to those they see as unworthy of place next to their omnipotent and forgiving and kind god they have turned into whatever suits that particular group the best? Do they think they will get a place in some paradise by pushing their intolerant view to other people, thus creating only more hate and hypocrisy?
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The 10th of October, the day of Book and Rose, and the day of Finnish literature, passed a while ago. I plea not guilty of betrayel to a mitigating factor cleverly disguised as an anatomy examination. And next weekend will be the book fair in Helsinki. I wish I could go there but I can't. Instead I can give you a list of books by black writers I think are worth reading. The "very much worth reading" I marked with several asterisks.
Chinua Achebe: A Man of the People (Kansan mies)
***Maya Angelou: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
***James Baldwin: Go Tell It on the Mountain (Mene ja kerro se vuorilla)
***Alex Haley: Roots (Juuret)
***Toni Morrison: The Bluest Eye (Sinisimmät silmät)
Ken Saro-Wiwa: Sozaboy
***Alice Walker: The Color Purple (Häivähdys purppuraa)
