So here’s a question you can ponder for a moment. If you could be granted an opportunity to have a conversation with three people from anytime in history, including the present day, who would you talk to?
I gave that question some thought when it was put to me a while back. I can think of a great many people that I’d like to have a conversation with. But how would those conversations go, what would I ask?
I’d like an opportunity to ask Jesus Christ if he’s happy with the things that are done in his name. I would search his every sentence and expression looking for proof that he was a normal guy and not the perfect virginal religious super-hero character of stain glass windows that seems absolutely unapproachable to me. “Are you happy with the way it’s all turned out Jesus?” I might ask.
Mahatma Gandhi is unmistakably one of histories most recognizable figures of peace, famous for his non-aggressive protests against the British in India. He was assassinated in January 1947 for essentially believing that no-one was better than anybody else. His is truly a David and Goliath tale and his influence on the world would surely make him a compelling man to talk to.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Said Martin Luther King, Jr. But had he not been shot and killed I think that history would likely look upon this man very differently. I’ve read and listened to many of King’s speeches and find him to be profoundly inspiring. “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.” I can pull these quotes from memory because I have at times leant on these words myself. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” I’d be fascinated to have a conversation with the man who said, “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
There would be others if the list were longer. The Dalai Lama, Elvis, Tank Man (from Tianamin Square), Amelia Earhart, Henry Ford, even Hitler, if only to see if his dangerous lunacy is apparent in conversation. There are many more I could name, but I think the three I chose might not change for a long time. So given the opportunity to choose three people, who would you talk to?
Wrote the following comment on Jul 3, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Great question.
I’d love to ask Mallory if he actually made it to the top.
Rene if he still thinks that thinking determines being.
And I’d just like to go for a pint with George W, deplorable politics aside, I’d say that he’s good craic on a lads night out.
Regarding Hitler, I’m guessing you’d find him eerily persuasive.
Something tells me that Henry Ford would be insufferably dull though.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 3, 2008 at 6:36 pm
All your choices were all killed for what they believed!
I would like to talk to Marilyn Monroe, Diana Princess of Wales, and Mother Teresa.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 4, 2008 at 12:08 am
We were talking about this earlier, having given it some further thought I’m sticking with my original 3.
Gandhi
Malcolm X
Socrates
Wrote the following comment on Jul 4, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I’d speak to Christ, my dad, and either Paul or Queen Elizabeth.
I’d speak to Christ about the things i have a hard time hearing him on… or rather the things I’ve felt He showed me that I have a hard time accepting in my life.
I’d speak to my dad for so many reasons…. really an endlist list of reasons I wont go in to now.
Now as far as Paul goes, I’d like to pick his brain a little on the role of women in the church….but then there’s Queen Elizabeth. I think she was a magnificent leader and I would like to know any insight she had as a single woman leading a nation.
I guess the 3 choices are very telling of who we are..but there ya go. Nice picks as well simon.. 3 amazing guys.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 4, 2008 at 11:29 pm
a twist on “who would you invite to dinner?” i like this. i’ll need to think on it. jesus would be on the list, no doubt.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 5, 2008 at 12:00 am
I initially had Jesus as my first candidate, but as I thought about it, I figured that if I can’t hear him now, I probably wouldn’t hear him very well in person. I would likely ask him some question that I thought was critical and he would either respond with another question or he would give me an answer that I wasn’t expecting and in both scenarios I would be puzzled, stunned, and left to ponder my shallowness and egoism.
So, this leaves me with the following three figures:
1. Irenaeus, a 2nd century Church Father, and one of the first theologians of Christianity. To this day, the word “irenic” means moving toward peace or reconciling, since Irenaeus was known as one who was willing to listen to others and find points of commonality even as he delineated differences. Also, Irenaues articulated some interesting ideas about the nature of salvation that is often overlooked by the larger Church.
2. Julian of Norwhich, a 14th century Church mystic who wrote a work called “The Showings of Divine Love” based upon a series of visions she had wherein she received a word that “all will be well”
3. C.S. Lewis, a 20th century English scholar, and Xian apologist. I imagine kicking back with him in a pub, smoking a pipe, cigars, whatnot, and discussing theology, philosophy, and the human condition. Oh yeah, he did that whole “Chronicles of Narnia: thing as well. :-)
Wrote the following comment on Jul 6, 2008 at 1:45 am
Good question this. A few friends and I had a conversation surrounding this question as we played golf this morning.
Like Rachel, I think I would like to talk to my father but not as his son, just as another guy. He died when I was a young man and I never really got to know him in any other capacity other than the rather overbearing breadwinner figure in the house.
Ludwig van Beethoven would be someone I would like to talk to. I love music and I think I would enjoy chatting with a musical influence. I couldn’t decide between Beethoven, Lennon, Elvis or Bono, in the end it was Ludwig because I’ve read a lot about those other guys and what made/makes them tick.
I’d like to have a conversation with Edward R. Murrow. Working in the media world this guy is a bit of a hero to me. You like quoting King, well if you haven’t already read about Murrow Simon, you should do. He is also very quotable.
“Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit.”
“We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.”
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
Thanks for posing such an interesting conversation piece though Simon. My friends and I threw around all kinds of names and why we would like to talk to them. I can’t remember who all we talked of but I do remember the list included Buddha, Thomas Paine, William the Conqueror, Ronald Reagan, and Osama bin Laden!
Wrote the following comment on Jul 6, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Rather than conversation – I would love to be a fly on the wall watching Monet paint and Bach compose…such brilliance! And just for a bit; because you know I love my creature comforts, I would like to be a princess in a castle…during Medieval times
Not quite the question you asked; but my answer none-the-less.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 7, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I am struggling for 3 people as that would need a lot of thought. However one that would be on my list would have to be Ayrton Senna.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 8, 2008 at 1:59 am
Jane Goodall. Because I want to find out if she really loved gorillas or if she just had too many bad experiences with men!
The guy who stole my luggage from my hotel room in Sydney. I want to give that guy a big ol’ hug.
Forrest Gump.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 10, 2008 at 1:38 am
While I don’t believe in Jesus’s magical powers, archaeological evidence shows that he did exist. Given everything that’s gone on in his name in the past 2,000+ years, I think, yeah, he’d be interesting to talk to. My questions would be somewhat different from yours, though:
1. I’d ask Jesus about the sandals. They don’t look very comfortable!
2. So what was up with Mary and your conception? Did you come from a toilet seat, or what?
3. What’s up with Mel Gibson?
Gotta go. My hair just burst into flames.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 10, 2008 at 1:41 am
Good question, I would love to talk to Jesus, but I think more than talk I’d just love to hear him talk, look into His eyes and watch Him. I’d love to talk to John Eldredge (he’s alive) an author I love. And I’d love another day with my grandmother. She was an artist who loved much and loved me greatly. Everyone felt loved by her, it was very evident at her funeral.
Thanks for sharing.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 11, 2008 at 11:32 pm
good question.
after pondering i reckon my 3 are all related to answering questions!
firstly neil armstrong – was it staged and what was it like if it was real.
secondly Dianna or Dodi – what really happened and was she pregnant. (i would love to think she was because what a cat amongst the pigeons that would have been!)
thirdly God (with a capital ‘G’) – is the answer really 42?