WEB
POSTED 04-24-2001
The Meaning of F.O.I.
One day last week, a call came in to THE FINAL CALL
and was routed to me. The gentleman on the phone identified himself as
a representative of one of the more interesting new shows on
television�"WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE". With the
apparent motive of trying to structure one or more interesting
questions concerning The Nation, he told me he was seeking some
information regarding, "the men, called Fruit Of Islam, who guard
Minister Farrakhan". I quickly and politely informed him that
this title was not reserved for a particular class of Muslim men, but
referred to all men and boys who are members of The Nation of Islam.
He thanked me, and hung up. I sensed immediately that my answer did
not fit the line of questioning intended on that show. The vast
majority of reporters � print and electronic � have continually
identified the FOI, directly or by innuendo, as a specially trained
"goon squad", set apart from the other male members of The
Nation. This is not done out of lack of information. The files of
every bonafide member of the press corp in America and throughout the
world contain accurate descriptions of the makeup and activities of
the FOI. This particular individual may not have known, but it is a
cinch that his superiors know, and could have apprized him of the true
makeup and function of the FOI. The Fruit Of Islam is composed of all
men and boys in the Nation of Islam. There is a vast difference
between members of the Fruit Of Islam and the members of society at
large who are classified as "fruits". They are, in fact,
directly opposed!
Some of the botanical descriptions of
"fruit", according to the prestigious OXFORD ENGLISH
DICTIONARY, are:"The seed of a plant or tree, regarded as the
means of reproduction, together with its envelope",
"Anything accruing, produced, or resulting from an action or
effort, the operation of a cause, etc." "...A result, issue,
consequence (singular or plural)".
The Botanical definition given by WEBSTER includes:
"The mature ovary of a plant or tree, including the seed, its
envelope and any closely connected parts, as the pit and flesh of a
peach, or a pea and its pod; The young of animals or man �
offspring, as the fruit of the womb or of the loins."
Genesis 1:12 reads, "The earth brought forth
vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and
trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its own
kind."
So the FRUIT contains the wherewithal to guarantee
the continuation of the species � not only the seeds, but the
necessary nutrients to keep the seeds alive and developing, until they
are mature enough to produce the next generation.
This is the responsibility of any sort of fruit,
and it is only natural that they assume it. As one writer pointed out,
"The whole plant works for the fruit". This is because the
future of this and other plants rests upon the seed, which is being
protected and nurtured by the fruit surrounding it.
Now, we know our duty � and we are responsible
for what we know!
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