*Vol.2, Ch.II, Sec.B - "Happy Birthday O Womb-Man"

Chapter II
“Licensed to Live”
Mind

Section B
“Happy Birthday O Womb-Man”

An Art Video on DVD
(Please find this DVD in the below sleeve)
· This is an art-video based on an expressive writing and animation of purposefully taken photographs
· Written form of what is spoken on the DVD is on the next page and also on line:
http://parvaneh-farid.blogspot.com/2007/11/happy-birthday.html
· This presentation is also found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGGZuhJ0bos

“Happy Birthday O Womb-Man”
(Farid 2008)
Written form of what is spoken on the DVD


Happy birthday, O Womb-man
Up to now, the cast of the womb of your mother
has been trying to mould you after your father,
and as from now on,
society will try its best to shape you to the order of its desire.

as from now, you will be brought up as an obedient citizen
who shall desire nothing but what others have…

You will follow the same path that others have trodden before…
and like a carriage, you shall only be following the others on the railway.


Happy birthday, O man and welcome aboard…
That your stupidity will be your only saviour,
and your imitation will be your only means of protection.


Never ask an unpredictable question,
Never expect an answer that is not in the form of a cliché.
In fact you will be safer if you never ask any questions at all...

Never wish what others don't,
Never think of what others haven't yet,
and if you could be wise enough to take my advice,
you would never think of thinking at all…

....Because the path has already been laid out before you,
and you are so privileged to be invited to walk along it,
so I should not step out, if I were you…

So, with closed eyes, deaf ears, dumb tongue and a dim mind,
if you do not mind,
walk along the same path on which many have trodden many times, before you…

A path that offers you no surprises, but a path which is safe and sound…
a path that gets you where they wish you to end,
and is it not what you should wish too???

Happy birthday, O Womb-man, and I shall tell you that…
you will be more of a “man”, if you could be more of the “kind”