doesn't Akbar mean great?

Looks like you're right, Bingley. Your suggestion brought to mind the Arab rallying cry I remember from the movie "Lawrence of Arabia", namely:

"Allahu Akbar" (an islamic phrase in arabic meaning "God is great". ... )

BTW I am reverting to my peaceable, original persona Plutarch in the sincere hope that neither Carpathian, nor any other nom de guerre, will have reason to return to answer any improvident bellicosity.

> BTW I am reverting to my peaceable persona Plutarch in the sincere hope that neither Carpathian, nor any other nom de guerre, need return to answer any improvident bellicosities.

Plutarch, if your new persona had simply apppeared and got on with normal postings no-one would have raised an eyebrow - it's only the constant harping on the same tired old stuff about how unfair and out of step the whole rest of the world is (and chatter about irrelevant stuff like Paris Hilton) that makes it so demonstrably tedious for many others. For my part - and I have never tried to speak for anyone else - I am perfectly happy to refrain from any combat - all I have ever been interested here is discourse with more-or-less like minded people with diverse backgrounds and intellectual perspectives. But the quid pro quo is that you also refrain from your passive-aggressive postings about the nature of this forum. It is what it is, made so collectively by the people who post here, and nothing will alter that, whatever one individual wishes or tries to enforce.

it's only the constant harping on the same tired old stuff about how unfair and out of step the whole rest of the world is

The only one who is "harping" is you, Maverick.

If you prefer to discuss this further with Carpathian, keep it up.

You get one free taunt. You've just had it.

I think you misunderstand - my intention was not to taunt but to accept your proposition. <shrug>

my intention was not to taunt but to accept your proposition. <shrug>

Take heart, Maverick. If we make peace, which is my wish, the real winner is not me. And it is not you. It is the Board.

I've always enjoyed sparring with you Maverick. But I confess I enjoyed it most when it was entirely without animosity on either side.

Looking back over time, that represents most of our exchanges.

I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

~John Newton (1779)

PBS did a special about 10 years ago on how this song came to be written. Interesting that it's not an old folk song, yet I know three melodies (four if you count shape-note) for it.

I thank the board, and the padre, for finding this reference in my post.
always have loved this hymnal