Ar |
| Artwork by Tarek Chemaly - Emperor of Habsbourg decoration |
Anklopfzeremonie - the knocking ceremony.
What?
OK here's the story: During the burial ceremony of Otto Von Habsburg in 2011 the knocking ceremony was perpetuated. The cortege carrying his casket knocks on the church doors and the friar asks from inside "who demands entry?. The reply enlists his grand pompous titles "Archduke of Austria, Crown Prince of Austro-Hungary, Royal Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, Lodomeria and Illyria" along with other such grand names.
The friar replies "we know him not". Then asks again "who demands entry?"
This is when the earthly achievements are enumerated, along with this political acts, his shortened titles, his academic ones, and his acts towards society or what not.
The friar once more goes "we know him not" which brings the question again "who demands entry?"
This is when the third knock comes "Otto, our sinful mortal brother". "So let him enter" is the answer.
If I say this, you'll know why. All your titles, all your bragging with sunglasses indoors (seriously?), all your appointments to new positions, and on and on. Sometimes I wonder if you know how silly you look. Obviously you don't. You brag about anything and everything. Good for you. But the more I look at you, the more pity I have. In the end you are just "sinful (and) mortal". Forget sinful I am not a religious zealot, but mortal you surely are.
Oh, and forgettable too.