h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Six months ago I did write a story about my visit in a town, where I once (1971) lived as a boy (20 years) in an abandoned house in the attic for a few months.

The music of Cat Stevens was of great comfort and inspiration for me.
I had three L.P.’s (“Long Plays”- vinyl) and all of these were from Cat Stevens.
I loved his voice, the spirit of love and finding ones own inner self, the rebellion against the conventional world, etc.
All in a kind of “romantic way”; philosophically spoken


When I was thrown out of the house and was wandering in the “wild world” I came to know a young girl who still lived with her parents and was still going to school. She was about seventeen.

As I went on in my own journey through life I did not meet her again after three months.
After thirty years, however, she suddenly came in my mind and heart and I did put an advert in a national newspaper and I got what I was searching.

When we met – about 2000 – she told me, she just had thrown away three L.P. music albums of Cat Stevens, that I had apparently given to her with the credo; “it’s rather useless to posses music albums if one doesn’t even have a sleeping place”.

After that first meeting around 2000 we do meet each other a few times a year and e-mail regularly every week about personal things.
She also visited an exhibition of my black & white paintings in 2005.

She’s married with the first friend after me and she’s a mother of two mature children, who just left their home this year to start a life on their own.


I cannot write about these items right now without getting a bit confused, so I’ll end by posting a few links of my stories at HG, that relate to Cat Stevens.

Finally; I don’t like the guy any more. Certainly not after he wrote a national hymn for the Taliban at their request and – for me and to me –
he seems to be hiding himself behind a book and dogma’s and in that mix and that attitude there is no space for democracy, only theocracy of whatever religion.

James Blunt has become for me the Cat Stevens of the new Millennium and he did sing “wild world” at the Diana Memory Concert this year. I liked it, just as much as I liked the person Cat Stevens and his music in the seventies.
I’m grateful for that, but I do not feel any enthusiasm when I see and hear “Yusuf Islam”.
The (music of) Cat Stevens of the seventies I loved, but after that, not my cup of tea.

My stories at H2G2, related to this topic about Cat Stevens;

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and
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Greetings from Amsterdam

Alfredo, December 2007.

The man has made memories and meanings for a great number of people. Myself included. I still very happily listen to his tunes that I own, with the message of those days that he conveyed. But I do agree with you in that I would find it difficult to accept new ideas and songs as easily. I think he is, and always been, a very good man. But like many others, been led along roads that I don't agree with.

Greetings from Canada

Confusion is indeed creating it's own "order".
I wrote the wrong links.

My stories at H2G2, related to the topic about Cat Stevens;


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and

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Greetings from Amsterdam,

Alfredo, December 2007.

I must admit, I was motivated by the recent release of a Cat Stevens best hits cd when I wrote this.

I didn't want to be drawn into his religious beliefs as I know nothing about Islam, and my ignorance would soon become clear - but as it is an intregral part of his life, it is impossible to ignore entirely.

My memories are from being a teenager girl, very drawn to his singing and his good looks

Thank you Alfredo, I shall read your links


lil xx

It is from all times always difficult to integrate a black spot at a person you admire, so to speak.

Social psychology says this, about such a problem.



Most of the times - according to psychology - men act like this.

1. Me - Islam = negative, "-"

2. Me - Cat Stevens = positive, "+"

3. Cat Stevens - Islam = positive, "+"

This combination of two times a "+" and one time "-" is hard to digest.We start to feel a little nervous, so to speak.


So we humans try to create a triangle of just one "+" by saying;

"Well,Cat Stevens is not really a Muslim. He's a European man who's just interested for a while in Islam. He is interested in world peace and not so much in religion.
So in this case the "+" between Cat Stevens and Islam becomes "-" and a triangle with twice "-" and just one "+" is a situation that's easy to cope with for all of us.

Another option is, that one starts to distance from him; "Well, he's from the sixties. I never really liked him. I'm not surprised"

The triangle becomes like this;

Me - Islam = negative

Me - Cat Stevens = negative

Cat Stevens - Islam = positive

Again a triangle of twice "-" and one "+"




And the last option that can be digested easier than a situation of
"-" and "-" and "+" is to start saying;

"Well, the culture of Islam is not always that primitive. Kabul was during the Middle Ages in Europe a very modern city.
Islam is mainly positive".
This attitude creates a triangle with "+" and "+" and "+"



So one can shift in a triangle the "+" and "-" ; that will not create difficulties in our mind.
It's the number of "+" and "-" that makes us feel ambivalent and seduces us to "re-arrange" it into a comfortable triangle of two "+"
and one "-".


So, only one "+" and two "-" in a triangle will always irritate us.

In every situation there are many "triangles".


This is just a posting of mine, spontaneously. No more than that.


Warm greetings from cold and dark Amsterdam

I believe he is a man deeply rooted within his religion.

As a humanitarian he has done a lot work for others

Sorry; I must rewrite the last sentences.





And the last option that can be digested easier than a situation of
"-" and "+" and "+" is to start saying;

"Well, the culture of Islam is not always that primitive. Kabul was during the Middle Ages in Europe a very modern city.
Islam is mainly positive".
This attitude creates a triangle with "+" and "+" and "+"



One can shift within a triangle the "+" and "-" ; that will not create difficulties in our state of mind.

It's the number of "+" and "-" that makes us feel ambivalent and seduces us to re-arrange it into a comfortable triangle of two "-"
and one "+".


So, only one "-" and two "+" in any triangle will always irritate us.


In every situation there are many "triangles".

This is just a posting of mine, spontaneously. No more than that.



Warm greetings from cold and dark Amsterdam

Alfredo, I'm a little bit confuse by what you are trying to tell me


I'm glad you enjoyed my Guide Entry .. but now it is late, and I really must get some sleep..

Goodnight love


lil xx

Yes, I'm getting confused myself too.

That talk about the social triangle suddenly came into my mind and it really makes sense if one has come to know it.

But, it's off topic AND very late.

I'll try to sleep.

Good times for all of you.

I have that effect on people..

Goodnight Alfredo

And Very Best Wishes for the New Year



lil xx

Alfredo...
You say that you don't like the fact that Yusuf Islam wrote a national Anthem for the Taliban in Afghanistan I presume.

Let us not forget that prior to 9/11, the west supported the Taliban in their fight against a Russian invasion.

Cat Stevens doesn't seem to be Wahabi himself, so you shouldn't hold that against him. His songs on his new album as Yusuf are still anti establishment only they are specifically aimed at peaceful methods, I think there is only one song on there that is totally religious but even that one works both for Christians and Muslims alike, the rest of his songs are more Spiritual than his old stuff. Seems to be after the same things only from a more mature perspective.

I wonder why that could be? Oh he is older.

Most musicians musical style changes with age, I don't see as Islam should take the rap for it. Would you suddenly stop liking your favourite musician if they suddenly came out as gay. Same kind of thing!
Regards their changing perspective.

Yes, a popstar with a sudden "black spot" creates problems in the hearts and minds of his fans, as I described in some postings above.

When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan they asked him to write a national anthem and he did.

But I refuse to dislike his songs in the 60's and 70's. That would ne another victory of the Taliban.

I'm grateful for his three albums that I liked (he made more, I know).
These were uplifting and inspiring.