Oh My God

what a sizzling piece!
Loved the concluding quote.
Cheers.

-E

"Therefore, it’s quite preposterous to think that an octogenarian (or is it nonagenarian?) painter can insult the very embodiment of Shakti or that..."

The geriatric artist has been a brave crusader when painting nude goddesses. But previously when a few Muslim clerics objected to the words of one single song from his movie "Meenaxi" he pulled the movie entirely without a word of protest. So much for his artistic integrity!

this was a great read!

"So, what do we do to remedy the situation? "

Well one way is to point out how they use freedom of speech themselves. For instance doesn't the Koran insult Kaffirs ? Should it therefore be banned ?

Another is to assert that ideas musn't be countered by force but by other ideas. And that in a civilized society nobody has the right to impose their views on others.

A third is to write articles like this one( and I thank you for it).

Shoaib,

India still pampers to the pre-modern tendency of hurt feeling. Every other simpleton can claim as u rightly said.

They banned Salman Rushdie's Book. They banned Prof Jha's book (Hindus' beef eating habits) and recently they deleted a page of Tasleema's book. They never had stomach to say that 'if u dont like it, dont read it' kinda reply.

Jesus is poked fun at in the west. National flags are used as undies and chappals. Nobody cares.

In India we cant do that coz every other guy gets hurt. There's in fact competition to claim as hurt becoz we've govts that over-react.

Very well written.

very well articulated. :)

#4
"Well one way is to point out how they use freedom of speech themselves. For instance doesn't the Koran insult Kaffirs ? Should it therefore be banned ?"


It's amazing how you guy attach a value/norm to a religion which never claimed to have adopted it ever.

Such values, as freedom n nouns connected to it, have always been western by default.

Does Koran ever say: "... aur tum ko bolney aur karney ki ijazat hai, jo bhi tum chaho!".

besides, if it's your value/norm you should practise it. And let the Muslims practise theirs. Each to his own practise, each takes his own responsibility. Does that make sense, huh?
-E

"if it's your value/norm you should practise it. And let the Muslims practise theirs"

Wow!! so if nazi norm was to gas jews and the jewish norm was to let germans be, then jews should have simply allowed nazis to perform their norm and willingly entered gas chambers eh ?

At this point I have to wonder whether you are just too dumb to comprehend the implications of your own views or do you really support blasphemy and censorship laws?

Publius,

your problem arises from your blindness, pal! Read my last sentence! I wrote: "does that make sense?"
I was merely exploring an old form of argument-explaination; my tone was satirical, my words argumentative. But since dumbness is your middle name, you couldn't get it.

Sad-sad situation hai boss!
-E

Publius,

Wow!! so if nazi norm was to gas jews and the jewish norm was to let germans be, then jews should have simply allowed nazis to perform their norm and willingly entered gas chambers eh ?

I forget his name but someone said, "had Gandhi been a Jew, he would have ended up as a lampshade."

Regards

Majumdarda,

Me thinks the quote was, "If the Brits had been Nazis, Gandhi would have ended up as a lampshade."

However, even I can't recall the name of the speaker.

Cheers,
Shoaib

#10

your quotation aparantly sounds right, though I know not in what context it was said. But it poses a question as well: "did Gandhi ever have balls to bear a Nazi beating?"

I think Nazis couldn't be seduced by Gandhi ji, like Englishmen did, for a Brown sahib-led Independence. So much for an Indian pride, no?
-E

Shoaib bhai,

Thanks for the correction.

Regards

I really liked your article. You made your points really well.
People objecting to everything is not new in India. Unfortunately this round seems to have begun with the Satanic Verses. Since then, it appears to have become a challenge to other Indians, "I can get more offended than you."
There is respecting the sentiments of the public, and then there is a super-sensitive public. I actually think India is too tolerant of these super-sensitive people who form a relative minority, and we as a nation should stop hearing them out.
We are a nation of champion whingers. No one complains enough about the shortage of water and electricity, the bad roads, the poor health and education systems...all the interest is focussed on other people's intellectual property instead.

Very nice article full of punch,Can only come from person like shoib

Shoaib, can you please reproduce your blog post about the Mangalore violence here?