“If Muslims revered cattle…” - excerpt
Alert reader Shefaly pointed me in the direction of this piece by Rod Liddle in the Sunday Times of UK “If Muslims revered cattle, Shambo would still be mooing” re. Shambo, a bull in Wales that had tested positive for tuberculosis. Shambo was executed by lethal injection on Thursday (26th) night despite protests from the Hindu community.
A brief excerpt from Rod’s article (emphasis mine):
“…I wonder…if the members of the (Welsh) assembly would have dared to make their decision if it were Muslims rather than Hindus who chose to revere cattle?
And what would have happened if they did? By now there would be priests set alight from Jakarta to Rabat, effigies burnt, fatwas issued. Cardiff airport would be missing an international departure gate.
The assembly would probably have come up with a compromise: okay, the bull lives but it has to wear a burqa when it goes out.
I suppose Britain’s Hindus can console themselves with the thought that having their sensibilities trampled on suggests they are a community with whom the rest of us feel at ease and can thus victimise with impunity.“
Sounds eerily familiar.
See also: Of “Sacred Bulls”, Divinity & Development
Dear Shantanu,
I missed out on this post, but it is very apparent that the “Hindu” is targeted, because he welcomes! He does not reject for what you are or your belief, he welcomes as you are.
It is tragic that this wecome or the fact that this way of life defines a guest as divine; “Athithi Devo Bhava”!
Consider a guest as God. Why? because if you believe in “God” you would not like to illtreat him.
In the same manner, you would not like to illtreat a guest.
That is the culture of this way of life. That is the reason that “Hindus’ are treated callously.
Today many are understanding the greatness and beauty of the painting and appreciating it. They are not willing to compromise on certain issues and they are called Fundamentalist.
Today this greatness of “Welcome” is appreciated by an English reporter!! What a development.
I am sure as time passes this overwhelming beauty of this way of life will be felt by all and they will be able to come to terms and accept it as theirs.
Regards,
vck
Comment by v.c.krishnan | June 9, 2008