Ronn!Blankenship wrote: > > > > > IOW, why should I "fight fair" in > > > defending the good > > > aspects of a symbol if others do not fight fair in contaminating it? > > > > Only one reason would make sense: that you believe in fighting fair and > > do not wish to pattern your behaviour on other people's less than > > stellar behaviour. > > "Nice guys finish last," hunh? ;-)
Zigackly! *g* > > The use of Om and Vedic Hymns in the orgy scenes of Kubrick's last movie > > [_Eyes Wide Shut_? Can't recall the name but it was something like that > > and starred Kidman and Cruise] would fall in the latter example. I > > recall a lot of people got offended over here. > > Yes, that was the title. I did not see that film, so I didn't know about > the music used. You probably wouldn't have noticed the hymns or the Gita shlokas. Though I think 'Om' might be a familiar enough word - it is often used as the chant for satanic cults in Hollywood movies. :) I did see the movie, primarily to see what had people marching on the streets, and I'll say one thing: the pronounciation of the Sanskrit verses was flawless. It was also a very nice rendition with the tabla and the tanpura. > Unfortunately, it may be more than just an issue of "offense": sometimes > it may be a safety issue. <snippage of the examples> That is true and apparently the precise problem some of my friends in the US are facing. They are Sikhs and their turbans and beards have suddenly become a security problem for them. Some of them chose to cut their hair and shave their beards. Others prefer to take the risk of being mistaken for an Arab by some lunatic bigot than to abjure the marks of their religious identity. It is sad and reprehensible the way some people react to differences but I can't think of any answer other than an individual assessment of the importance of openly displaying your symbols and the environment you are living in. The best answer, of course, would be everyone learning to respect both the differences and the essential sameness. But I am not holding my breath, waiting for that day to dawn. :) Ritu _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
