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Yodamama.... Where are you?
buddhafoot
Veteran
I miss you.
-bf
-bf
0
Comments
Just wanted to make sure my buddy was okay and not upset with me for being such a jerk all the time
-bf
I just do sincerely worry about you being so anal retentive, vegan and catty. I just worry aboutcha, stinker.
-bf
Anywho, YogaMama, what's up with bf? You both have made several posts in the last few days in the I'm Terrified of Dying thread. So he knows you're "around." D'ya think he's trying to draw attention to you? I mean, he could communicate via Private Messages. Perhaps he's willing to share you with us, afterall? ---:vimp:
What do you think of these European newspapers and the cartoons? I'm not a thread starter, as I'm new at this internet group stuff. Do you think any good will come out of this publishing? I mean, even eventually?
Fondly,
Nirvana
I would have to disagree.
I have found that I have little tolerance for those who have no respect or tolerance for others and their beliefs, yet deem that their beliefs must be respected by all.
This is an international community and if they wish to be a part of it - they must learn tolerance and respect on their part. If you can't play nice, then stay to yourselves.
That's how I feel this morning without my first cup of coffee
Hows' everyone else doing?
-bf
Nothing is up with Yoda and I, Nirvana. Every once in awhile she tells me how hot I look with my six inch part I have going on in the middle of my head and how she "loves a man with a wooden leg" and I have to tell her I'm spoken for. So... I just check up on her every once in awhile.
Arrrrrrh!, boy-o!
-bf
"Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are: ultimately these are all we need. So long as we practice these in our daily lives, then no matter if we are learned or unlearned, whether we believe in Buddha or God, or follow some other religion, or none at all, as long as we have compassion for others and conduct ourselves with restraint out of a sense of responsibility, there is no doubt we will be happy."
My husband and I are always saying that this world would be a much better place of people just had more respect for each other.
And Nirvana...I can have more than one friend on here.
Riiiiiight........wooden leg or not, I only have room in my heart for one man - my hubby!!!
I responded to Fede's post just off the cuff... Now that I've had my first cup of coffee and am trying to use Right Mindfulness - I may be in contradiction with myself.
I still think that we are part of a global community. I fervently believe that you CANNOT ridicule and belittle other peoples beliefs yet still maintain that everyone else must respect your beliefs. It is just like a slap in the face to me. I don't like it. If you wish respect, you must give respect.
But, when I think of Buddha's teachings - I don't believe that is how I should be thinking. Buddha did not require that respect, compassion and tolerance be given before he would show respect, tolerance and compassion.
So, now I don't know what to think and it makes me re-evaluate how I think about issues like this - and my attachment to coffee.
Thanks, Yoda! Good question.
I just hate it when people make me re-think my thinking thing.
-bf
But that's better than going through life on "auto pilot" isn't it???
It's much easier to be on Auto-Pilot and just go through life - than to have to rethink your entire brain and ego for the greater good, silly.
-bf
As for these cartoons, I'm glad to hear there's some consensus that it's not right to be publishing them and rousing anger in the Islamic world. As for myself, I think it's always in bad taste to put others down. Very bad manners. Adults should model restraint and compassion and understanding.
Where will all this tackiness lead us?
I believe this is an open forum. You can post wherever you like
-bf
No contest for me. And I would point out that these people who are protesting in the streets for respect for their religion didn't say a word when the misguided amputee was openly preaching religious hatred in the heart of London.
Sauce for the goose. Want respect - then respect others.
Just throwing it in as a pointer...
Surely, it has to start somewhere.....
Bad things happen because good people let them.
Even Buddha came to the point where he didn't suffer idiots. Those that cast insults at him - he left them with what they prepared.
I'm not saying that these people throwing the fits need to have something done to them - just let them wallow in their anger. If they decide they wish to play nice with everyone else - they might have to learn respect.
As a Buddhist - I believe compassion should come into play. As for the rest of the world - I can't blame them one bit.
-bf
It's WRONG to stir up trouble, SIMPLY WRONG to court insults, etc. Let "artists" do whatever they will, that's a different issue: freedom of "speech."
But Freedom of speech is different from freedom of the press. The individual has the right to speak the truth as he or she sees it, and the press should be allowed to print that "truth." However, what is really happening here, as anyone can access the cartoons via the Internet, is that the press is getting involved in making the news, not just reporting it. The newspapers are taking a stand, which THEY KNOW will offend many, many (shall I say "literal-minded") Muslim people. (As if to say to these precious brothers and sisters of ours, "HA HA, you're all so derned literal-minded, now look at this stuff! Your so-called prophet is a pimp and a twit and a ...). Shameless.
Ah the number of trees they kill to print this rubbish which serves no good purpose at all!
It's interesting that Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of Religion are all three mentioned in the American constitution's First Amendment. Also Notice that this same amendment adresses peaceable assemblies:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
We aren't allowed to make jokes about Islam. Why not? We make jokes about Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans ..... do we refrain from making jokes about Muslims because they have bombs and guns and tell us not to? That doesn't seem very reasonable.
The ability to laugh at oneself is a sign of maturity and security. This situation reminds me of a friend's daughter who was at that time a spoilt, self-centred little madam who had a vicious tongue and used sarcasm as her weapon of choice. One day in my presence she made a mess of something she was doing and I laughed. She turned to me, shaking, red in the face, with tears of rage spurting from her eyes and screamed "You're not ALLOWED to laugh at me. It's not ALLOWED".
She was eight years old - I expect better from grown ups.
I've lived for half a century and have learned that people are pretty much STUCK in their mentality.* I respect all the religions, and want to be a friend of all the houses of religious practice. For the sake of peace, I try to accept that STUCKNESS is a fact of life, although I don't always succeed in being so very lovely...
Let people be the way they are, and suffer not oneself to rouse anger. Goodwill among the peoples is our ONLY CHANCE of survival. To me, it's not a question of double standards, but a matter of different standards. I respect the fact that we are different people, and appreciate that, and welcome that.
The press should not be in the rabble-rousing business. How we think as a people, our mentality, is governed by FEAR, and not by logic or justice. A common fear is what binds people together more than anything else. Therfore, let us praise those who are peacemakers, and castigate those opportunists who exploit issues to better themselves.
YogaMama, where are you when we need you?
*MENTALITY, more on Mentality: I find that every institution, every church, every business, every school, every you-name-it, has an overriding mentality that more or less "encodes" or "stamps" a character on its members or workers (and some of these are even healthy). Most workers or members in that system bow down their minds to that authority without much questioning. They do this out of FEAR of losing their jobs or their standing. I could, given the opportunity and space, write pages on this, but this "authority" (Latin) or "source" (English) matter is the crux of the matter. The source is not 'the Truth," but very often just "where the money's coming from." We can serve both gods, but should only love one. And ABOVE ALL, we should not expect others to SERVE ONE GOD ONLY, if we ourselves have to serve both "the truth" and Mammon, in some fashion. These are just the facts of life.
I too have lived half a century and have found that you don't stop people being bullies by giving in to them.
So we are to be ruled by fear? Please feel free to do so. I decline the offer. Threatening whole countries for the sake of a stupid set of cartoons (which incidentally have been so well publicised that I have still NOT seen them) is bullying.
If you re-read my post you'll find that I mentioned the peaceful muslims who are the ones I would like to react against this sort of idiocy - I applaud them, but I bewail the fact that this often mentioned "majority of peace-loving followers of Islam" do nothing to recover the reputation of their religion.
And the press, once the fall out had happened, were obliged to report the matter as being news - what is happening in the world - cartoons published in Denmark have caused a reaction in the Middle East - for their readers to understand what the whole business was about, they had to publish the cartoons. Or are we to bow to fear AND censorship at the same time?
I was raised in the company of muslims - the rabble rousers (not the press, the violence merchants) are not true representations.
I don't understand what peace-loving people (say, peace-loving Muslims) can do. I don't expect they'll riot, but I also don't expect they will necessarily condemn everyone who goes out onto the streets.
As for reading posts, or re-reading them, I can only say that people read IN THEIR OWN WAY. The Latin, LEGO, LEGERE, to read, has a primary meaning of SELECTING. We all select our own meanings. It takes a very good and skillful writer to get his or her point across, and then there's this interpretation business.
You express yourself well, but I can be kinda thick.
And .... I was just rushing in to post this - the "good guys" are standing up and being counted - I am standing on a chair cheering them on and waving my hat. I didn't catch all of it but the last item on the BBC early evening news showed a group of British muslims in a counter demonstration. One young man was very indignant and said "What are they thinking? What kind of image does this give us? I just hope that no non-muslims take this as our opinion as a whole."
Fantastic! As for the cartoons themselves, I'm sorry but as I said, I can't comment as I haven't even seen them for myself. As I heard it reported on the French radio, the original fury was that an image of Muhamed had been depicted where their religion expressly forbids it. The comment on the panel was that this might be the rules for muslims but doesn't apply to non muslims.
Unless and until I see the damn things I can't say. But I thank you most respectfully Nirvana for discussing this with me and sharing your opinion. I value it.
Let the Peacemakers triumph!
--Karen Armstrong from Buddha (PENGUIN LIVES series)
Here - have a cup of tea and some fruit cake - this is enjoyable!
-bf
That was an actual respectful sharing of opinions.
It works!
Ahhh...it's like a breath of fresh air to read two people having such a nice discussion without attacking each other!
You both make very good points about this subject. And I agree with both of you. While I do agree that the cartoons should not have been printed because it is disrespectful, I also find it a bit odd that the people that are upset are out there retaliating with more violence! What kind of sense does that make??
Knitwitch....thank you for the above quote. Respect for others is very important, but I certainly do not agree with disrespecting someone just because they did not respect me or my beliefs.