Posted on: 13-01-05 11:49:13
Quote:
Orginally posted by New Guy
Everybody seems to express their second hand info. in this topic.
But always something is missing, cultural heritage may be missing. People talk too much about their achievement in terms of money, money power is the only power over here.
Sir,
Just one quick question:
After how many years of living in ME, you came to know the following facts:
1) Society is too intolerent and there is no freedom of religion and people do live like slaves
2) Cultural heritage is missing
Did you live with your family or alone?
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Social laws and respect for other people's religious sentiments is one thing, and being dragged out of your home by the police, made to carry the cooking pot on your head and walk all the way to the police station is another thing.
I can understand someone being reprimanded or even fined for violating the religious sentiments of a neighbour during the fast days, but humiliated and punished in this manner is ridicolous.
It denotes an intolerant and extremist society, where religious rituals have replaced basic common sense and human dignity.
I don't care which religion and which country is used as an example - it shows the intolerance of society.
Yes, India does have its own share of intolerance and religious rituals, but then Indonesia and the ME countries aren't exactly the crowning glory of freedom and secularity.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Chandresh
I mean no offence, but I think that your views of the Middle East may be somewhat influenced by disgruntled immigrants to Canada……..
You apparently empathize with the eating restrictions during the month of Ramadan in the Middle East. I have just one question though – many countries outside the Middle East (including India) have significant Muslim populations but do not impose bans on eating in public. Does this result in Muslims not observing Ramadan in these countries, because they can see others eating outside?
You may also be aware that Christians also have dietary restrictions on certain days of the year. I have yet to see restaurants in the western world (including in the conservative mid-West in the US) being asked to modify their menus on those 2 days…..
I was at a party inTO where there was a lot of music and dancing...the hall next door was muslim wedding. They politely requested the MC for 5 minutes of quiet while they prayed and we obliged (inspite of the mostly facetious objections of someone in our party who seemed to draw a reference to Abu dhabi).
Anyway...a far cry from being made to carry a curry pot and a walk to the police station if you ask me.
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Crenshaw and BL,
It again boils down to what we call extremist behaviour and what limits can tolerance go to. My only contention is that unless you yourself have been born and grown up in a particular society, you can never understand the sentiments and values inculcated in members of that society.
Now let me give you a real example:
A few years ago an American teenager vandalised some cars in his condo and he was given a warning both by the residents/security of the condo and police. A few months later, he vandalised two more cars in the same condo.
Now - if this had happened to your car while you were somewhere near the parking lot and had witnessed that guy doing what he did, what would have been your reaction and inherent desire? Close your eyes and imagine such a incident, and then decide if you would:
a) be tolerant and let him do what he did since he got some fun out of it and you as an adult, did not wish to spoil the fun of a young teenager?
b) invite that guy to your house, treat him to a pop and cookies and explain to him why he should not do such a thing?
c) go to him and beg him not to vandalise your car?
d) go to the car, grab the guy by his collar and bash him up so he remembers the incident for the rest of his life and does not do that again.
If I were there, I would go with the option (d) and I feel most rational persons would do that because of our inherent desire for justice (like we shout back at a person when he shoults at us in an argument)
Now in this case, the police discovered who had done it when they came to investigate, put this guy behind bars and produced him before court of law, which incidently passed a judgement that he should be caned 4 times.
And the western world called Singaporean authorities Barbaric!
The court did what the public at large (or you and me) would have done, had they seen or had they been strong enough to face this tall guy. Still, the court ruling was termed as Barbaric. And most of the people I have met in Canada and USA know Singapore for this incident, and not for the ultra modern infrasture that country has, or the super efficient way the public authorities (government offices) work.
Another example - I have been brought up with Indian values and family respect. I simply cannot imagine that my child will ever tell me that it is his/her life and I should not interfere with it. Even though I am educated, widely travelled, I simply cannot expect/digest such a behaviour from my child. So by having such strong feelings about family and elders respect am I to be termed as extremist or intolerant and should the westerners term my thinking as ridiculous?
Just giving you guys food for thought.
Chandresh
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Chandresh
Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!
Quote:
Orginally posted by chandresh
I simply cannot imagine that my child will ever tell me that it is his/her life and I should not interfere with it. Even though I am educated, widely travelled, I simply cannot expect/digest such a behaviour from my child. So by having such strong feelings about family and elders respect am I to be termed as extremist or intolerant and should the westerners term my thinking as ridiculous?
Chandresh
If you cane your child - extremist
If you shout and throw equal tantrum that your child also match with you - intolerant
If you try to laugh it off at this point and take up matter at some other time "management" - Hindu
If you call 911 to report danger now your child will face from you - awsome
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Try overtaking child's imagination
That pot incident is more something i heard about Saudi Arabia. their are many other restrictions there. One of the reasons I never thought of going there, despite being a muslim.
My Sister Lives in dubai and she says that Dubai is very modern and wetsernized. A Big non Muslim population too.
I also grew up in an arab country and lived their for 8 years. nothing like that extreme example. You are not supposed to eat in Public during the ramadan. Thats about it.
Other than that it was fairly liberal place. I would say roughly as liberal/conservative as us Indians.
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