Rise of the moral police
History has a way of repeating itself, when rationalism fails to prevail.
Any form of art is subjective, debatable, enjoyable, even deplorable sometimes. So is religion. As a matter of fact, and historically, it is the very art and artists’ imagination that has given a form to those that we worship today.
Those initial images have borne roots so deep in the minds that they not only refuse the new form — in whatever sense they are visualized as — but go so far to the extent of harming those who practice it, sometimes terminally.
Is any religion so weak that it cannot withstand an art form’s portrayal? The world, I think, needs to understand the word “tolerance”, religious or otherwise.
If you find an art form appalling, you can ignore it, debate it, object to it — all this within the boundaries of tolerance, exchange of thoughts. Agree to disagree. But, people get carried away by their obligation to practice apparent moral righteousness, rationalizing absurdity, by using mob-justice and taking the law in their own hands.
How can I say my country upholds democracy, freedom and supposed high religious tolerance, when students get arrested for practicing freedom of expression?
Chetan,
Since there is urge to talk :).
People like sameness in religion, whatever form they are brought up on. Suddenly if somebody else “interprets” it differently - in vain thinking somehow his “understanding” and expression is better. It irks majority of the us common folks :). You interpret it, you do whatever in your four walls, heck this is democracy, but once you offend you better be ready for the consequences.
But this leads to bigger questions of conformism, no possibility of resent etc all of which over the ages people have done, this is nothing new. This behavior of general people to take “law” in hands and beat up has been there and is not going to change becuase you have x clauses/laws in the constitution :).
Chances are people who profess interpretation and others who worship the form or no form - are both misguided, maybe that god does not exist
. Maybe does :).
So in a way it is funny to see all this. Why interpret something which you can even touch see feel, on other hand why vainly give form to something who is bigger/better than all that you can ever attribute to?
Artists are snobbish people with no touch with reality
, sorry most of them think they are gift to the mankind and their work is beyond others, in a way they are looking for immortality which does not exist or only paralleled by the faith which most people swear by. So once they realize they are mortal, they attack the faith of billions, you know very well in country like India, most of the majority survives by the faith rather than system/government.
Truly what we need is acceptance, not tolerance, that people of different kind exist and will continue to do so. We can’t change that. That unfortunately is difficult part to digest, where our real shortcomings are exposed.
For all its shortcomings India upholds many things. These kind of incidents happen everywhere - just checkup why european countries did not allow artists to enter the countries or the big us of a planning to reintroduce bible study as history and literature.
May 16, 07 at 05:32“Acceptance” is more meaningful in context, thanks. So yes, I agree completely on that. But for acceptance to set in, one needs to jump the previous hurdle called “tolerance” first.
Yes, it happens everywhere — without bias and without boundaries. But, things like extreme idolization and enforced mournings (MG Ramachandran, Dr Rajkumar) occur only in our country, unfortunately — I brought this up because they both tow a similar line — one dangerously leading to unnecessary violence.
May 16, 07 at 08:32Now I need to shed diplomacy :)(just harmless banter - don’t get upset ) , tolerance is as akin to “hey in my mind I am - I do not like you, I wished you did not exist, but I will try to put on facade that I allow you to breathe, just be there”. Acceptance is just it. No step :). Anyway niether is thought mine, nor the thinking behind it. Rest of the spam on email :).
May 16, 07 at 09:56I should have added: “tolerance first — for those who are in complete denial.”
Once open to the idea of tolerance (in a mild manner; as against like in a grudge — which, I presume, is your point), acceptance would become easier.
May 16, 07 at 10:11yup
May 16, 07 at 10:22