RE: VERY Uncalled For....

> From: Narayanan R Pillai
> 
> Joe,
> 
> I do not condone or condemn the war in Iraq, I have no positions on
> violent politics of this, or any other, nature. However, I think the
> comment by Art was not just in plain bad taste, but also something
> puerile, and even vicious.

I kept my peace about Art's post; I was talking about Steven's.  He and
I have since come to terms with this offline.  But now you drag me into
it online, simply because I don't condemn Art.

Personally, I don't think Art said anything that was puerile or vicious.
He simply stated that some people in India were sacrificing chickens in
order to help safeguard the return of their loved ones and that this was
a cultural difference.  This was entirely factual.  Reuters reported the
sacrifice, not Art, and it's certainly a cultural difference -- nobody I
know sacrifices chickens.  The biggest mis-statement, if any, was that
the parents of the help desk operators were more likely to be the ones
doing this than the help desk operators themselves.  It seems there is
an even larger generational gap in India than in the US.

Why do you find a simple statement of facts so distressing?


> I can thank my stars that my relatives live
> further inland, but I have friends who have lost lives in this
incident
> and I am shocked that there was no immediate condemnation of such a
> post.

Condemnation of what?  For some reason you are offended that Art
mentioned something Reuters reported.  And because you are offended, you
think everyone should heap scorn upon Art.  I'm sorry, but I don't
understand why you are offended, especially since Art first mentioned
his sorrow at the plight of those affected, and that he would be
donating to the relief fund (something you chose to leave out of your
post).  Thus I have no reason to "condemn" anything.


>  I realize that today is a holiday, and not everybody is spending
> time in front of a computer, but I would not have expected such a
> asseting silence from a group of people, I thought of as
intellectuals.

So those who do not agree with you are not intellectual?


> I wonder if the response would have been the same if the disaster
being
> refered to was the dastardly attack on the WTC.

And what reported fact about the actions of my countrymen on 9/11 do you
think would make me embarrassed or angry?  Firefighters lost their lives
trying to save those trapped in the buildings (trapped because of the
disgusting and cowardly attacks of religious fanatics with no concern
for human life).  People cried, and wailed, at the loss of loved ones.
Everyday normal Americans acted heroically and beyond the call of duty
for complete strangers.  Americans placed wreaths on the spot and read
roles of the dead to honor those lost; many still wear ribbons, and all
of us remember.

None of this angers or embarrasses me -- the only thing that angers me
is that this was not a random act of God, but was the result of the
mind-numbingly evil actions of a savagely uncivilized ideology.  I will
forever remember that spouses were widowed, children orphaned, mothers
smothered to death and fathers burned alive because of the sub-human
plans of those willing to murder in the name of God.

I am absolutely and steadfastly proud of everything Americans did on
that horrible day; I salute the fallen and grieve with those left
behind.  Of course, this comes as no shock to those who know me; I am
fiercely proud of my country and my people and our many and diverse
cultures.
 

> Or maybe, non-American lives, loves and emotions do not have much
> meaning on this list.

Actually, I mourn for those who were driven to cast rose petals upon the
ocean, or to sacrifice animals in order to attempt to recall their lost
loved ones.  I do not make fun because even though it is a far different
culture that takes such actions, in the end they are no different a cry
of loss -- to lose a child or a mate is painful the world over.

It seems that YOU are the one who is embarrassed by their actions; I,
like Art, simply grieve at their loss.  To ask me to join in your
embarrassment is annoying but can be ignored; to condemn me for not
doing so is unjust and must be answered.

I hope I've made my point clear.  Please feel free to contact me offline
for any further comments.

Joe