>To the majority goes the spoils .. be it language, culture, religion or >caste.
*** So does Democracy. But in a true democracy there ARE limits to majority power. That is why in an enlightened pluralistic society, majority will must not be the only thing that rules. On Feb 11, 2011, at 2:06 PM, Ram Sarangapani wrote: > C'da, > > If I'm not mistaken, a short prayer is often done in office Christmas > parties. Don't know about the WH Christmas tree. > > The US $ bills also have "In God we trust". Is that secular? > > One may argue that it doesn't specifically refer to the Christian God, but > what about them American atheists? Is it 'secular' to them? > > The Supreme Court (as well as all US courts, Federal or state) always swear > on the Bible. > In India they swear on the Bhagavad Geeta. > > Not sure why people are required to take an oath to tell the truth. Wouldn't > they, even if they didn't swear? > It is as if people by default will lie, unless they swear upon some holy > text. > >> Would they let the Muslims perform a similar service ? Or would they have > let a Dalit perform such a Puja? > > Probably not. And nor will the GOI pay a Hindu to go on trip to Mecca (if he > so desired). > > To the majority goes the spoils .. be it language, culture, religion or > caste. > > --Ram > > > On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 1:33 PM, Chan Mahanta <[email protected]> wrote: > >>> The lighting of Christmas trees is akin to ground-breaking pujas and could >>> be termed 'cultural'. >> >> >> **** That is a real streeeetch! Diwali lighting maybe. But not performing >> Pujas., >> which will be same as holding a church service. Would they let the Muslims >> perform a similar service ? Or would they have let a Dalit perform such a >> Puja? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Feb 11, 2011, at 1:15 PM, Ram Sarangapani wrote: >> >>> KC, >>> >>> Even in Texas, there are court buildings with the 10 Commandments. >>> >>> The greater issue is that media channels like Fox or any number of the >>> conservative talk shows, and even senators & congressmen/women are >> regularly >>> on the media spewing one form hatred (or prejudice) or another. And these >>> folks are supposedly the intellectuals of the country. >>> >>> Most will skillfully maneuver themselves just short of existing laws (or >>> societal principles). >>> >>> The lighting of Christmas trees is akin to ground-breaking pujas and >> could >>> be termed 'cultural'. >>> >>> --Ram da >>> >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 12:49 PM, Krishnendu Chakraborty < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Here is from wiki -- >>>> >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Moore#Early_prayer.2FTen_Commandments_controversy >>>> "The practice of opening court sessions with prayer, though not uniform >>>> throughout Alabama, continues in state courtrooms today" >>>> >>>> **** The difference lies in HOW those who believe in those PRINCIPLES in >>>> reality >>>> ( not just wear them on their sleeves to look good) fight back. >>>> >>>> --- I thought you are one of those who believe "in those PRINCIPLES in >>>> reality" but strange I never saw you fighting back Obama's lighting >> the >>>> CHRISTMAS tree or Supreme Court (and numerous other US Govt. offices) >>>> decorated with CHRISTMAS tree. >>>> >>>> May be I was wrong and you are just one who wear them on their sleeves >> to >>>> look good :) >>>> >>>> >>>> BTW, WHOSE tradition is it to decorate a Christmas tree ? >>>> >>>> Tough questions ... I understand. Don't bother to even attempt to >> reply. >>>> >>>> ***************************************************************** >>>> On Feb 11, 2011, at 11:52 AM, Ram Sarangapani wrote: >>>>> Well, C'da >>>>> >>>>> I don't think they should be taken lying down. People do protest. And >>>>> sometimes those protests work. But, how on earth are you going to >> change >>>>> belief systems & prejudices that are ages old. >>>> >>>> **** That has to come from the intellectuals from the ranks of the >>>> adherents of those faiths. >>>> If it is absent, it demonstrates the vacuity of their beliefs. >>>> >>>>> And unfortunately, you don't have go all the way to India to find >>>> examples. >>>>> You can pretty much find some great examples in this country - the >>>> bastion >>>>> of secular/democratic principles >>>> >>>> **** The difference lies in HOW those who believe in those PRINCIPLES in >>>> reality >>>> ( not just wear them on their sleeves to look good) fight back. Remember >>>> the TEN Commandments >>>> Statue in the Alabama Supreme Court Building? You know where they are >> now, >>>> don't you :-)? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>>> --Ram >>>>> >>>>> On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 11:25 AM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> *** So, should that therefore be accepted, taken lying down :-)? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Feb 11, 2011, at 11:20 AM, Ram Sarangapani wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>>> What I object to is claiming to be secular on the one hand, while >>>>>>> practising religious hegemony, on the sly or overtly. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> C'da, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> While this sounds nice, it is really Utopian. I don't believe there >> is >>>> a >>>>>>> single country where religious hegemony does not exist in some for or >>>> the >>>>>>> other (of course, I am talking about democracies). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And in democracies, it's not just the problems of religious hegemony, >>>>>> don't >>>>>>> forget to add language, state, race, caste & color into the mix. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ---Ram >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at >> gmail.com> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> *** I think so too. They have a long and enviable history and >>>>>> civilization. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> *** I have no problem with a homogeneous society willing to remain >>>> bound >>>>>>>> by religious rule--its their choice. What I object to is claiming to >>>> be >>>>>>>> secular on the one hand, while >>>>>>>> practising religious hegemony, on the sly or overtly. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2011, at 10:59 AM, Ram Sarangapani wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hehe! >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Now, we will have to see if that bit of 'secularism' you were just >>>>>>>> talking >>>>>>>>> about will be palatable :-) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> But, I think, the Egyptians will just fine. From all indications, >> it >>>>>>>> looks >>>>>>>>> like the army will facilitate the transition, and Egypt will have a >>>>>>>>> government chosen by it's people. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> ---Ram >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 10:49 AM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at >>>> gmail.com> >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Now comes the hard part :-) >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Feb 11, 2011, at 10:41 AM, Ram Sarangapani wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>> >> http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/11/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1 >>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>>>>>> assam at assamnet.org >>>>>>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>>>>> assam at assamnet.org >>>>>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>>>> assam at assamnet.org >>>>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>>> assam at assamnet.org >>>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>> assam at assamnet.org >>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>> assam at assamnet.org >>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> assam mailing list >>>>> assam at assamnet.org >>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> assam mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> assam mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> assam mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
