Hindu Extremists Celebrate Their Right To Be Offended
Millions of Hindu extremists and us Indian Atheists have something in common. We can all stand together and celebrate our civil-society-given right to be offended.
For Hindu extremists, being offended is nothing new. This time the occasion is a woman in a swimsuit featuring an image of a medieval deity called Lakshmi. For us Atheists, being offended is nothing new either. For centuries we have been celebrating our right to be offended by the collective stupidity of millions of adult human beings who actually believe in a medieval deity called Lakshmi. So you see, we have something in common after all!
The Hindu extremists have, in the past, been offended by paintings, shoes, movies, more shoes, beer… you name it. We Atheists have, for our part, been offended since adulthood by the insistence of Hindu extremists that they have a right to having their ridiculous beliefs respected by all. And we Atheists have been offended by those obnoxious Hindu extremists who think they have a right to NOT be offended. I think its finally time for us Atheists and the Hindu extremists on the other side to reach out and clasp hands in mutually offensive celebration of our right to be offended!
Interestingly, the Hindu extremists chose a new approach to celebrating their offense at the lewd and disgusting caricature of their medieval goddess Lakshmi. They printed out copies of these perverse images and distributed them to anyone interested, with the objective of ensuring that all within sight were able to partake in their inalienable human right to be offended. Together they presented the loathsome images to the cameras for the world to see and be offended by, for that is just the type of good-hearted people they are.
“Even women and children will not be denied their right to be offended by these revolting images”, said one particularly boisterous young man. When asked about what they were going to do with the offensive pictures after the protest, the man said “I will store these disgusting and scandalous photos at home and take them out every time I want to exercise my right to be offended”, deep longing in his voice. It was a very touching moment, when the young man quoted Martin Luther King’s A right delayed is a right denied. “Sometimes we need something to remind ourselves what we’re offended about”, he said.
One wonders why these ‘defenders of the Sacred Feminine’ that are able to mobilize crowds, bankroll the printouts and placards and draft the slogans so readily, fail to display similar indignation while opposing say, female foeticide or narcotics cartels. Such hypocrisy on their part is egregious enough to to rankle even card-carrying Right Wing cheerleaders.
Damn right, Arvind. They will defend the image of their blasted goddess and ignore the thousands of flesh and blood women dying around them of preventable causes. I see this phenomenon as an expression of territorial in-group instinct, rather than any real concern about culture or religion.
When burning our flag, we humbly request that you burn from the top left.
That way the union jack goes first, and for a fleeting moment (before the whole thing goes up) it looks quiet nice.
That fact that these tools did in the wrong way suggests they are secretly wishing for the good ol’ days of British Imperial Rule.
Damn it, Ray, why aren’t you offended enough! Seriously though, you’re expecting too much from these morons. If they knew their history they’s probably be less likely to burn flags or books. But then again, religious stupidity can overrule years of education. BTW, do I sense displeasure at the Blue Ensign?…I’d be furious if the Indian flag had the Union Jack on it, but I realize Australia is a lot closer to the UK both politically as well as culturally. What really gets me is the attention the Brit monarchy gets in the colonies. We have a short collective memory!
So, when I put a pic of your mum on my underwear and you protest, that makes you an extremist?
No, it makes you someone who cannot tell the difference between a real person who is someone’s mother and an imaginary medieval fantasy. So, go ahead, enjoy your fantasies and keep defending this primitive and extremist behavior. As we say on our religion page,
“Religions are comprised of ideas, and as with all ideas that Freethinkers deal with, must be scrutinized and dismissed if found wanting. People, however, have thoughts, desires, foresight and the ability to feel compassion, kindness, pain, sadness and empathy, and so must be treated on a different footing. Simply put, people deserve respect, ideas do not. This simple distinction is lost on many people, both religious and otherwise.”
Apparently that distinction is lost on you as well.
Blasphemy is a victim-less crime. humans are for reals and gods are creations of human minds.
I would like to take this opportunity to announce that anybody denigrating Harry Potter will invite stringent protests. He is the God and hence is father-equivalent.
To Ananth and everyone here, I expect you to show due reverence when you come across a Harry Potter book. Else I’m going to protest you.
fine guys, i dont question the diff ways we promote the rationalistic point of view. Its just tht my approach of ‘path of least resistance’ works out to be the most practical one for me. I feel more satisfied at the small victories so i wud rather talk one-on-one to someone and feel proud if i can make him see the daylight rather than trying to talk to a bunch of blind believers and ending up with 50 ppl chasing me with swords & knives in their hands