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| The Bull Shit T-Shirt |
Often seen, whether in petty cafés or expensive T-Shirts, this is a sign that I really hate. Had there been a sign that said No Murders, people would have said "Why not? After all they do happen. We'd like to discuss them, too." People are still discussing PM Liaquat Ali Khan's murder and new evidence keeps coming out.
I agree. In fact even a "No Shit Talk, Please" would also be stupid. Shit (Talks or real Shit) happens all the time. So we should be able to talk about it.
Religion and Politics? YES. They happen. Most times much more than the above examples.
Except that in the second part I do have to make a comment on real shit. It does happen more often if there is a Dastāngoi (not Dāstāngoi, Fawad!) going on … but that is rare.
So why should we not talk about these two things that people have different views about. Or share similar views. Or want to understand the opposite ideas and discuss them?
Some people say that it could lead to Violence.
Hmmm. Really?
Think of Sports. Football, for example. Happy crowds, shouting and jumping at every goal and the goalkeepers triumphs. Then read this.
May 24, 1964 - Estadio Nacional disaster - 328 died and 500 injured during match between Argentina and Peru when referee disallowed a goal scored at last minute which ignited crowd protest. Police fired tear gas into the crowd, causing a panic and a rush for the exits at National Stadium.
The other day I saw in the paper that two friends finished their friendly tea at a chai-khāna. The waiter arrived and each of them wanted to pay. One got really upset in the argument and finally killed the other with a knife. No Chai at Chai Khānas, then …
And it's just not us this side of the world that's plain crazy. As I said, it happens everywhere. Even in USA (where things can get worse, really).
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My own interest in Politics (apart from some family connections) is very little. I am more interested in what probably affects humanity at large, whether it's Sapiens or Covid-19 (Please check these links). There is an occasional look at local news every few days. They all seem the same these days, anyway.
However, Religion plays an important part for me. I read a lot about it as all religions seem equally important. After all to understand what happened we need to know who the gods were at different periods of history. What were Myths? Was there any truth? What about monotheistic religions (including Zoroaster's ideas)? What about the differences between them? What about the old and some still existing religious beliefs in parts of Africa or among the American Indians? What about Bishop Spong's views. What about our own sectarian differences? And can Science and Religion work together? This is all so fascinating.
I also need to understand when reading Literature what certain names mean. It is important to know that who was Achilles, Samson, Zeus, Hercules, Rama and Ganesh. Was Mary Magdalene the person that the Church told us about (or was she married to Jesus Christ). Who was Lilith, considered by a small few to be Adam's first wife. This is supported indirectly by Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:15-25. These people believe that it says Adam had two wives.
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Why did I write this piece at all?
Well a friend's group on What's App (which I had started) became insistent that there'd be 'No Religion' on our links coz some get offended by it as there are people of all sects. Obviously there was no such law, but many started supporting it. The fact that on every few days (and increasing in intensity) they'd have religious posts that they loved. This did not say 'No Religion' to them.
On one day a dear friend of mine said something and another dear friend got offended. I thought this was shitty beyond belief. They have both been close friends since 1957, and there wasn't even enough 'tolerance' (to say the least) for it to be forgotten … so I left the group and am happy that I can correspond with each of them separately.
Cheers!
