In India, coronavirus fans religious hatred

[stvdv]

Blaming attacks on Muslims on karma and then shifting the focus to "Muslims and Christians" is not "common sense." It's common bigotry. That is not "out of context." It is the context.

Just stop it.

Your opinion.

You miss the bigger picture.

 

[sun rise]

Those substandards are unacceptable. Look, we have the coronavirus because of filthy conditions mixing bats with other animals used as food. We have pollution, dirty air and filthy oceans because people are being unclean, and don't care.

...Now is the time for cleanliness. If there's anything we can learn from COVID-19, is that there needs to be a global transition towards cleanliness.

"Wet markets" are a feature of China not India.

I agree with the need to focus on taking cleanliness to a new and better level.

 

[Cooky]

"Wet markets" are a feature of China not India.

I agree with the need to focus on taking cleanliness to a new and better level.

For the sake of the planet, yes!
For the sake of humanity, yes!

Too much uncleanliness has had far too many negative consequences lately. The signs are all around us.

...Time for 1st world standards to be the new norm for everyone. Because otherwise, everyone suffers. And this includes environmentalism as well as public health standards.

Let it be the new trend.

 

[stvdv]

Just stop it.

Wow.

You think you are God.

 

[Cooky]

Wow.

You think you are God.

I think some "Abrahamics" are biased against non-Abrahamic religious people... Not me, buddy..! I think you guys are great.

...I have no special relationship with Muslims or Christians or Jews.

 

[sun rise]

For the sake of the planet, yes!
For the sake of humanity, yes!

Too much uncleanliness has had far too many negative consequences lately. The signs are all around us.

...Time for 1st world standards to be the new norm for everyone, IMO. Because otherwise, everyone suffers.

To me "first world" standards need an upgrade as well given the disparity that we can see in the US and elsewhere. Just think of the number of people who don't wash their hands enough or at least didn't until the pandemic came to their town.

The disparity between public restroom cleanliness in various nations (US vs Japan etc) is pretty large.

To fix this even in the US requires a solution to homelessness and inadequate housing in various localities.

And we've seen food-born illness striking in the US due to inadequate concern for sanitation.

So to me the onus is not on third-world nations but on all of us.

 

[Cooky]

To me "first world" standards need an upgrade as well given the disparity that we can see in the US and elsewhere. Just think of the number of people who don't wash their hands enough or at least didn't until the pandemic came to their town.

The disparity between public restroom cleanliness in various nations (US vs Japan etc) is pretty large.

To fix this even in the US requires a solution to homelessness and inadequate housing in various localities.

And we've seen food-born illness striking in the US due to inadequate concern for sanitation.

So to me the onus is not on third-world nations but on all of us.

There should be a global oversight committee in regards to food sanitation requirements, public facility ratings and fines along with carbon dioxide fines. Let the flood gates of global requirements and fines begin.

...Because as COVID-19 has brought it to our attention, we all suffer together, and that's not a price I'm willing to pay.

 

[stvdv]

I think some "Abrahamics" are biased against non-Abrahamic religious people... Not me, buddy..! I think you guys are great.

...I have no special relationship with Muslims or Christians or Jews.

kewl

Thanks for sharing. You make my day.

 

[Jane Boswell]

Just a quick note, this article does come across to me just a little bit like an opinion piece, but it should generate some interesting discussion.

'After India’s health ministry repeatedly blamed an Islamic seminary for spreading the coronavirus — and governing party officials spoke of “human bombs” and “corona jihad” — a spree of anti-Muslim attacks has broken out across the country.

Young Muslim men who were passing out food to the poor were assaulted with cricket bats. Other Muslims have been beaten up, nearly lynched, run out of their neighbourhoods or attacked in mosques, branded as virus spreaders. In Punjab state, loudspeakers at Sikh temples broadcast messages telling people not to buy milk from Muslim dairy farmers because it was infected with coronavirus.

Hateful messages have bloomed online. And a wave of apparently fake videos has popped up telling Muslims not to wear masks, not to practice social distancing, not to worry about the virus at all, as if the makers of the videos wanted Muslims to get sick.

In a global pandemic, there is always the hunt for blame. President Donald Trump has done it, insisting for a time on calling the coronavirus a “Chinese virus.’’ All over the world people are pointing fingers, driven by their fears and anxieties to go after The Other.

In India, no other group has been demonised more than the country’s 200 million Muslims, minorities in a Hindu-dominated land of 1.3 billion people.

From the crackdown on Kashmir, a Muslim majority area, to a new citizenship law that blatantly discriminates against Muslims, this past year has been one low point after another for Indian Muslims living under an increasingly bold Hindu nationalist government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and propelled by majoritarian policies.

In this case, what’s making things worse is that there’s an element of truth behind the government’s claims. A single Muslim religious movement has been identified as being responsible for a large share of India’s 8,000-plus coronavirus cases. Indian officials estimated last week that more than a third of the country’s cases were connected to the group, Tablighi Jamaat, which held a huge gathering of preachers in India in March. Similar meetings in Malaysia and Pakistan also led to outbreaks.'

Read more here: In India, coronavirus fans religious hatred

I see it as no coincidence that India and Pakistan have sustained nuclear weapons aimed at each other. This is a long-festering resentment which didn't erupt overnight. So as we witness extremities in every sphere of modern existence, I'd be amazed to see a civilized resolution there.
But maybe Shiva must make an appearance.

 

[stvdv]

I see it as no coincidence that India and Pakistan have sustained nuclear weapons aimed at each other. This is a long-festering resentment which didn't erupt overnight. So as we witness extremities in every sphere of modern existence, I'd be amazed to see a civilized resolution there.
But maybe Shiva must make an appearance.

I hope Shiva will be a bit subtle. He is known for His vibuthi ... turning things into ashes

 

[atanu]

In India one has to remember that all the major Hindu pilgrimage sites are shut down. Tirupati averages between 70 000 to 100 000 devotees PER DAY. Palani, Rameswaram, Tiruchendur, Varanasi, Pune, and all the temple towns are totally closed. The pilgrim trains have stopped. For people who see such a religious pilgrimage as a once in a lifetime event, it means a ton. To sacrifice such an event for the benefit of others is no small deal.

So when people feel it is their right to congregate ... yeah, I might protest too.

Editted to add ... and Saudi really stepped up to the plate ... early ... Mecca is empty.

Cancelling the Hajj? How conflict, disease often stopped pilgrimage to Mecca long before the coronavirus

To be fair, Tirupati was closed only on 19th March. The Jamat event happened before 12th March. But on account of lockdown of cities and also air travel, the gathered people could not move out. It just happened.

But this crisis has been turned into a ‘They are spreading the virus’ message.

You should see the far right propaganda machine working. Unemployment is high. But a significant number of the young are employed by the IT cell of a political party to spread fake news. The hatred narrative spread assiduously for long has deeply poisoned the society. It will take long to heal.

The moderate non partisan secular voices have been shut off, by labelling them as anti nationals or commies.

...

 

[Vinayaka]

To be fair, Tirupati was closed only on 19th March. The Jamat event happened before 12th March. But on account of lockdown of cities and also air travel, the gathered people could not move out. It just happened.

But this crisis has been turned into a ‘They are spreading the virus’ message.

You should see the far right propaganda machine working. Unemployment is high. But a significant number of the young are employed by the IT cell of a political party to spread fake news. The hatred narrative spread assiduously for long has deeply poisoned the society. It will take long to heal.

The moderate non partisan secular voices have been shut off, by labelling them as anti nationals or commies.

...

It's the nature of the lower instinctive mind to blame the other guy. (Not just there, but elsewhere) The good news is most folks have come to their senses now. It could be worse.

 

[stvdv]

In this case, what’s making things worse is that there’s an element of truth behind the government’s claims. A single Muslim religious movement has been identified as being responsible for a large share of India’s 8,000-plus coronavirus cases. Indian officials estimated last week that more than a third of the country’s cases were connected to the group, Tablighi Jamaat, which held a huge gathering of preachers in India in March. Similar meetings in Malaysia and Pakistan also led to outbreaks.'

But instead of dispersing, more than 1,000 people stayed put at the center. During a March 19 sermon, Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, a Tablighi Jamaat leader, told followers that coronavirus was “God’s punishment’’ and not to fear it.

About a week later, health inspectors found around 1,300 people still sheltering at the centre without masks or other protective gear. Many Muslim leaders criticised the group’s centre for not closing down.

On March 31, Delhi authorities filed a criminal case against Maulana Kandhalvi for “deliberately, willfully, negligently and malignantly” putting the public’s health at risk. Tablighi Jamaat’s centre was sealed. The maulana, a title for a Muslim scholar, disappeared.

Lots of info in this article. Below a few things I learned from it:
They should have listened to these "Muslim leaders", especially because they jeopardized health/lives of others by "going against Government".

A tragic example, showing us the importance of "Common Sense before Divine Sense (blind Faith)" ... God gave us Common Sense to use it. I do understand this is tricky though. It is good to "not fear corona". But "not fear" does not mean "ignore Government Advice"

It took 12 days to legally stop this group. That was way too long when dealing with a virus, so dangerous.
Maybe good to put this corona event "God did not safe those who believed God would safe them from getting Corona" on front page for 5 years (worldwide Lock Down is a good way to communicate this also). Even W.H.O took corona much too easy. Just recently they start finally admitting "masks might be needed". Media gave too much misleading info. Good lesson for media too, that telling truth is sometimes needed.

Better safe than sorry IMO, when it comes to viruses, especially when you (Government) don't know much about this particular virus. So, even Governments (and also W.H.O) had to learn some lessons here. And if all follow Government Advice, then only Government can be blamed if something goes wrong; will safe lots of trouble (blaming other people)

 

[danieldemol]

...As another has said, even Muslims protested the gathering in mosques, and I'm sure Hindus would protest against other Hindus gathering, if it happened, and it probably has. I've read of many many Hindu festivals being cancelled due to coronavirus, and if any particular group doesn't follow social distancing, like at the beaches of Florida during spring break, the rest of the people who are obeying government orders have the right to protest...

I'm sure they have the right to legitimate forms of protest, I'm just not sure that forming a vigilante group to attack random Muslims handing out food to the poor for example is a legitimate form of protest

 

[Vinayaka]

I'm sure they have the right to legitimate forms of protest, I'm just not sure that forming a vigilante group to attack random Muslims handing out food to the poor for example is a legitimate form of protest

Really hard to say, but knowing the sanitation situation in Indian first hand, and how viruses spread, it sounds to me like a recipe for disaster. One would have to be there as a direct witness in order to make much of a call at all.

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

A visual testament that extremism isn't exclusive to a particular religion/ideology. There are evil people in every religion, nation, ideology, race etc. Extremely unfair to blame Islam because of what Muslims did/do pretty much it would be unfair to blame Hinduism for what Hindus are doing, and/or blame Buddhism for what the Buddhist did to Muslims in Burma.

 

[Trailblazer]

In India, no other group has been demonised more than the country’s 200 million Muslims, minorities in a Hindu-dominated land of 1.3 billion people.

I consider it horrible to demonize any particular religious group.

 

[Jane Boswell]

I hope Shiva will be a bit subtle. He is known for His vibuthi ... turning things into ashes

I'm a fan of ash when it transforms an archaic construct into a gem more beautiful than the previous, if there was even a gem. We shouldn't really need destruction to make way for the new, but that's a cosmic force never to be derailed or distracted. To be welcomed with industrial fervor.

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

I would love to see Lord Shiva beat the living hell out of every oppressor in this world. Lord Shiva is awesome!

 

[ManSinha]

I would love to see Lord Shiva beat the living hell out of every oppressor in this world. Lord Shiva is awesome!

I agree with the latter statement and @Vinayaka and @TravisJC among others may also agree

Lord Shiva is regarded by many as the Ultimate Supreme Divine in which all things reside
Others see him as the destructive complement to the creator and sustainer roles (personally would not surprise me if Lord Shiva was the cause of the big crunch preceding the big bang)
He is regarded as the foremost exponent of the art of war having instructed masters such as Parasuram
He is also regarded - to my understanding - as the god with the most tender heart who listens readily to his devotees

I shall put in a small story here - I saw a show where there was a conversation between Lord Shiva and another extremely powerful figure (Hanuman)
Hanuman asked Lord Shiva why evil exists - and Lord Shiva with a smile on his face said "Yeh vidhi ka vidhaan hai - is mein hastakshep nahin hota" - roughly translated to - "this is the way of the world - I do not interfere"

Take it for what you will - my understanding is that god does not interfere - this is the Leela - the play of the Universe

FWIW