^ Way to go to miss a point guys.
On a more pertinent note, the act itself is a piece of 'history' perpetrated by a 'culture'. Who decides the magnitude or significance of an event or physical monument? Is it movements, ideologies or nations?
Is a 'thing' really of worth until it is destroyed? Is the act of destruction in itself more than if the 'thing' never existed?
I'm sure many an Afghani is pondering all of the above whilst digging into a luke warm bowl of grass stew.
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*Originally posted by Chota: *
I'm sure many an Afghani is pondering all of the above whilst digging into a luke warm bowl of grass stew.
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Just as I'm sure many an Afghani is pondering why money is being collected for a mosque on this site when all their kids have to eat is a bowl of grass stew. Shouldn't it be the duty of every muslim to divert funds to Afghanistan instead of mosques, hmm?
Life is multi faceted. For everyone, not just for you, Chotu.:)
We arent discussing the victory of the taliban against the coalition here, so those trying to prove how superior their beloved taliban were, please dont spoil the topic
Quite frankly, the Talibz are a dead issue now, lets stop admiring them, and bury the dark ages of the country behind.
Karina, I agree, sometimes we fail to see the other side, Asif brought up a good point about babri mosque. I remember when the incident happened, ignorant fools in Pakistan started gathering and demolished mandirs, and some of those mandirs were really old and historic. And yes, they did it all over the country, so it was one mosque and way too many mandirs. I dont think rebuilding them would bring back the historic and aesthatic value that was lost though, same goes with the Buddha statue. As for aid going to vain, that was back in the time when the findamentalists were in control, now there are better people, mainly NGOs who can make sure the aid is not turning into weapons.
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*Originally posted by karina: *
Alternately the Taliban could have sold the Budhas to Japan, who were willing to pay a hefty price for them and have them taken away. But neither choice suited the Taliban, and if anyone is to blame for kids going hungry it is them not the world. The world does not owe anyone a free meal, kiddo.
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Maybe the japanese, koreans and all the other caring sharing buddhist nations should have sent a sit down demonstration force to Afghanistan in protection of the karma-filled stone?
There can't be much positive energy floating about those Isles and peninsulars lately...maybe explains the troubled nature of the region of late...bad karma man.
Spock and the other one dimensional thinkers, what have you to say on the act of destruction surpassing the significance of the target in question?
Karina,
A PS, the world can owe or deny the meals along with the misplaced sentiment buddhiyay :)
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*Originally posted by Chota: *
Spock and the other one dimensional thinkers, what have you to say on the act of destruction surpassing the significance of the target in question?
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I am sorry, I am sticking to the topic, if you want, open up another thread on that topic, and we can discuss that. You called me one dimensional, we all know who one dimensional is, ppl who give them selves reassurances by posting articles about how the Taliban have taken back Afghanistan. In addition to that, bigots like you dont have respect for other peoples religions.
However, I have no sympathy for the talibz, and I am glad they got bombed, they couldnt even put up a fight. Unlike you, I wasnt impressed with this statue demolishing, women abusing regime.
And I supposed you loved the statue of Saddam being pulled down! It mean’t so much to so many too :teary3:
You truly are 1 dimensional spock :hehe:
chotay sarkaar, where did I say I loved his statue coming down? Did this Saddam statue have any historic, religious, cultural value? Even Iraqis hated him. Now that you’ve lost the argument badly, please dont change the topic, over and over again, or go back to posting your news articles on WA about the millions of coalition soldiers dying, over here youre not making any sense.
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*Originally posted by Spock: *
Karina, I agree, sometimes we fail to see the other side, Asif brought up a good point about babri mosque. I remember when the incident happened, ignorant fools in Pakistan started gathering and demolished mandirs, and some of those mandirs were really old and historic. And yes, they did it all over the country, so it was one mosque and way too many mandirs. I dont think rebuilding them would bring back the historic and aesthatic value that was lost though, same goes with the Buddha statue. As for aid going to vain, that was back in the time when the findamentalists were in control, now there are better people, mainly NGOs who can make sure the aid is not turning into weapons.
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Spock, there is no connection between aid and rebuilding those statues. Economically speaking there is enough money to rebuild Afghanistan and the statues many times over. Afghanistan will always feel the lack of funds, and if you want to know why scroll back and see Baba G's post. No one likes to see women and kids in Afghanistan hungry and desperate, but sometimes you can only watch till the people learn to help themselves a bit.
What a load of crap. They’ve been at constant war for 25 years, and all you can say is “They need to help themselves”, and even now while the US terrorists have occupied the country and turned it into even more of a disaster than it once was? Just brilliant.
That’s like a doctor telling a patient in need “Sorry buddy, you gotta help yourself”.
Whenever the Taliban admirers are asked as to why their beloved leaders destroyed these historic statues, they reply by bringing in the American war against terrorism? Cant you ppl realize there was no war when they bombed these statues? Sorry to say, but that decision to destroy statues had nothing to do with an event based in the future.
even though a part of ur post makes sense a doctor cn do nothing for a patient of diabetes than telling him not to take too much sweet.
here the pateint has to help himself out. if he still takes sweet then no doctor can save his life.
that is what is happening in afghanistan.
there is a lot of infighting amonst themselves n how can others bring in order.
Blowing up historical monuments is the cheapest shot possible.. the statues can't defend themselves.. if someone did it to spite those who hold them dear then they are no different than the kid who looses in a game and takes his ball with him.
Is the reason Afghanis don't take pride in them because they are not representative of their religious beliefs?? It'll be a sad day for Pakistan if we lose our architecture ... just because some of them may have been constructed by hindus or British christians doesn't mean they are not 'ours'.
I hope they are reconstructed.. but something says they won't last long as history might repeat itself..
and can we please discuss it without all the personal insults?
Sure, no one has to help the hungry Afghans. They were never asking for any help anyways. The only help they were offerred was “help” to remove and relocate a couple of statues. I’m glad they were destroyed.
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*Originally posted by Fret Wizard: *
How many Americans and Jews were in Afghanistan during the Taliban rule? Afghans have always minded their own business. Now, since the US terrorists have invaded their country, they have every right to destroy them.
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It is apparent that youre supporting the destruction of the statues simply because the Taliban were later bombed by the US, which obviously you dont like. Does this mean we go and destroy the buddha statues in Pakistan, that are found in Moenjodaro, Harappa, Taxila? Trust me, there are alot. Goto Jolian, you will find such statues too, only smaller in size. Should we take rocket launchers and destroy them, following the footsteps of the Talibz? I hope you say no, because the US has nothing to do with it.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
It is apparent that youre supporting the destruction of the statues simply because the Taliban were later bombed by the US, which obviously you dont like.
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It's apparent that you don't know what I'm talking about. It's up to the Taliban to do as they please in their country. No one has any right to say otherwise. I'm glad the Taliban didn't let any outsiders take advantage of them with respect to those statues.
[quote]
Does this mean we go and destroy the buddha statues in Pakistan, that are found in Moenjodaro, Harappa, Taxila? Trust me, there are alot. Goto Jolian, you will find such statues too, only smaller in size.
Should we take rocket launchers and destroy them, following the footsteps of the Talibz? I hope you say no, because the US has nothing to do with it.
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I wouldn't lose any sleep over it if they do. There are far more important things to worry about than buddha statues in Pakistan.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Fret Wizard: *
It's apparent that you don't know what I'm talking about. It's up to the Taliban to do as they please in their country. No one has any right to say otherwise. I'm glad the Taliban didn't let any outsiders take advantage of them with respect to those statues.
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Well fret, does that mean that all the Muslims should not have protested when the Babri Mosque was being destroyed? Does it give the fundamentalist Hindus the right to do as they please in their country.
So you wouldnt mind if they bombed out the statues, monuments, and the historic walls of all those places in Pakistan? Come on, youre an educated person, what impression does that give to the world. Why do we view these little tourist attractions as a threat to our religion?
ermm just out of curiosity how many budhists are there in Afghanistan?...apart from Karzai that is. They should have overthrown the Taliban in force or atleast kicked up fuss by going on a 5 hour hunger strike or something?
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*Originally posted by sweetpie: *
Excerpt:
"International outcry followed the destruction of the giant Buddhas, which were chiseled into the cliff more than 1,500 years ago in Bamiyan valley on the ancient Silk Route linking Europe and Central Asia. The fundamentalist Taliban considered them "idolatrous" and against the tenets of Islam."
Firstly, the Taliban did not make a very smart move by trying to obliterate the statues. They're wonderful historical objects to be preserved for posterity in museums, etc. Secondly, a natural question arising from reading the article is: why did Buddhism not thrive in this region on the world? It would be interesting to know the reason.
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You're all VERY much off tangent here! Therefore, I repeat my post from earlier in keeping with the topic at hand.
Firstly, the topic is under Culture, not World Affairs. Secondly, the topic subject matter is archeological-oriented so whether the Taliban are good, bad, or ugly is a non-issue. Finally, WHY in God's name do you folks always have to reiterate the US vs. Afghanistan discussion even under a topic such as this?! This is too ridiculous.
Yup sweety you're right.
But a certain somebody brought up all the 'karma' crap and the 'fall' of the Taliban.
Getting back to topic, I still say it was a waste of dynamite.
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Originally posted by Spock: *
Well fret, does that mean that all the Muslims should not have protested when the Babri Mosque was being destroyed? Does it give the fundamentalist Hindus the right to do as they please in *their country.
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As I stated earlier, there is a difference between a structure and human life. Yes, it sure does give them the right to do as they please in their country, as long as it doesn't effect human life.
[quote]
So you wouldnt mind if they bombed out the statues, monuments, and the historic walls of all those places in Pakistan? Come on, youre an educated person, what impression does that give to the world. Why do we view these little tourist attractions as a threat to our religion?
[/quote]
If Pakistan destroyed those statues and monuments at their own will, then that is up to them, whether one would disagree or agree with it. however, if an outside country were to bomb those same monuments, then that is a different story, since they have no right to do so.