Pop quiz: How long would it take for a bar featuring a huge Muhammad statue, overlooking all the tasty drinks and appetizers, to be burned down? My guess is between five and seven seconds.Even normally laid-back Buddhists, though, have got their backs up over Jakarta's Buddha Bar. Hence the new ruling that the trendy spot be shuttered, as offensive to the religion's followers. Fair enough, I suppose, since a massive Christ looming over one's mai-tai would probably be considered offensive too.
But note well that this Buddha Bar chain has a New York City outpost, which has gobbled up tourists' money for years now, with nary a peep from the local community. I suppose with ultimate enlightenment on their minds, true Buddhists have greater things to think about than who's misusing their religious iconography ...
Today's Top Stories
Stocks can go up? Hallelujah
US financials show signs of life
Aussies freed from Indo jail
Silly Papuan trip sparked international crisis
SBY kicks off Defense University
Praises warfare of all kinds
Not the way to woo EU
MD-90s keep crashing
Posts
6 comments:
Not sure about the Christ comment, didn't that Jesus guy have a reputation for putting poor wine makers out of business. Bugger the grapes just give us some water and it's party time.
Indeed ... wonder if it was cabernet or merlot??
I don't drink mai tais but I guess if I had drunk enough of them, then I am guessing I could probably see Muhammad, Jesus, Buddha, and a few Hindu Gods and prophets sitting down to a good dinner at the bottom of my glass (kinda like reading the tea leaves).
I still think the Buddha would be thinking that perhaps the whole thing is in poor taste, perhaps even offensive, but there is no need to sweat the little stuff.
On the Muhammad bar, the Jesus bar, and myriad of others is interesting because, let's face it, Indonesia probably has millions of people called Muhammad and let's assume one of them decides to open a bar and calls it Muhammad's or we are travelling through Mexico or somewhere and come across Jesus' bar?
Offensive? hardly.
I concede that this is clearly different with the use of the word Buddha and the subsequent iconography with the use of the image of the Buddha. But, if it was simply Siddharta's would this be a problem?
I read in today's Kompas that the Buddha bar's licensing and permits are all in order and that the agreement would allow for the historical or heritage building, which the old immigration building is, can be used for a restaurant. The Buddha Bar would probably loosely fall into the resto category.
Just some thoughts.
Cheers
I am sure Buddhists in general do not care about these things, but the 'temperature' in Indonesia is totally different. Maybe because FPI keeps on protesting this and that, making those of other (more peaceful) religions feel ashamed of themselves for not defending their Gods as 'dilligent' as the FPIers. :p
I'm sure Bill Maher's documentary Religulous could've had fun with this one ...!
Nike shoes
Cheap nike shoes
Discount nike shoes
Nike shox r4
nike shox shoes
puma cat
cheap sport shoes
cheap nike shox
cheap nike max
nike tn dollar
nike running shoes
nike air max tn
puma shoes
discount puma shoes
puma mens shoes
puma running shoes
puma shoes
ed hardy clothes
ed hardy shirts
ed hardy jackets
ed hardy hoodies
ed hardy boots
ed hardy polo shirts
ed hardy shoes
ed hardy jeans
ed hardy outerwear
ed hardy long sleeve shirts
ed hardy bags
ed hardy winter boots
ed hardy handbags
ed hardy love kills slowly shirts
ed hardy love kills slowly shoes
ed hardy love kills slowly boots
ed hardy trousers
ed hardy mens
ed hardy womens
ed hardy t shirts
ed hardy sunglasses
ghd hair straighteners mk4
hair straightners
ghd iv styler hair straightener
ghd hair straightners
cheap ghd hair straighteners
Post a Comment