westerners and symbolism- blog by Rajiv malhotra - on behalf of KE

[Guest guest]

[this is the response by Koenrad Elst to me when I asked him about

this blog- Kishore patnaik]

 

I don't know anything about this blog. The words attributed to me,

though rather abrasive, do essentially represent my position, though I

can't remember the discussion. The reply by Rajiv Malhotra is, I

believe, not about the same thing I opined on. I never thought of

disputing that a lot of consequential symbolism surrounds the US

presidency and power structure. My point was the specifically Hindu

concern about religion, with the endless Hindu campaigns against all

manner of slights to their gods and symbols. In that respect, I

maintain that the contrast with Europe (unlike the US) is pretty sharp.

 

The context was specifically religious symbols. In Europe, these are

frequently ridiculed in art and in writing. In militantly secular

countries like France and Belgium, the law does not protect them. In

1968 in the Netherlands, where it did, a landmark court ruling

effectively abolished the blasphemy law when it refused to punish a

homosexual writer who had imagined having sex with God in the form of

a donkey. Rather worse than the Tamil poster showing Rama and

Hanuman urinating. Recently, a Protestant group trying to piggy-back

on the rising Muslim assertiveness, went to court to have another

insult to Jesus punished but was turned down. And these things happen

in court almost without anyone noticing, commenting or caring. Even

the US has some experience with this, as in the artwork " Piss Christ " ,

though I agree that there it arouses more controversy. So, as Rajiv

Malhotra once told me in person, there is a considerable difference

between Europe and the US.

 

This carelessness about symbols does extend somewhat to secular and

political symbols as well. I recall a discussion between Thai and

Dutch students about some disrespect to the picture of the Thai king.

The Thai students said: " Would you tolerate it if someone spit on the

picture of your queen? " To which the Dutchmen replied: " Do your

worst, we expect the heavens to fall if you do. " Which for my

generation would be an honest statement of heartfelt opinion. The

American exaltation of the flag does look pretty weird to us.

 

As for Belgium, I dare say I know the situation. Maybe it's that

blind spot, but I had never considered the political mobilization to

prevent (c.q. to effect) the partition of Belgium as a matter of

symbolism. This is a power struggle between interest groups with

tangible power and money at stake. If I'm missing something, I'd like

to hear about it.

 

Feel free to post this on whichever discussion forum is appropriate.

 

KE