<underfire> on compassion

[Paul Mercken]

That there is a war of oppression going on against the demand for  
independence of the Northern hindu Tamils by the largely buddhist  
Singhalese (70 % of the population) government does not mean that the  
conflict is religious in nature. Speaking of buddhist violence  
resembles calling the atrocities under Pinochet christian atrocities.

Paul Mercken



Op 14-nov-2006, om 3:30 heeft ANNA MOIRA LANZONA het volgende  
geschreven:

> You might want to include Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhists in your  
> litany.
>
> AML
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ana Valdes" <agora158 at gmail.com>
> To: <underfire at underfire.eyebeam.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 2:37 PM
> Subject: Re: <underfire> on compassion
>
>
> But every religion seems to be very careful with the concept of to
> whom you should be compassionate. In the name of God 40.000 Arabs,
> Jews and Oriental Christians were slaughtered in the First Crusade, in
> the conquest of Jerusalem.
> In the name of the Reform Luther and Calvin killed anabaptists and
> dissidents.
> In the name of Yahvee Cananites and others were exterminated. In the
> name of Alah the Merciful dies suicide bombers and it's victims.
> The only God I never heard any killing related to is Buddah.
> Ana
>
> On 11/9/06, Allan Siegel <allan at kekbicikli.hu> wrote:
>>
>> Every religion seems to have its own definition of compassion;  
>> what is
>> compassion anyway? Is it a sentiment or an action or both; is it an
>> intervention? A state of mind maybe?
>>
>> If we see innocents being maimed or murdered is it enough 'to feel
>> compassion' for their suffering? Is this sufficient? Or is there  
>> another
>> course of action more worthy of the idea of compassion? Was
>> self-immolation
>> by the Buddhist monk during the Vietnam War an act of compassion?
>>
>> It is such a noble concept. Compassion. Bush talked of a  
>> 'compassionate
>> conservatism.' It seems that in the real world, political leaders and
>> spiritual leaders – who talk endlessly about compassion - whose  
>> task it is
>> to give substance to this concept have gotten side-tracked. Why is  
>> that?
>>
>> In a moral universe in which compassion is so central a theme  
>> there seems
>> to
>> be so many violations even dismissals of its relevence. Thus,  
>> within this
>> amoral environment, contrary to popular rhetoric, peace can be  
>> merely just
>> another pit-stop on an extension of the globalization  
>> superhighway. A a
>> momentary layover on the autostrada that connects one conflict to  
>> another.
>>  Compassion devoid of action is gratuitous. Where do compassion and
>> responsibility intersect?
>>
>> a.s.
>> _______________________________________________
>> Under Fire  http://underfire.eyebeam.org
>> 16 October - 10 December 2006
>> International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville
>> all writings copyright individual authors
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>>
>
>
> -- 
> "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth
> with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you
> will always long to return.
> — Leonardo da Vinci
>
> _______________________________________________
> Under Fire  http://underfire.eyebeam.org
> 16 October - 10 December 2006
> International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville
> all writings copyright individual authors
> no commercial use without permission
> to post a message, send an email to:
> underfire at underfire.eyebeam.org
> to unsubscribe, send an email to:
> underfire-leave at underfire.eyebeam.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Under Fire  http://underfire.eyebeam.org
> 16 October - 10 December 2006
> International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville
> all writings copyright individual authors
> no commercial use without permission
> to post a message, send an email to:
> underfire at underfire.eyebeam.org
> to unsubscribe, send an email to:
> underfire-leave at underfire.eyebeam.org
>

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