Comments on: On Palin Effigy and Freedom of Speech

By: Aleta

Aleta — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:14:00 +0000

I came back to this post and reread my response. I have to ask for your forgiveness. I generally don’t come off so strong in my responses, as least, I hope I don’t. Some things I’m passionate about and your post was one of them. But now I see, you’ve opened my eyes more, that in some cultures, this isn’t a hate crime as much as it is an expression. I still don’t agree with it being done… but that is my heritage showing. I’ll keep a more open eye and heart to posts. Hoping for your patience and understanding.

By: Kavi

Kavi — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:05:16 +0000

When people fit to be effigies become leaders who rule us, the swamp that we are in will continue to haunt us.

Aleta's comment is interesting! It seems to me that the person those 'rolls of waste' is supposed to signify makes a ton of difference ! Perhaps all the difference.

And one can see whats happening when effigy burning is stoked with fiery divisive discourses. That is highly combustible. Like we are seeing now..

By: Vivek Patwardhan

Vivek Patwardhan — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:41:23 +0000

Dear Aleta and Ugich Konitari,
Thanks for your comments and observations. The write up has a background of some undesirable trends in Indian politics. When symbolically we must destroy the ‘bad’ as in burning effigy of Ravana, the message is that we must remove bad tendencies. The problem is when people get angry and burn effigies, the insensitive leaders ignore [and can afford to ignore] the feelings of people. So the sensitivity of US citizens is a welcome change.

By: ugich konitari

ugich konitari — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:57:42 +0000

Come to think of it, burning of effigies is a symbolic cultural thing for us. We burn Ravana effigies at Dassera, and folks in Goa burn Narkasura effigies in Divali on the first day. All acompanied by a huge public outpouring of excitement.

I suppose nobody would have paid any attention here if someone had simply and quietly hung an effigy outside their house like they did for Palin.

But maybe this effigy stuff is a bit new for the US....(I may be wrong , too)

By: Aleta

Aleta — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:09:16 +0000

Hmm, it's ok to do it to a Palin effigy, but God forbid if someone did the same for Obama. BIG difference - HUGE consequences - THEN it becomes a hate crime.

I don't like it. Period. For either party. I think it's poor taste and disgusting, be it for Palin, Obama or any political or otherwise figure.

But the differences, that makes it all the worse.