Putting Religious Extremism in Perspective

Hey, Loud-mouthed Racist Guy on the Subway- know who you're talking about! Quit speaking such nonsense. Muslim does not automatically equal extremist, just as American doesn't automatically mean libricide. Look how few extremists there really are. The guy who made this had to inflate the relative size of Al-Qaeda and the would-be Qur'an burners just so you could see the insignificance of their numbers.

And still this guy, going on and on, like there's no common ground between the most of us!

What do extremists have in common, regardless of religion, within and without the U.S.? Their hatred of pluralism - the radical notion that we should embrace more than one idea. It's "both/and" not "either/or".

Which is why you, Loud-mouthed Racist Guy on the Subway, don't seem to get that when you treat people like they're all the same, like they're all extremists, you yourself are being an extremist jackass. Run tell dat to your equally-ignorant friends. Then read a book or something.

Time Lapse Mandala

My good friend Madeline of Madeline May Write pointed out this awesome video of Buddhist monks creating a beautiful mandala from colorful sand. A mandala is a geometric design that in its microcosm represents the whole universe. They are typically created as a form of meditation and are totally, utterly rad.

A funny thing about both mandalas and the universe, that is so perfectly demonstrated in this meditative practice, is impermanence - the work of art, the human person, the environment which we share- all of it is not meant to last, and won't.

Which makes me wonder: does the fact that it is on film bear any relevance to the monks? Does the mandala "remain" and still exist, as far as the youtube viewer is concerned? I can't answer this with any certainty; I'm not Buddhist and have a mere enthusiast's weak grasp on the idea. I imagine that it would bother the monks, yet they consented to being filmed in this noble pursuit of blessing all the world.

Perhaps they hadn't thought about that. Or, perhaps more likely, they figure youtube as impermanent as the sand painting.

Holi 2010 is as Psychedelic as Last Year

Students Celebrate Holi in Indore, India [and a fine Tropicália album cover]

All photos via Boston.com's The Big Picture

No day could be more joyous for me than the day I find my way to India for Holi, both the festival of colors and the most appropriate way to welcome Spring of any people on the planet. On Monday this week, the annual explosion of mirth, spontaneity, and the sheer delight of high contrast, potent color powder erupted all over India as it has since at least the 7th century. Another year I'll yearn without end to have attended; slinging pure color all over your neighbors and friends is the perfect image of freedom to me.

As one adept commenter captured it: 

Holi, very simply and unceremoniously reveals the golden key to happiness. The festival breaks all norms; it ignores all social inhibitions. For once, absolute freedom is given to human desires and senses. A day is given to live life as per one's liking. From dancing like mad and singing loudly to using foul language, and from playing with colours to doing all mischief- one day in a year makes us small innocent kids.  

To every Hindu, Buddhist, Sihk, and to every little Johnny Singh or Janey Gupta -- to all the wonderful people who take their part in making the universe even more radiant -- Happy, happy Holi!

 

 

 

 

Save some powder for me, next year [maybe, just maybe].

Wiki on Holi

[As far as I can tell] Holi's official site

Holi and the use of Bhang