Hindus and Muslims find common ground

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Who says Hindus and Muslims disagree about the fundamentals of culture and religion? In certain instances they CAN be in agreement. What better day than Valentine’s Day to showcase said agreement. Or should I call it “Prostitution Day?” From NDTV.com:

Shiv Sainiks continue to play spoilsports on Valentine’s Day.

The Delhi unit of the Sena has planned to hold a protest march near the Delhi University area, and have decided to call it ‘Prostitution Day’, because of what they see as a poisoning influence of western society.

“Valentine’s day is turning the youth away from our true culture and traditions. Growing commercialisation by certain vested interests is further leading them up the wrong path,” said Delhi Shiv Sena chief Jai Bhagwan Goel.

The government in Saudi Arabia has similar sentiments as reported in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Each year shortly before Feb. 14, the country’s religious police mobilize, heading out to hunt for – and confiscate – red roses, red teddy bears and any signs of a heart.

In a country where Valentine’s Day is banned, ordinary Saudis find they must skirt the law to spoil their sweethearts.

The Valentine’s Day holiday celebrating love and lovers is banned in Saudi Arabia, where religious authorities call it a Christian celebration that true Muslims should shun.

The only good part about this is that forgetful men, who are bad boyfriends, have a legitimate excuse to show up without flowers. “Look honey what do you want from me? The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice would have arrested my ass.”

“Female voices demand the re lease of the red rose [red roses are banned today],” read a headline in Sunday’s Asharq al- Awsat.

Women complained to the paper that no one had the right to ban flower sales.

In a town outside Riyadh named Thumama, Sheik Abdullah al-Dakhil, head of the muttawa, or religious police, told Al- Eqtisadiah newspaper that “despite awareness campaigns and the confiscation of flowers, chocolate and other items, there were 15 infractions” for Valentine’s Day indiscretions last year.

Frontpage Magazine has an interesting article on a jihadist’s view of Valentine’s Day:

“Al Gharam mamn’uh, al Gharam kufr,” screamed the self-declared cleric in al-Ansar’s chat room this Friday. “Love is forbidden, love is infidel” — said the online fatwa about the “legitimacy of loving and being in love.”

A weekend before Valentine’s Day, jihadist souls were not questioning the “commercialization” of romance, but inquiring about the ban on “being in love.” The “scholars” said human love is evil. The simple feeling of being attracted to or in love with someone is a terrifying sin if it is committed outside of their religious dogma — and it warrants serious punishment.

“Al Hub” (basic love) — said one of the scholars online — “is not permissible outside commitment to Jihad.” The subject of romantic love was new and overwhelming to the al-Qaeda sympathizers, who were busy dodging the “decadent feeling.” But it was too close chronologically, too well publicized, and too difficult to escape on the web.

Suddenly, a marquee rolled an ad for Valentine’s Day in the room. The room shouted its objections, but the ideologue could not ignore reality. “Sometimes we’ll have to absorb our reaction and control ourselves. This Valentine Day is a dark day, it is poison, but by the will of Allah when the Caliphate will be established, Valentine will be smashed.”

“Valentine will be smashed?” I guess that means none of us single folks will have to look at people holding hands after that happens.

16 thoughts on “Hindus and Muslims find common ground”

  2. I absolutely agree with the groups that are protesting Valentine’s Day. There’s no way that my proud Hindu children will celebrate anything that glorifies a mythical, human-like creature with a bow and arrow who has special powers and wears distinctive clothing. No way, ever.

    Oh, wait.

  4. There’s no way that my proud Hindu children will celebrate anything that glorifies a mythical, human-like creature with a bow and arrow…

    Umm, which one?

  7. ““Al Hub” (basic love) — said one of the scholars online — “is not permissible outside commitment to Jihad”

    Great so now as I run with flowers towards my girl with a dogged look of determination of my face, I can shout “Al Jihaaaaaad”. (Which would be followed by about 500 people shooting me and the roses if I were in a gun permitting state like Gawgia. Nothing like some good bollywood drama for Valentine’s day)

  8. I understand why the muslims in Saudi Arabia are nutty (hint: it is because they are nuts), but I guess the Hindus are forgetting the story of Kirsna and Radha. If I understand it, that was a love story, no?

  9. Valentine Day is evil? I just thought it was a capitalist ploy by tha man to make the uncoupled masses feel like asses. HAHAHA! It rhymes too! I`m drinking way too much sake these days!

    I dont like the sound ofProstitution Day. It is way too harsh because if you are coupled you can have a great Valentines Day playing lots of indoor sports like praying to your God. I`ve got an idea. How about VD (Venereal Disease) DAY? HAHAHA! I wrote a post about this on my blog. Happy belated VD Day to you all! Excuse me, while I lose my mind in Japan 😉

  10. The funny thing about these shiv sena idiots opposing valentines day is that chastity and the whole ‘love is evil’ thing are not actually traditional hindu values.

    They are a result of the same islamic and british colonial influcences that the Shiv sena and other hindu nationalists abhor.

  11. Shiv Sena – led by the same value espousing Thackeray who once proudly led reporters to his bathroom to show the commode where Michael Jackson took a piss.

  12. Ms World,

    The odd thing is that prostitution is legal in India, so if Valentine’s Day is Prostitution Day, it achieves legal clout and protection…

    😛

  13. Well, people, no one ever said India was totally sane. If it were so, then so would its children be.

    Epoch – great point. That one just makes me fume. Hinduism has nothing to do with sexual conservatism. Obviously! All the British did was force everyone to do it missionary (pardon the pun).

  14. SJM- I like your missionary pun but I can`t laugh out loud or my Japanese co-workers will get suspicious.

    Is prostitution really legal in India? Im going to look this up. If this is true, then Im stunned and really confused.