Why is it ?...............

[bazwillrun]

Hindus complain about a stamp they find offensive and the Post office capitulates and says it wont have any more printed, yet if i say i find their presence and culture here offensive thats classed as racist

[january_bug]

Please provide a link to the story you are referring to. Thank you.

[blinkyblinky]

yaaaawn....... its the way of the world, get used to it, get over it

[january_bug]

lol with blinky

[WaldoMcFroog]

Perhaps because:

1) you're not comparing like with like.

2) Your statement is 'displaying discrimination or prejudice based on race' i.e. the er... dictionary definition of racist.

If a Hindu organisation depicted Christ on the cross as Kali with eight arms being nailed up, but refused to change it after your protestation, then you might have a case.

Hope that clears your confusion for you.

[january_bug]

Waldo - do YOU know what story baz is talking about? I'm very much looking forward to a link to the story in a reasonably neutral news source.

[shaneystar]

Here you are buggy and it was in the paper recently.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4420896.stm.
I have no opinion..a stamp is a stamp is a stamp!!

[shaneystar]

Blast ..my link didn't work.If you go to the BBC website and type in Royal mail hindu stamp you will get the link...sorry.

[january_bug]

Thanks shaneystar. :-)

Well, I think it was possible to answer the question anyway, and Waldo did it. Having a problem with a stamp because of the use of imagery found offensive is one thing, it is QUITE another to claim to find the "presence and culture here" of all Hindus to be offensive. The Hindus in question were complaining about a stamp, which bore a picture painted by a Hindu artist. They were not asking for the removal of Christians and all things Christian from the country.

bazwillrun - do you SERIOUSLY find the "presence and culture here" of Hindu's to be offensive?

[jake-the-peg]

Wow!

And people are actually asking why that would be offensive!?!

Maybe they'll follow that up with a stamp of the pope bowing at the feet of Muhammed. Or lickable stamps made from porkfat?

What were they thinking of?

[MsBadely]

Well, I for one think it's outrageous and I will not be purchasing another 68p stamp until these are no longer available!

[january_bug]

In all fairness though - it was painted by a Hindu, and is on display in a Hindu country. So clearly not ALL Hindu's found it offensive. That said, it was a pretty big judgement error for the Post Office to have made.

jake - baz wasn't asking why the stamp was offensive I think. It seems he was asking why Hindus have a right to complain when he's not allowed to say that he "finds their presence and culture here offensive".

[jake-the-peg]

Agreed but Bacon's 'screaming popes' are on display in galleries.

I think if somebody thought that would be appropriate for a Christmas stamp there might be the odd complaint and a quick background too.

I'm not normally a defender of religious sensibilities but this is a bit of a whopper!

[Chessman]

I find baz's post a offensive, but thats my right, and I will not be reporting him to the race police. But to address the issue, and not wanting to stir things up too much, only one person of a different culture, in todays England, has to complain that something is offensive on race or religous grounds, and the authorities will agree, and take action. What if its the other way around, one wonders.

[january_bug]

That's probably true Chessman. I put it all down to feelings of guilt over our imperialistic past. right or wrong, I think today's authorities are trying to make up for racism in the past.

[Chessman]

I think you've hit the nail on the head jan-bug, in todays age, we, and by we, I mean the country, are always apologising for the Empire, so really, its a nationwide guilt complex, and as for making up for it, thats fair enough, but where will it end.

[Zen]

How would Nelson and the country have fared if he had been subject to modern political correctness and health and safety regulations? We would all be speaking French now!!

You are now on the deck of the recently renamed 'HMS Appeasement!'

Nelson - Give the order to hoist my signal Hardy.

Hardy - Aye Aye Sir

N - Hold on - that is not the signal I dictated to my signals officer.

H - Sorry Sir.

N - England expects every person to do his duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion or disability. What gobbledegook is this?

H - Admiralty policy I'm afraid, Sir. We're an equal opportunities employer now. We had devils own job getting 'England' past the censors, lest it be considered racist

N -Gadzooks, Hardy Hand me my pipe and tobacco.

H - Sorry Sir, All naval vessels have been designated smoke-free working environments.

N - In that case, break open a cask of rum. Let us splice the main brace to steel the men before battle.

H - The rum ration has been abolished Admiral. It's a part of Governments policy on binge drinking.

N - Good heavens Hardy, I suppose we had better get on with it. Full speed ahead.

H - I think you'll find there is a 4-knot speed limit on this stretch of water.

N - Dammit man, we are on the eve of the greatest sea fight in history. We must attack with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest, please!

H - That won't be possible Sir.

N - What?

H - Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest sir, No harness. They say that the rope ladder does not meet with regulations. They won't let anyone up there until a proper scaffolding can be erected.

N

[Zen]

Part 2 -

Then get the ships' carpenter without delay, Hardy.

H - Unfortunately he's busy knocking up wheelchair access to the fo'c'sle, Admiral.

N - Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd.

H - Health and Safety again, Sir. We have to provide a barrier-free environment for the differently abled.

N - Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of admiral by playing the disability card.

H - Actually Sir, you did. The Royal Navy is under-represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency.

[Zen]

Part 3

N -Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons.

H - A couple of problems there, too Sir. Health and Safety won't let the men aloft without crash helmets. And they don't want anyone breathing in too much salt - haven't you seen the adverts?

N - I've never heard of such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy.

H - The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone, Admiral.

N - What? This is mutiny.

H - It's not that Sir, It's just that they are afraid of being charged for murder if they actually kill anyone. There are a couple of human rights lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks.

N - Then how are we supposed to sink the French and the Spanish?

H - Actually Sir, we're not!

N - We're not?

H - No Sir, The French and Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a huge claim for compensation.

N - But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil.

H - I wouldn't let the ship's diversity co-ordinator hear you saying that Sir You could be up on a disciplinary.

N - But surely you must consider every man an enemy who speaks ill of your King.

H - Not any more sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest, it's the rules.

N - Don't tell me - Health and Safety. What happened to rum, sodomy and the lash?

H - As I explained Sir, Rum is off the menu, and there is a ban on corporal punishment.

N - What about sodomy?

H - I believe that is to be encouraged Sir.

N - Thank God for that - In that case - kiss me Hardy!

[Gef]

Absolutely brilliant zen. Best laugh I've had in a long time but unfortunately much of it seems to be true of modern society. If you made it up yourself congratulations, if you got it from another source have you got a link so that I can email it to my friends.

[Zen]

http://www.politicallyincorrect.me.uk/

Left hanside menu - Nelson.