Priests Purify Shrine After Bush Visit

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060305/ap_on_re_as/india_bush_dogs&printer=1;_ylt=ArXrhdSFFGiPRpm9BFWJ_0_9xg8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Priests Purify Shrine After Bush Visit

20 minutes ago

Hindu priests who look after the memorial of Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi conducted a purification ceremony at the shrine after a visit from President Bush. But it wasn't the president who offended them, it was the sniffer-dogs who scoured the area ahead of his visit.

After the dog visit, the memorial was cleansed with water brought from the Ganges river, which Hindus consider holy, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported Sunday.

Bush visited the memorial on Thursday during his three day visit to India. The site, where pacifist icon Gandhi was cremated, is considered sacred and all visitors, including Bush and his wife Laura, removed their shoes before going in.

The dogs, flown in from the U.S., were part of the intense security surrounding the president, but the Hindu priests believe they tainted the site......

[Selatius]

1. Why would Bush visit Gandhi's memorial?

They are so diametrically opposed on almost everything about life...especially the issue of war and violence.

[geomon666]

32. Probably went there to piss on it.

You know that's not too far fetched.

[saigon68]

76. A gallon of bleach

And a toilet bowl brush were needed

[3waygeek]

42. This is why...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. snicker

good one. :)

[antonialee839]

2. But it wasn't the president who offended them, it was the sniffer-dogs

Yeah, that's the ticket, it was the sniffer dogs.

I wonder if we can borrow some of that water to scrub down the White House after the * impeachment?

[Ilsa]

20. The permanent staff will have to re-upholster

everything to get the beer stains out. No telling where he kept his stash of booze and other drugs there.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

39. Ain't plausible deniability wonderful?

:evilgrin:

[jus_the_facts]

3. NO it was because of the DOGS...* and pickles....

:rofl:

[LiberalFighter]

31. ?? Do you mean they were sniffing pickles??

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[jus_the_facts]

38. Nope...that's Laura's nickname...I meant her and W....

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[ChristianLibrul]

4. purification

Everytime Chimpy comes to Nashville, the air smells like rotten meat. After his last visit, God gave us a good storm to wash the air clean.

[RC]

5. That 'dead meat' smell is from all the death and destruction bu$h

leaves in his wake. A pint of Clorox to a gallon of water will help clean up after he is gone.

[Ilsa]

18. Welcome to DU, CL!

:grouphug:

[wakeme2008]

6. And why did they have to bring DOGS there

Am I missing something with this picture.... Does not look like anyplace they could put a bomb. :grr:

[Delphinus]

11. Hey,

when you're as paranoid as the boy king, everything is a potential hiding place. If he was a good person, there'd be no need for all this special security. He knows he's a hated man - because that's what he holds in his heart. Like attracts like.

[TheBaldyMan]

22. chimpy thought there were WMDs in Iraq

and that's before he got paranoid.

[bperci108]

27. When I heard he was going to visit Ghandi's tomb...

...I wondered if the earth would split open and swallow the bastard up.

It would have been appropriate. :grr:

[xxqqqzme]

69. not being picky but

technically it is not a tomb - Ghandi was cremated.

[existentialist]

29. What,, and pass up a chance to offend people?

That's just not the way the Bush Administration does things . . .

[leftchick]

7. I could not believe it when I saw this photo

I knew it was an insult to India. He should have never gone anywhere near Gandhi's tomb.



A U.S. security personnel inspects the Mahatma Gandhi memorial with his sniffer dog before the arrival of U.S. President George W. Bush at Rajghat in New Delhi March 2, 2006. Bush was given a grand reception in India on Thursday as officials from both countries edged closer to a landmark nuclear deal and communist and Islamist groups vowed more mass protests. REUTERS/B Mathur

[Disturbed]

8. Shrub is an insensitive asshole with no respect for anybody.

He is a disgrace to America.

[DesertRat]

15. How insulting!

The US "tainted" the site. :thumbsdown:

[truth2power]

24. That dog looks awfully thin...

don't they feed them properly??? Geez!!

[wordpix2]

30. my first impression, too. Feed your dogs properly, you greedy chimp!

[JudyM]

34. Yeah, maybe they keep them hungry intentionally.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

72. There are kept on a diet

so that they(them foreigners)won't eat them. :silly:

[liberal N proud]

9. That head line rocks

Purify Shrine After Bush Visit LOL :rofl:

[soup]

14. Yep.

Out of all the headlines I've seen over this national disgrace, the top two are my favorites:

Priests purify shrine after Bush visit
Hindu shrine purified after Bush visit

Gandhi memorial 'purified' after dog visit
Priests Purify Shrine After US Visit
Hindu priests purify Gandhi memorial after visit by Bush sniffer-dogs
Gandhi memorial `purified` after Bush`s sniffer-dog visit to Rajghat

[no_hypocrisy]

10. This country needs to be purified b/c of *

[DELUSIONAL]

12. EVERYWHERE bushie goes Priests should follow behind

to purify the place.

Darn good idea -- the symbolism is priceless.

[JNelson6563]

13. Yeah, uh-huh, sure, it was "the dogs"

;-)

[Dissenting_Prole]

16. god made gold for the temples. Didn't god also make dogs?

People in religious cults are morons. The most basic critical thinking goes out the window.

cult: A religion or religious sect, especially ritualistic. A system or community of religious worship and ritual. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.

It seems to me that Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Baha'isim, Judaism all fit this definition.

[truthisfreedom]

17. God, Dog, look at the spelling. it's right there.

obviously dog is the opposite of god.

[Dissenting_Prole]

63. Thanks! I guess that explains this:

[lumpy]

33. You forgot to add Atheism

to the 'cult' list.

[Dissenting_Prole]

59. Can you provide some examples of atheistic rituals?

I'm sure there must be some.

[wickerwoman]

51. Judging where my dog has been

and what he eats, I wouldn't say anyone was a moron for considering dogs "unclean" and breaking out the bleach when they've been jumping around on something.

What's moronic is thinking you can judge everyone else's beliefs from your position of moral/intellectual superiority.

And I'm an atheist.

[Dissenting_Prole]

61. I don't think "unclean"...

...is the same as dirty, by their definition.

We're all carrying around dirt and little bugs on us. Does "god" care? god made bugs.

Think of it this way: If a pig pees in the water and a chicken drinks the water and a Muslim kills and eats the chicken (making sure to bless the chicken according to Muslim law, of course), will the Muslim risk paradise because he ate molecules that were once part of the pig?

When you break things down far enough, the rules are no longer so black and white.

I'm willing to bet that more than half the population around us has been indoctrinated with some kind of illusionary belief that flies in the face of reality. Why is it that the majority would laugh at a group that believes aliens created us and are coming back to meet us, but we are told to accept someone/s belief that a loving god sent his "son" to be stapled to a stick and tortured, he became undead and floated into the sky and he will come back and retrieve only the ones that believe this story, and the rest will be tortured by the loving god?

I'm not saying there are no mysteries in the universe. I'm saying, none of us knows. So let's stop trying to bullshit each other, and stop bullshiting ourselves. No book, or holy tablet, or wise man, or guest on Montel has the answers.

Consider that we are at a point in history where resource depletion, peak oil, over-population, water shortages, and global climate change are reality. We need to be wide awake. We have work to do. It's time we stopped believing that Santa Claus is going to make all our dreams come true.

10.23.2005
If You're a Christian, Muslim or Jew - You are Wrong
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/if-youre-a-christian-mu_b_9349.html

[Bridget Burke]

55. So--what have you done for the world?

Are you better than Ghandi?

Please, impress me with your philosophy.

[Dissenting_Prole]

60. Does it matter?

Did Ghandi have to belong to a cult to be a worthwhile human being?

Do I?

Who says I have to do anything "for the world"? Maybe the best thing you can do for the world, is to do as little as possible. Ya know, live simply so that all may simply live. Do I need to belong to a cult to do that? Do I need to consider dogs to be less than we are?

My dog has harmed no one. I trust my dog, and so can you. I can't say the same about my fellow humans.

[Bridget Burke]

62. No, you don't have to do anything at all.

Live your life alone. Then die & be buried in a grave that nobody will visit.

[Dissenting_Prole]

64. Why would anyone visit a grave?

Why would anyone want to remember someone as a decomposing body in the ground?

[Bridget Burke]

65. Because the remember the person buried there....

Better to be forgotten.

[Dissenting_Prole]

66. Oh, I'm so lonely here in the ground!

No one visits. Nothing to do. Nothing on TV.

:)

[fujiyama]

74. You forgot Islam

Just figured you should complete your rant.

[area51]

19. purification

If I had a holy shrine, I'd want to purify it after a war criminal like Bush came to visit.

[Danmel]

21. Does this White House have PROTOCOL people ?????

How freaking hard would it be to find out that this would offend Hindu beliefs? If they couldn't send him somewhere without bomb sniffing dogs, then don't send him there. The arrogance and entitlement and lack of any understanding of or respect for anyone elses's beliefs and culture is mind boggling.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

45. Protocol has never been an issue before

Why would the asshole start now?

I'm convinced the only reason he visited the shrine was to take a jab at peace-loving people everywhere. How convenient that the dogs could add further insult!

[okasha]

23. The White House is going to need an exorcism when he leaves.

It would be a grand opportunity for a major interfaith event.

[Bucky]

26. Typo: I think you meant "if" he leaves.

Or hadn't you heard about plan 9 from outer space?

[BoneDaddy]

25. Talk about cognitive dissonance in religion

I love the fact that they use the water from the Ganges to "purify" the memorial. That water is pretty freaking toxic itself. Religion in spite of science.

[lumpy]

35. A spiritual path is difficult

to understand isn't it? I pity the person who has none.

[BoneDaddy]

44. Okay

so you think because I don't subscribe to the Hindu belief that the river Ganges is sacred, I don't have a spiritual path? LOL Are you serious? Should I then agree that Israel is the holy land? or that Nazi Germany is the fatherland?
Just because a culture makes a point of being their axis mundi, does not mean it is that for everyone.

Wake up

[Nihil]

41. Cleansing is relative

> I love the fact that they use the water from the Ganges to
> "purify" the memorial. That water is pretty freaking toxic
> itself.

Compared to the murdering turd who desecrated the shrine, the
horde of ignorant "bodyguards" who trampled everything and the
taint of the photo-op visit itself, even three-day-old urine
would purify the memorial.

> Religion in spite of science.

If you had a clue about the beliefs of people outside your own
circle of friends then you wouldn't have posted your comment.
As it is, you are merely reinforcing the world's perception of
your beloved leader as "a True American" instead of the sham
that he is.

[BoneDaddy]

46. I have a clue

I am quite familiar with the vast majority of religions out there and where i can value them as very important glimpses into the culture of a people, I do not necessarily have to belief in their particular superstition (ie: ganges being a sacred river) in order to appreciate it. The reality is that river is full of a great many disease sources. Look if you want to be really spiritual, help the fucking poor in India and stop believing in mythology as fact.

[Nihil]

54. You hide it well

> I am quite familiar with the vast majority of religions out there
> and where i can value them as very important glimpses into the
> culture of a people

If that was truly the case then you wouldn't have made such a dumb
comment in the post I replied to.

> ... stop believing in mythology as fact.

If you had a bit more of a clue then you wouldn't think that I
"believe in mythology as a fact" ...
:eyes:

> The reality is that river is full of a great many disease sources.

The reality is that your beloved leader cared so little about the holy
place of another religion that he defiled it. The reality is that you
don't appear to care about that act of desecration & gross insensitivity.
The reality is that the "purification" is not to clean away germs or
disease and your short-sighted attachment to this combined with the
mocking of their religious activities puts you in the same category
to the world outside your country (i.e., "ignorant, arrogant American")
as that great diplomat who represents the USA.

Like I said earlier,
> you are merely reinforcing the world's perception of
> your beloved leader

[BoneDaddy]

57. obviously...

you are a hindu from India. Look, retract your claws a bit and take a chill pill. You are taking my comments totally out of context. I can't stand George Bush for one and I think him attending the Ghandi memorial akin to a member of the neo nazi party visiting Aushwitz. I was trying to inject a little levity into the situation.

Now, you can certainly take offense to whatever you want to, that is your perogative. You can also make believe that the rive Ganges water is not full of harmful bacterium and believe that it is actually holy and that it's water is purifying. That is your perogative too.

On a symbolic level I totally understand purifying the temple because of GW and not the dogs as I believe he carries more toxic energy than any animal.

I am sorry I caused you offense but I think you need to take a little bit more of a lighthearted approach to your religion, you wouldn't want to confuse yourself with the religious nutjobs in the world.

[Nihil]

68. Thank you!

I apologise if I took your comments out of context - I thought
I was replying appropriately - but regardless of that, thank you
for making me smile this evening ...

> obviously ... you are a hindu from India.
+
> I think you need to take a little bit more of a lighthearted
> approach to your religion

I honestly cannot recall ever being confused with a Hindu
before but I take it as a compliment. FWIW, not many people
who know me would describe me as "religious" either but
sometimes a stranger's comment may strike a chord that would
otherwise remain silent.

After withdrawing my claws and taking a "chill dram" I'll reach
out with a virtual hand to :toast:

Pax.

[BoneDaddy]

78. Me too

I extend my hand as well. Thanks.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

50. it's a "symbolic" act--- they weren't trying to use Cleanser on it !!

or Formula 409--!!

[BoneDaddy]

58. I am aware of that...

I was making a fucking joke... You know what is funny? This hypocritical board makes fun of Christianity constantly but it seems God forbid you make a wise crack about Hinduism or point out one of it's inconsistencies, you are branded insensitive or taken totally out of context. I

thought it was hillarious, symbolic gesture or not, that they used the water from the Ganges, a well known filthy river to "purify" GW's prescence.

Is Hinduism off limits? Not to me. I think there is something extremely funny about all religions and they need to be taken lightly for all their superstitions.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

73. that's like being white and making Black jokes

I mean what's wrong with a good racist joke right?
Jeeze!
How 'bout a good Jew Boy Joke!
Would you believe some people just can't quite find it in 'm to
laugh at a good boat to Africa joke!
or a good Gay joke!]
Or a really good Muslim cartoon!


It's not like there's a religious war going on or anything!
or like we are in any danger of WWIII or anything!

[BoneDaddy]

77. your analogy is really off

Sorry I aint buying it.

[NoodleyAppendage]

28. Maybe we can outsource the purification ceremony for the WH in 2008.

It would be a AWESOME stunt to have a purification ceremony for the White House to rid it of King Chimp's stench after 2008.

JB

[Algorem]

36. how about using human-animal hybrids? can they sniff good?

[lumpy]

37. Not funny

x

[Fleshdancer]

40. This reminds me of the time the Bush clan destroyed.....

Queen Elizabeth's cherished gardens by trampling all over the place. Remember that story?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

47. I don't remember that...

I'll have to see if I can google a link...

[Lisa]

67. yes -- not only that, the WH ordered a bunch of renovations ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/12/11_mancha.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/16/nbush16.xml

"At Buckingham Palace there is bewilderment and some resentment at the sheer scale of American security requests for the duration of Mr Bush's stay. The Palace knows how to do state visits. But there has never been one quite like this before.

"They wanted blast- and bullet-proofed windows," one senior courtier told the Telegraph. "They wanted strengthened curtains and strengthening to the walls of the President's suite and the other rooms that he would be spending time in during his two-day stay."

The proposal, which would have meant substantial building alterations, was firmly turned down by the Queen. But anxiety levels among the Bush security team continue to grow."


http://www.alltoohuman.org/blogarchive/000106.html

"To add insult to injury, Bush's security men trashed the Queen's gardens. They painted big H markers on the lawn for helipads. They trampled rare species of flowers, some of which were named after members of the royal family. Some shrubs and trees that were damaged have been there since the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th Century. The Queen is said to be "furious." The Daily Mirror reports "The repairs will cost tens of thousands of pounds but the damage to historic and rare plants will be immense" and that 30,000 visitors for a garden party "did not do as much damage as the Americans did in three days.""

[lumpy]

70. Better than a Popemobile

Bush needs a heavily armoured suit rather like the famous 'bear proof suit'. Maybe a armoured box with necessary attachments for depositing flower petals, armoured straws to drink the libations affered him, etc. to protect him while whizzing around the world. Sonmething to eliminate the damage done by his extensive entourage.

[Lisa]

71. the comedy show "That's My Bush" showed him donning medieval armor!

There was one episode where he becomes paranoid, and lumbers around the White House fully encased in a breastplate, helmet, etc.!

[goforit]

48. dogs my ass.

[sakabatou]

49. As we know,

no person can ever get that Repuke smell out of stone...

[Hekate]

52. I sure would. I'd burn sage by the basketful.

What possesses * and his handlers to trample on other people's sensibilities -- really for no reason.

Remember his stay at the Queen of England's residence during his first term? US security forces swarmed all over the place, and in the process the prize rose garden was just about wrecked. A lot of the plantings go back a century -- or did.

Hekate

[Chovexani]

53. As someone said upthread

The White House is gonna need a hardcore cleansing when those fuckers finally leave it.

[Stockholm]

56. LOL yeah as usual blame the dogs!

n/t

[fujiyama]

75. If they are offended more

by the bomb sniffing dogs than Bush being there, they are idiots.

I'm sorry. I understand being offended by Bush visiting considering he shares not a single thing in common with Gandhi.