Comments on: Madhu Shrine: the struggle to preserve the sanctity of a sacred shrine and humanitarian space http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/ groundviews is an award winning Sri Lankan citizen journalism initiative Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:43:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Exiled http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-785 Exiled Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:06:12 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-785 V, Amen to you V, Amen to you

]]> By: V http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-784 V Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:54:41 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-784 To Exiled, "respecting what they believe in or care about is an integral aspect of showing respect to them as human beings. " Amen to that! To Exiled,
“respecting what they believe in or care about is an integral aspect of showing respect to them as human beings. ”

Amen to that!

]]> By: Exiled http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-783 Exiled Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:21:41 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-783 V, I totally agree with you when you say 'real Christianity lies in the practice of the principles of love, compassion, and non-violence' BUT you need to remember that this is what you feel. If it is important to another person we must respect it. many things in the world are of symbolic importance to the lives of its people. sometimes, violating or destroying such symbols have an intense impact on the psyche of these people. for example, when you ride through the streets of Kayts you see the bullet ridden homes which used to be symbolic of many things not merely materialistic but also sentimental. Even though in person I was way remote from such destruction, it was painful enough for me to just see such it, and shared an intense moment of the pain and frustration that those people would have felt. I also agree about bestowing the same reverence/ respect on human beings, but respecting what they believe in or care about is an integral aspect of showing respect to them as human beings. V, I totally agree with you when you say ‘real Christianity lies in the practice of the principles of love, compassion, and non-violence’ BUT you need to remember that this is what you feel. If it is important to another person we must respect it. many things in the world are of symbolic importance to the lives of its people. sometimes, violating or destroying such symbols have an intense impact on the psyche of these people. for example, when you ride through the streets of Kayts you see the bullet ridden homes which used to be symbolic of many things not merely materialistic but also sentimental. Even though in person I was way remote from such destruction, it was painful enough for me to just see such it, and shared an intense moment of the pain and frustration that those people would have felt.

I also agree about bestowing the same reverence/ respect on human beings, but respecting what they believe in or care about is an integral aspect of showing respect to them as human beings.

]]> By: V http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-782 V Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:54:22 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-782 For Christ's sake it is just a statue! I am still astounded by the irrational belief in what is (let's face it) just a piece of wood/ceramic. Real Christianity lies in the practice of the principles of love, compassion, and non-violence, not this mindless faith in effigies. That goes for you Buddhists too who prostate yourselves before statues of the Buddha while 'attaching' yourselves to ridiculous ideas like Sinhala-Buddhism (ethnicity has no place in Buddhism). If the same reverence that is bestowed on these statues was directed at our fellow human beings, I suspect we wouldn't be fighting this stupid war. For Christ’s sake it is just a statue!

I am still astounded by the irrational belief in what is (let’s face it) just a piece of wood/ceramic. Real Christianity lies in the practice of the principles of love, compassion, and non-violence, not this mindless faith in effigies. That goes for you Buddhists too who prostate yourselves before statues of the Buddha while ‘attaching’ yourselves to ridiculous ideas like Sinhala-Buddhism (ethnicity has no place in Buddhism).

If the same reverence that is bestowed on these statues was directed at our fellow human beings, I suspect we wouldn’t be fighting this stupid war.

]]> By: Justin http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-781 Justin Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:12:10 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-781 The government is trying everything within its means to win this dirty war, though, any sensible person would know that this war is unwinnable. Attacks such as the one to the Madhu shrine will have much publicity and the Sinhala nation will "feel happy and clap their hands", thinking that the war is being fought to victory. People will not clamour against hardship arising from the high cost of living due to the war expenses. This is the dirty strategy of the government. "liberation of Mannar" is a rhetoric by the government to convince the world that there is" liberation". If there is liberation people become free and secure immediately. Not after 50 Years! The government is trying everything within its means to win this dirty war, though, any sensible person would know that this war is unwinnable. Attacks such as the one to the Madhu shrine will have much publicity and the Sinhala nation will “feel happy and clap their hands”, thinking that the war is being fought to victory.

People will not clamour against hardship arising from the high cost of living due to the war expenses. This is the dirty strategy of the government.

“liberation of Mannar” is a rhetoric by the government to convince the world that there is” liberation”. If there is liberation people become free and secure immediately. Not after 50 Years!

]]> By: Babu http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-780 Babu Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:24:44 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-780 The author demonstrate the local knowledge and I feel it is not bias. The fact is that the GOSL likes to take control of the place, otherwise why not declare the place as a sanctuary. Bishop clearly indicated that they agreed with LTTE for this provided President RP agrees, but no response and now it too late. Any one who have common sense knows the Goverment on is on offense and they want to take over north as well. The author demonstrate the local knowledge and I feel it is not bias. The fact is that the GOSL likes to take control of the place, otherwise why not declare the place as a sanctuary. Bishop clearly indicated that they agreed with LTTE for this provided President RP agrees, but no response and now it too late. Any one who have common sense knows the Goverment on is on offense and they want to take over north as well.

]]> By: sham2 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-779 sham2 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:02:08 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-779 liberation cant be done overnight. it makes sense for the liberators to cover their backs from double crossing turncoats who masqurade as journalists and aid workers and civiliens. so there will be cautionary practices by the liberators. this was done in all wars since time immemorial and will be done till end of days. dont expect too much ruki. liberation cant be done overnight. it makes sense for the liberators to cover their backs from double crossing turncoats who masqurade as journalists and aid workers and civiliens.

so there will be cautionary practices by the liberators. this was done in all wars since time immemorial and will be done till end of days.

dont expect too much ruki.

]]> By: Tania http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-778 Tania Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:10:59 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/07/madhu-shrine-the-struggle-to-preserve-the-sanctity-of-a-sacred-shrine-and-humanitarian-space/#comment-778 Dear Ruki, When I read your post I cannot help feel that you display a bias (albeit a very subtle one) towards LTTE. I hope it is not intentional and your future posts will appear more neural. Dear Ruki, When I read your post I cannot help feel that you display a bias (albeit a very subtle one) towards LTTE. I hope it is not intentional and your future posts will appear more neural.

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