"If trailer is an indicator of the content of the movie... then we feel this is most likely to hurt sentiments of seekers of various spiritual paths," Bhavna Shinde, a representative of the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Sanatan Society for Scientific Spirituality, said in a communique.
"It will hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus worldwide, who hold the 'Guru-disciple' relationship as sacred," the communique said.
Ladies and gentlemen, the great protectors of our religious sentiments are at it again. According to news reports, various Hindu organizations have petitioned the FCC in the US and the Censor Board in India to prevent the release of Mike Myer's upcoming movie, The Love Guru.
What I want to ask these so called religious zealots is, Who died and made you king? Whatever gave you the right of representing 'Hindu sentiments' worldwide? And above all, who made you the representative of God? Didja get an email? Do you have a will? A document giving you a power of attorney perhaps? Anything? No? I thought so.
What gives you the right to decide what is offensive or not? Or what is right or wrong? If you don't like something, just don't go and watch it. No one is forcing you. However, you have no right to prevent others from watching it.
And pray tell me, if your belief in your religion is so strong, why is it shaken up by a single satirical movie?
All you are trying to do is scuttle free speech in the name of religion. What makes religion so sacrosanct that people cannot question it? Or make fun of it? Nothing is so sacred that it can't be made fun off. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Let everybody else form their own opinion.
Just because someone says "Religion" he is allowed to act crazy. Every foolish decision, every foolish tradition can be forgiven in the name of religion.
And God is not so week that he needs these people to defend him. I think he's doing fine on his own.
We forget that freedom of expression implies that all opinions are allowed to co-exist together. Even those which are not of the majority. Or which do not appeal to the majority.
However, I am sure that the movie will face a slew of protests when it is released in India, assuming it is allowed to be released in India. Satanic Verses, anyone?
And if it is released, theaters would be stormed, their owners would be threatened, Paramount's office in India will be picketed and someone in Gujarat will file a case against Mike Myers.
Another one for our Xenophobic protectors. Clap Clap, ladies and gentlemen, clap clap.
