81 Comments on “Buddhist Religious Symbols Blasphemy”
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Ross Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 12:55 pmThis news item had the useful side-effect of exposing the connection between the Megawati clan and the Sutiyoso clan. I’d have thought, given their history, the last thing they’d be up to is a joint venture.
Actually, the Buddhists have a point. FPI’s Muslim hoods go after bars simply to stop folks enjoying themselves, or because they’re paid to.
Naming a bar after somebody’s God or Prophet, however, is pretty rude. Imagine how Catholics would feel if a bar called Holy Mary’s were opened. Or Prods were invited to drink in the John Knox Night Club…well, probably no great reaction, as Christians are not uptight fanatics bent on taking offence, like so many Muslims.
Nevertheless, I think the Buddha Bar management must understand the deomonstrators’ sensibilities. -
schmerly Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 1:23 pmRoss..
This news item had the useful side-effect of exposing the connection between the Megawati clan and the Sutiyoso clan. I’d have thought, given their history, the last thing they’d be up to is a joint venture.
Money makes strange bed fellows! Yea!
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diego Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 1:24 pmBut… there’s already Bloody Mary, and nobody seem to object.
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David Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pmBloody Mary = Mary Queen of Scots, Catholic tormentor of Protestants, not the virgin Mary.
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Aluang Anak Bayang Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pmThere are 2 images of Buddha: the Chinese version & the Actual version. The actual Buddha pbuh was Allah’s messenger.
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Mr Tic Tac Toe Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 3:30 pm@AAB:
Dude, thats maitreya.You’re comparing siddharta to maitreya(????)
What about the greek version? was he too Allah’s messenger?
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Burung Koel Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 3:37 pmOr Prods were invited to drink in the John Knox Night Club
Er, John Knox was a Proddy, I believe*. And his followers (Scots Presbyterians) aren’t necessarily known for their love of a good time. The John Knox Night Club – I see sermons, soda water and cold showers.
In fact, the FPI would probably approve
*/Smart arse pedant that I am.
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Burung Koel Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 3:44 pmEr, John Knox was a Proddy, I believe*
Shit. Sorry Ross – that was the point you were making, wasn’t it?
I’m an idiot. You may birch me in public*.
* Also available as between sermon entertainment at the John Knox Night Club.
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Lairedion Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 4:07 pmJohn Knox, a church reformer is only world famous with Scottish or Ulster-Scots Presbyterian Protestants. For anyone else it could be a stage name for a well-endowed male porn star. And that would make the John Knox Night Club a cool joint….
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March 9th, 2009 at 4:17 pmRoss started it…
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hary Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 5:32 pmWhat if I opened a Bar called the Kaa Bar. It will only serve Virgin Marys, Shirley temples and non AL’ Caholic drinks…
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ET Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pmI think this reaction of the Buddhists in Jakarta is way out of proportion. They should realize that besides a religious figure Buddha has become an almost universal icon representing a tranquil mind. The hundreds of thousands if not millions of Buddha statues and paintings in all kinds of shapes and postures that are sold alongside Bali’s streets serve as testimony. Will they also become upset about this?
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March 9th, 2009 at 7:29 pm@hary:
Firstly, i doubt you have the courage to do that.If you reaaally want to open a bar named like that, i think you should name your next kid “Kaa” first, or perhaps adopt a newly born, its cheap comparing to the money needed to open a bar.
Then you should perhaps find the meaning of “Kaa” in swahili or something, so you will have an excuse when questioned by cops.
Then you will need lots of money to buy the cops, they are a lot more expensive than buying a baby, of course.
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schmerly Says:
March 10th, 2009 at 1:47 am@AssmadsAngryBitch..
The actual Buddha pbuh was Allah’s messenger.
Here we go again talking out of the black hole!! do you have any proof of that??
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March 10th, 2009 at 3:26 amET said:
They should realize that besides a religious figure Buddha has become an almost universal icon representing a tranquil mind.
I don’t believe Buddhists in general will have a problem with this universal icon image. But can you explain how this image match with a blatantly commercial lifestyle brand appealing to the yuppie culture of the rich and filthy? Selling vintages for more than 10 million rupiah per bottle?
I disagree with the protesters tactics. They better should seek dialogue in solving this matter but they clearly have a point.
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March 10th, 2009 at 10:51 am@ Tic,
Hahahaha. Good one. -
March 10th, 2009 at 10:52 amBTW, I think the Ancient Egyptian word for spirit is Ka. That’s a start.
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Multibrand Says:
March 10th, 2009 at 11:00 amI was surprised when I heard that those students have been reacting in a similar
way that FPI did when they were annoyed, because I always thought that Buddha
has always been peaceful. I hope that there is no hidden agenda as some people say. -
TheWrathOfGrapes Says:
March 10th, 2009 at 1:46 pmhary Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
What if I opened a Bar called the Kaa Bar. It will only serve Virgin Marys, Shirley temples and non AL’ Caholic drinks…hary – you will be stoned to death…
… or thrown behind bars with cathodic probes attached to your temples until you see Mother Mary comes to you….
speaking words of wisdom, let it be…
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March 10th, 2009 at 2:34 pmLairedion
But can you explain how this image match with a blatantly commercial lifestyle brand appealing to the yuppie culture of the rich and filthy? Selling vintages for more than 10 million rupiah per bottle?
I agree. This image doesn’t match at all with the blatantly commercial yuppie lifestyle. But it’s clear that for several reasons in the modern world – hectic lifestyle, competition, objectives, pressure to conform to certain images – the notion of tranquility of mind has become very appealing and successful lately and success has always been hijacked by commerce. Consider it a form of hypocrisy, which in itself is a tribute to virtue.
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schmerly Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 11:38 amWhat if I opened a Bar called the Kaa Bar
Or you could call it the “Apa Kaa Bar”?? yea I know I’m stupid!!
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funny Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 12:05 pmAAB,
Taken your meds yet?
Well, buddhists are usually a peaceful bunch. Buddha bar has been opened for a while now i guess they got fed up or sumthin. Well, I don’t hear any building or tires being burned or death threats or trespassing with intent to destroy or anything like that and they do have a point so…….
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Achmad Sudarsono Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 12:12 pmET,
Good point — the Buddhists don’t get upset about giant, moss covered statues lying on their side by the road in Bali.
Short answer: a symbol can have many meanings to different people.
Let’s be clear though; it’s an organization of Buddhists who were getting upset. And it’s true the Buddha Bar is a bit of a slap in the face for the Theravada Buddhists who are the numerically largest group here. They’re fighting for religious equality.
Again, that’s fair enough, as Sutiyoso regularly unleashed his Islamist thugs on the city. I think it’s important the Buddhists pitch in for minority rights and hold back the fascist, un-Indonesian Islamist tide.
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Burung Koel Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 1:26 pmslap in the face for the Theravada Buddhists who are the numerically largest group here.
Hmmm. Are you sure? Given the conflation of Buddhism with Taoism and Confucianism in the census figures, wouldn’t it be truer to say that most Indonesian Buddhists are in the Mahayana tradition?
On a recent trip to Borobudur with a colleague who works in cultural heritage, we were both pretty appalled by the treatment of the Buddha statues by groups of domestic tourists. E.g. Draping themselves over them, hugging them, patting them on the head etc. – all while having their photos taken.
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Ross Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 2:02 pmActually, going back to the diversion I caused about naming bars after ‘holy’ people, there is a bar on Jaksa called “Mary’s,” though it’s spelt the local way and the only worshippable aspect is the cheapest beer in town -so far as I know.
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Molly Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 3:02 pmPersonally, I think George V restau chain has gone beyond making Buddha as merely a marketing concept. In Buddhism, it is clearly written that drinking alcohol is strictly forbidden. And in this bar, people drink in front of the big Buddha statue. What makes it worse is the restau chain has now come out with Buddha Bar, Buddha Bar Hotel, Buddhattitude Spa, Siddharta Cafe, Karma Cafe, and even records like Siddharta Vol I-III, with titles like “Chain of Fools” and offensive portray of Siddharta. It’s totally an insult to Buddha and Buddhism.
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March 11th, 2009 at 3:29 pmNews flash!!! There are allegations that the premises housing the Buddha Bar were obtained unlawfully. Apparently its a historic building and can’t be used for commercial purposes. so they may close after all.
There are allegations that permits were obtained the old fashioned Indo way, in breach of preservation laws, and with some dollars changing hands.
Buddha, like the Good L–D, works in wondrous ways.
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March 11th, 2009 at 5:17 pmhat makes it worse is the restau chain has now come out with Buddha Bar, Buddha Bar Hotel, Buddhattitude Spa, Siddharta Cafe, Karma Cafe, and even records like Siddharta Vol I-III, with titles like “Chain of Fools” and offensive portray of Siddharta.
What’s next? Karma Sutra Massage Parlor?
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schmerly Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 5:25 pmhary ..
There are allegations that the premises housing the Buddha Bar were obtained unlawfully
Don’t forget who’s involved here.
Sooty and Meggas brats: Renny Sutiyoso and Puan Maharani
So it may not get closed down, as these people are above the law.
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March 11th, 2009 at 9:00 pmDeveloping story:
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