Conversation with a confused friend
Friend: Dude, why have you been trying to highlight the positives of Asaram Bapu instead of disowning him? He is a "blot on our nation".
Me: Why do you hate Asaram so much?
Friend: Because he is accused of some misdoings.
Me: Have they been proven in court?
Friend: Not yet. But you know Nithyananda was caught in the act & we had all seen it on TV which you cannot deny anyway.
Asaram is no different.
Me: Wait wait, hold on. Don't you know Nithyananda was framed? That video was morphed. It was proven in court, not just in Indian court but even in USA as well. All the TV channels which had broadcast that video were ordered to apologize.
Check this:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nat...ise-to-Ranjitha/2013/09/03/article1765099.ece
Friend: Whatever!! But you know Asaram has made some unwanted irresponsible statements.
Me: Wait for a sec. I will come to it later. By the way, I saw your recent post glorifying Muhammad Ali. Do you know what statements he had made?
Friend: Ali was a legend, my role model. Now I am curious. What statements he had made?
Me: He had always reiterated his anti-women stand by stating "Women are inferior to men". He had said "Males are made to rule females, a women possibly cant be man's equal". He gave talaaq to his first wife just because the length of her gown was less. He was a racist & said jews are devils.
Friend: Dude, stop it. Why do you want to look at all such negative sides of the legend? So what he has said women are inferior to men? That's just a statement. It might be his personal opinion. Why don't you look at his achievements. Doesn't he deserve appreciation for his accomplishments? He has won 40 medals in boxing.
Me: Exactly. That's what even I have been saying in the case of Asaram Bapu. Look at his contributions to the society. He has built 400 ashrams & 40 gurukuls.
Friend: But, but.. What about his statements?
Me: No but, no gut. You agree that Muhammad Ali made irresponsible statements and still want to glorify him because you want to look at the positive side that he won 40 medals for himself. Whereas in the case of Asaram Bapu, you don't want to appreciate him for building 400 ashrams & 40 gurukuls (not for himself but for citizens). Why this double standards? Either praise both Muhammad Ali & Asaram Bapu for their accomplishments while ignoring their statements, or criticize/disown both for their statements & ignore their accomplishments. But this selective appraisal of Muhammad Ali & selective defamation of Asaram just shows your confusion & vulnerability. Why this hypocrisy? Have you fallen for the secular media propaganda?
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<5 mins>
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Me: Why no reply yet? Are you there?
<Your message could not be delivered because you are blocked by the remote user>
PS:
What I have mentioned in this post is just the tip of the iceberg. He had made much more inflammatory & controversial statements.
Surprisingly the same liberals who disown Asaram Bapu for just 1 controversial statement, are trying to lecture us to be a bit liberal towards Muhammad Ali & respect him for his achievements. Here is one such recent piece:
http://www.firstpost.com/world/muha...-why-do-we-need-to-whitewash-him-2818956.html
In this interview excerpt, you can hear it directly from the horse's mouth, insulting women who wear short dresses & implying that every sane woman should cover up fully including hijab:
Racism controversy:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/213354#.V1bZG3F97nA
However, I am not asking anybody to disrespect Muhammad Ali. I also respect him for his achievements & I know he is a role model for many. Having said that, all that I am asking is for some consistency in logic. If you want to respect Muhammad Ali for his accomplishments despite his controversies, then you must apply the same logic to Asaram Bapu as well. Or if you want to reject Asaram Bapu due to his controversy, then you must reject Muhammad Ali as well. i.e It does not matter whom you respect or whom you disown, but all that I am asking is some consistency. Is it too much to ask for?