Beats-wearing Buddha begets blasphemy beef in Burma

William Haskins · Mar 20, 2015

Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) - A court in Myanmar this morning convicted a New Zealand national and two Burmese for insulting Buddhism, the Southeast Asian country's dominant religion. During the trial, all three had strongly rejected the charges of blasphemy.

The controversial case stems from an online advertisement for an evening of cheap booze that showed the Buddha with headphones listening to music.

Philip Blackwood, who managed the VGastro Bar in Yangon, was arrested last December along with its owner, Tun Thurein, and Htut Ko Lwin, the other bar manager. The New Zealander and his two Burmese colleagues were sentenced to two and half years in prison.

Like other Asian countries, Pakistan for example, Myanmar has a law that outlaws insulting or defaming religion. For Judge Ye Lwin, who ruled in the matter, public apologies on Facebook by the New Zealand national after the complaint of "blasphemy" were not enough.

The court ruled that he "knowingly conspired to insult religious beliefs" when he posted the defamatory picture of the Buddha.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Blas...e-convicted-for-insulting-Buddhism-33738.html

c.e.lawson · Mar 20, 2015

Bummer

CassandraW · Mar 20, 2015

It's a bitch, and it's bullshit.

Alessandra Kelley · Mar 20, 2015

Well, this is a country called out by the U.N. a couple of months ago for one of its most politically powerful Buddhist monk leaders calling the UN special envoy a "bitch" and a "whore."

The Buddhists are seriously hardcore in Burma.

c.e.lawson · Mar 20, 2015

Alessandra Kelley said:
Well, this is a country called out by the U.N. a couple of months ago for one of its most politically powerful Buddhist monk leaders calling the UN special envoy a "bitch" and a "whore."

The Buddhists are seriously hardcore in Burma.

You mean beriously bardcore, don't you?

Vince524 · Mar 20, 2015

Bueller.

CassandraW · Mar 20, 2015

This barren bickering is beside the point. Blame the bombastic bullies who beat down brave combatants bringing to bear our birthright to unbridled expression.

Vince524 · Mar 20, 2015

You're bonkers

CassandraW · Mar 20, 2015

Your belittlement bothers and bewilders me. But I shall bear it bravely.

William Haskins · Mar 20, 2015

Because the Buddha did not get angry when others abused or insulted him, Buddhists do not feel that they have to get angry on his behalf. The Bodhicaryāvatāra makes this point in relation to the desecration of Buddhist shrines and symbols. ‘Hatred towards those who speak insultingly about or damage sacred images or stūpas is inappropriate. The Buddhas do not get angry at such things.’ None of the legal codes of traditional Buddhist cultures included blasphemy as a criminal offence.

See more at: http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=40#sthash.4HBVmW6E.dpuf

CassandraW · Mar 20, 2015

Buddhists beatifically brook blasphemers.

Diana Hignutt · Mar 20, 2015

CassandraW said:
Buddhists beatifically brook blasphemers.

But because boozer bookers broadcast their blasphemy they began to bust them.

CassandraW · Mar 20, 2015

Diana Hignutt said:
But because boozer bookers broadcast their blasphemy they began to bust them.

But the Burmese jackboots are blatantly and brazenly oblivious to Buddhism's brush-off of blasphemy. It's bogus.

Magdalen · Mar 20, 2015

Blessed be the Buddha with his boogie on, while bar keeps sing the blues; these be blighted, mis-begotten buttons be-dazzeled on Friday's shirt, blithely tossed burnt-offerings in the laundry bin of wax, faith and incense. I'll light a candle for them.

CassandraW · Mar 20, 2015

Beautiful and brilliant. Brava.

Filigree · Mar 20, 2015

CassandraW · Mar 20, 2015

Filigree said:
Yes.

Boo. That doesn't begin with a "b."

robeiae · Mar 21, 2015

*blinks*

Backs away...

CassandraW · Mar 21, 2015

*brutally beats robo with baseball bat*
*beams*

c.e.lawson · Mar 21, 2015

CassandraW said:
*brutally beats robo with baseball bat*
*beams*

I think, for this thread, Robo should be called Bobo.

CassandraW · Mar 21, 2015

c.e.lawson said:
I think, for this thread, Robo should be called Bobo.

Perhaps for every thread. And he should sport a bright red bulb for a nose. That would give all unwary newcomers fair warning of what is to come.

c.e.lawson · Mar 21, 2015

CassandraW said:
Perhaps for every thread. And he should sport a bright red bulb for a nose. That would give all unwary newcomers fair warning of what is to come.

Hahahaha, yes. And perhaps William wouldn't mind being called Bill. Just for this thread, of course.

CassandraW · Mar 21, 2015

William will always mind being called Bill. Not that we should be dissuaded.

For purposes of this thread, you may call me "bitch."

robeiae · Mar 21, 2015

c.e.lawson said:
I think, for this thread, Robo should be called Bobo.

Bobo the chimp?

I think I'd prefer T-Bone.

Rufus Coppertop · Mar 21, 2015

In statues he sits on a lotus,
the teacher who told us to notice,
that dharma's a boat,
to cross a wide moat,
to the palace of truth it'll float us.

Beats-wearing Buddha begets blasphemy beef in Burma

William Haskins

poet

c.e.lawson

CassandraW

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

c.e.lawson

Vince524

Are you gonna finish that bacon?

CassandraW

Vince524

Are you gonna finish that bacon?

CassandraW

William Haskins

poet

CassandraW

Diana Hignutt

Very Tired

CassandraW

Magdalen

Petulantly Penitent

CassandraW

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

CassandraW

robeiae

Touch and go

CassandraW

c.e.lawson

CassandraW

c.e.lawson

CassandraW

robeiae

Touch and go

Rufus Coppertop