But such a restricted environment in terms of space for thousands of beer enthusiasts to enjoy 6.000 types of worldwide beer and also to socialise would be self defeating for such a Festival and the celebrative spirit in which it will be held.
If what is good for the goose being also good for the gander, then that would be akin to Muslims listening to the urgings of non-Muslims NOT to openly (in public and in schools) slaughter animals during Korban Day.
Now, such a non-Muslim requirement is virtually impossible for Muslims to agree to and would even be considered an 'insensitive' affront for interfering in Muslim affairs, much as the 'nons' might not like Korban Day ritualistic slaughters.
In Malaysian the word 'sensitive' is usually used when the offended party don't want to or lack the patience or ability to discuss the issue anymore and would in all likelihood resort to violence to end the matter, as in slapping the alleged offender (eg. Mat Over slapping David Teo) or in bashing car drivers honking the car horns in front of surau and mosque during Friday prayers.
While I wouldn't equate the serious and pious Korban Day rituals with the entertaining and joyous Better Beer Festival, I would draw attention to them being of and from different religio-cultural values. In other words, a non-Muslim should never interfere in Islamic affairs when it doesn't involve nor affect him, her or family, whilst a Muslim should also observe likewise.
While I wouldn't equate the serious and pious Korban Day rituals with the entertaining and joyous Better Beer Festival, I would draw attention to them being of and from different religio-cultural values. In other words, a non-Muslim should never interfere in Islamic affairs when it doesn't involve nor affect him, her or family, whilst a Muslim should also observe likewise.
The Better Beer Festival with its multitude of beers is obviously haram to Muslims and thus will never involve them. It's not as if the Better Beer Festival will involve the setting up of hawker stalls in Shah Alam or a Malay kampung or in Kampung Baru.
I urge the Muslims (forget about PAS who should all return to Kelantan and Terengganu where Islam reigns supreme) to leave alone non-Muslim affairs to the non-Muslims and not to control what they, the non-Muslims, can, should or intend to do.
I think the PPIM's suggestion that the Beer Festival be held in private premises is fair.
ReplyDeleteThe original Beer Festival was planned to be held openly in the concourse area of a shopping mall which is accessible to all, certainly including Muslims as well as children.
Even if the actual sale of beer was barred from Muslims and minors, the overall festivities of rampant beer drinking in a very public place is sending the wrong message and too much to stomach in a Muslim majority country.
Kuala Lumpur is not Munich.
KL has not been declared as a T-virus infested area mah!!!
Deletei think next we have to makan in private premises during ramadan mth.
ReplyDeletethat has already happened where in schools non--Muslim students were told to eat in toilets
DeleteI had a bit uncomfortable experience on a long-haul flight - both ways - last Ramadan month. Being an MAS flight, many of the passengers were Malays/ Muslims, including the family sitting right next to me.
DeleteDinner - no problem , as it was already after Buka Puasa time.
Next morning breakfast - it was already fasting time. The MAS crew still served breakfast to whoever to whoever wanted it. Obviously , many of the passengers are non-Muslims, including foreigners.
I was wondering whether to decline the meal, because of the Malay passengers sitting both sides of me. I know the smell and sight of hot food is very tough on someone who is fasting.
But I was hungry, took the breakfast, just said Excuse Me to the passengers to my left and right. Luckily they took it sportingly. They just smiled and said go ahead.
Not all Malays are religious bigots.
i notice many malay turn into bigot since najib n hadi reign, i guess this is how they bargain for more dedak.
DeleteWhich non muslim religion advocates beer drinking as part of their religion, appreciate if someone could let me know. Alcohol drinking is not part of any religion but not drinking and not promoting a drinking culture is part of Islam. Now who is being intensive here. Islam teaches us to respect the sensitiviti of other religion n Malaysian muslims have shown it by allowing thaipusam and chap goh mah as well as other non muslim religious festivals to take place. Pls show ur muslim countrymen some love n respect. Love u allsss
ReplyDeleteDrinking alcohol is allowed in Taoism, Confucian, Judaism, major sectors of Christianity (the older sects, eg. Catholicism), Shintoism, Far Eastern (Korean, Mongolian) Shamanism and some say even Buddhism but this should be differentiated from excessive drinking until the drinker becomes a public nuisance or hurts himself via bad health binges.
DeleteIn Buddhism the precept (advice) is "not to become heedless because of intoxicated" so the argument is if one does not become heedless, it's OK to drink. But Buddhists generally do not drink.
Some religions like Judaism, Catholicism, Confucian, Shintoism use wine as votive offerings (to the gods).
For your information, Chap Goh Meh is NOT a religious celebration but merely Chinese cultural celebration to mark the end of the 15-day celebration of spring.
The Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) or Double-5 or "Dumpling Festival" is also a cultural-historical celebration and not a religious one. The festival celebrates the death of Qu Yuan, one of China's greatest patriot. The dumplings and dragon boats were related to his death, in the search for his corpse when Qu Yuan drowned himself.
the way u demand respect border intolerance n bigotry. i am not sure if yr religion advocate this, i always wan to separate religion from believer, i somehow start to think i am the irrational one.
DeleteThe origin of Duanwu Festival(端午节), is an ancient Chinese seasonal agrarian celebration since time immemorial.
DeleteThe various personalities like 战国屈原, 战国伍子胥, 东汉孝女曹娥,现代革命女诗人秋瑾 etc r just locality variations where 屈原 is often been quoted, especially in the Southern parts of China.
I treasure those days when I was young where people of all races have no issues with their differences in public.
ReplyDeleteWhere Tunku dance with others, etc.
Why have we regressed to a community with damaging sensitivities?
politics - the priests like their ancient predecessors in Israel, Europe, India etc want to control the masses. The secular politicians also have the same aim, namely 'control' of people's minds. God or gods have nothing to do with the religiosity - he is just a 'convenient' scapegoat for the unscrupulous
DeleteI somewhat agree with you. Yes, they could have organized the festival in a private enclosed hall or ballroom. I think the government of the day has not done a good job in in harmonizing our so called multi racial society. More often than not, they have done exactly the opposite. It's all about tolerance. Give and take, hopefully giving more than taking. Living in the vicinity of 3 mosques, I'm so used to the calls for prayer that it does not bother me the least bit.
ReplyDeleteI condemn any attempt to claim similarity between an orgy of beer drinking and the solemn religious ceremony in remembrance of Abraham's sacrifice, or
ReplyDeleteWhat a bull!!!
DeleteBoth get the kick of what they desire via physical/material abuse le!