[Buddha-l] Buddhists taking a stand against Islamaphobia

[Richard Basham]

Dear buddha-l, thanks for encouraging me to reflect for a few moments.

A re-statement (below) of summary text from Dan's POV which hopefully
moves from bigotry to mere condemnation of mal-adaptive actions <g>:

>This full-length documentary was produced by ABG Films with funds from
>the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was originally slated to
>run as part of PBS' "America at a Crossroads" series. However, after
>viewing the film, PBS executives told the filmmakers that it was
>"alarmist" and "overreaching" and that PBS would not run it.
>
>The film follows moderate USAns/Jews/Muslims who have challenged the
>"Imperialists/Zionists/Wahabbist" who espouse a more radical view of
>their religion. The film shows the Imperialists/Zionists/Wahabbists
>advocating, among other things, the imposition of
>Exceptionalism/Particularism/Sharia [law on Muslims in the
>West], the colonialism/apartheid/Abrahamic coersion [stoning [of women
>who commit adultery], military actions/violence and terrorism.
>

**

Comment on Franz's:
>So, disagreeable speeches and speech acts are still, at times,
>permissible. We can speak truth to power, and we can certainly speak
>out against injustice. We just need to do so skillfully.
>

Isn't disagreeable speech always permitted? <g> However, optimal
consequences arise when insight, wisdom, and compassion frame the
sharing <G> -- i.e. skillful speech. THH has many examples.

**

To Andy:
>First, how does one "attack" Dharma?  
>

Your question evoked pause, but only. To me, to mandate that others
believe as I do (conditioned mind, delusions) would be attacking the
Dharma, and vice-versa. 

BTW, whereas the Dharma is realistic and pragmatic, conservative USAn
Republicans feel the same about their unrealistic fantasies
(manipulative ideologies). <bait>


>Second, for Gary, can protest, or even "speaking truth to power" be
>Right Speech at all? Justified indignation is still a source of
>suffering. 
>

All of life is frustrating; however, one can minimize their
frustrations (and most likely that of those in their
surroundings); ... . We have to interact with the world, which we are
part of, and 'suffer the [future] consequences'.