That's cool. If I make personal its bad. Whatever.

wow - i retract, then. The impression I received was that such a ludicrously inflammatory romp could only be made in jest - it was so over the top, that I assumed you were kidding, and I responded in like. My fault, and I apologize to everyone else for stepping to bat for you.

---

Anyway, if you really want to discuss this - why would Ghandi attempt to destroy the caste system in India? It is interwoven into the culture and religion of the region, and while to western minds it reeks of abasement and unfairness, our way is just that - ours, and no more important, fair, or universal than any others.

Also - you're going to have to explain the "Indians/Native Americans" comment - are you implying that a statistical majority of people who trace their roots to the Indian Subcontinent would now claim their ancestry to be that of the Native American people? If so, I doubt you'll be able to find a statistic to back that up, and I really request a cite.

This whole thing boggles my mind - not that you're questioning Ghandi, but the presentation left something to be desired if you were aiming for serious discussion.

You're not totally wrong, my Bostonian Friend, it was partly in jest. But Hinduism is not the only religion in India, and regardless of faith, the caste development later than Hinduism as a way to "keep people in their place," so to speak.

Plus, its always good to think critically of historical figures. Not everyone in India, for example, loves Ghandi. Not everyone in Spain hates Franco.

Re: I hate Ghandi
 

you didn't offend me at all by your comments, in fact, this statement is hilarious.

test

I really resent you Optimist Prime, for making Imthechamp seem like the MOST REASONABLE PERSON ON THE BOARD.

It is really good to know something about damn near Cannonized world leaders before you criticize them.

Ghandi was against the caste system, he came out oppoising it AND used the legistlation to make inroads stopping it. He even took in an untouchable child (UNHEARD of for someone in the an upper caste). He was killed by a Hindu fundamentalist for the many changes he made, including those to the caste system.

It would be almost IMPOSSIBLE to abolish such a deeply ingrained social system in one generation, and the man made SERIOUS strides in bringing India into a modern era.

KSigRC, I am all for cultural relativism and whatnot, but at some point certain social systems are just wrong. The caste system is prime example no. 1- JUST this side of slavery IMO.

:cool: :cool:

*slaps optimist prime HARD*

lovelyivy84, that's a great point! Damn, there has been an uncommon amount of common sense on GC today.

I resent you for the Cannonized comment. Stop forcing your religion on me. Slavery was ended in one generation. It had aftermath to be sure, but it was legally ended by the 14th amendment.

you know you love me :cool:

whatever:p

Slavery was technically a legal institution and could thus be ended in the legislature. People were slaves because the law said so.

The caste system is not JUST a legal system, it didn't even BEGIN as a legal system. It is a tenet of their religion and social system. People are untouchables because their society and religion say so. What the law says won't MATTER if people think that it isn't proper or right.

And please say why you resent cannonized? I was not using it in the Catholic sense (like they are REALLLLY going to make a saint of a HINDU- please!), merely to indicate that Gandhi is pretty much Universally loved. He is. Everyone except you likes Gandhi.

ETA: That cannonized thing really bugs. I'm not even Catholic, lol. Excuse me for having a large vocabulary.

You're so sexy when you talk smart.

-Rudey
--You community college kids always amaze me.