Alright, that doesn't count as a whole blog post, so I have to extrapolate some more. I found the whole idea that a little porcelain (maybe plastic, I forget) Jesus figurine is so off putting to Sanjeeve really interesting. I gathered that he and Twinkle were Hindus, but I do not recall in any of the experiences that I've had with Hindus that they were specifically against any particular religion. Now, one may offer that Hindus and Muslims in and around the Pakistan area have had long ranging conflict, but really, the root of that is simply in that one or the other is oppressed, which seems to me to be a normal reaction to oppression as it has happened many times elsewhere in the world. Take for example, the Arab-Israeli conflict in Gaza
Monday, February 2, 2009
"This Blessed House"
Okay, in class last week (maybe 2 weeks ago?) we read a short story by Jhumpa Lahiri called "This Blessed House." It was nice.
Alright, that doesn't count as a whole blog post, so I have to extrapolate some more. I found the whole idea that a little porcelain (maybe plastic, I forget) Jesus figurine is so off putting to Sanjeeve really interesting. I gathered that he and Twinkle were Hindus, but I do not recall in any of the experiences that I've had with Hindus that they were specifically against any particular religion. Now, one may offer that Hindus and Muslims in and around the Pakistan area have had long ranging conflict, but really, the root of that is simply in that one or the other is oppressed, which seems to me to be a normal reaction to oppression as it has happened many times elsewhere in the world. Take for example, the Arab-Israeli conflict in Gaza. (You're going to have to copypasta the link if you want to see it, I forgot how to hyperlink, and I' m sorry FOX news was just the fastest find in terms of a somewhat reputable news story.) As such, I do not see Sanjeeve being oppressed by these little statuettes, so I find his resistance to Twinkle's very minor want to keep the statues at least somewhat confusing.
Alright, that doesn't count as a whole blog post, so I have to extrapolate some more. I found the whole idea that a little porcelain (maybe plastic, I forget) Jesus figurine is so off putting to Sanjeeve really interesting. I gathered that he and Twinkle were Hindus, but I do not recall in any of the experiences that I've had with Hindus that they were specifically against any particular religion. Now, one may offer that Hindus and Muslims in and around the Pakistan area have had long ranging conflict, but really, the root of that is simply in that one or the other is oppressed, which seems to me to be a normal reaction to oppression as it has happened many times elsewhere in the world. Take for example, the Arab-Israeli conflict in Gaza
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WHY ARE MY LINKS NOT WORKING?!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Feb02/0,4670,MLIsraelPalestinians,00.html
that's the link to a fax news story about the conflict in Israel over Gaza.
FOX news. Wow, I can't type today.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting. I'm not sure Sanjeev's issue is with Christianity, per se. I think it's the encroachment of American/pop culture in general. It's important to remember that it's not just the iconography -- it's that it's EXTREMELY kitschy iconograpahy. It's not even tasteful or valuable (with the exception of the silver bust, the value of which especially gauls Sanjeev). So here's Sanjeev who has, in some senses, been extraordinarily successful at navigating his adopted culture -- great career; great bank account; great house; great wife -- and yet he ends the story with an unmistakable sense of defeat and resignation. Lahiri seems to be encouraging us to ask, "Hmm, what's up with that?"
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