Basti Yaqoob Shah

You are talking about another instinct here. The one to survive and increase.

Please read Darwins theory of evolution in the full text. You`ll understand.

Re: # 15

I totally agree with the fact that natural selection is nature`s way, but who said we have to surrender to nature??

And if you beleive it is right to surrender, then mind you, we should close down all the hospitals in the world.

If it is ok, then why pray that calamities like these don`t befall anyone?

If we had surrendered to nature in the ealry ages, millions of people would still be dyeing of mere influenza and cough.

#14,

One thing Kaura promises is his candidness. Kaura suffered a lot because of this trait, and thus resulted in bitterness (Kaura). What could Kaura do? It is an Instinct in him! ;-))


FYI, In ancient Punjab, the weak and sick babies were killed at birth. I do not know how prevalent this practice was. I think this may be too harsh even for Kaura`s views. Even in nature, the less strong of the two cubs are abandoned to die. Natural selection worked wonderfully till leftists and religions starting reversing the process. It sounds harsh and cruel, but from objective nature`s point of view even the good perish without reason.

These days, it seems, one has to be deformed, incompetent, or have another shortcoming to advance. Politicans, radical ideologists (both left and right), religious fanatics are promoting this in one way of another. Nature is still the boss, with one swoop of its might, it will correct all the wrongs of these idiots.

Lastly, don`t get me wrong. As I have already mentioned, I do feel sorry for them, and don`t want such maladies to fall on anyone.

You have to concede that I or someone shouldn`t be made to feel guilty for keeping distance. It is NOT hate or lack of compassion, it is PRECAUTION.

Note to #12 Kaurasach

[Revulsion or reaction to the deformity/disease is an INSTINCT; a natural trait. Hate towards cultural, social, or race is a LEARNED BEHAVIOR. ]
[That is the DIFFERENCE. I hope you understand - it is simple.]

Yes, I agree. And I want to extend this a little further by making the following two points:

1) Many times we see little babies (not old enough to have undergone any particular type of conditioning by society, or “learned behavior” as you called it) get scared of people with a mustache or beard and not do the same with a clean-shaven person. THAT is definitely instinct. When they grow a little older and learn more, they begin to distinguish between what comes instinctively and what is to be based on rationale and they do not base their actual reaction on instinct alone. One must not stay a child forever!

2) During the mid-1980’s some similar arguments were made to discriminate against AIDS patients (e.g., keeping HIV-infected children out of classrooms because parents of “healthy” children did not want to take a chance, since they thought their own children could catch the disease through interaction with the infected kids). The arguments they would put forward would sound very similar to some you have presented in portions of your interact #12. Now, of course we know that virtually all of this fear was irrational! The point is that one must not close the mind completely to other possibilities than what just feels instinctively right!

[This liberal goody goodyness goes away once YOU are directly affected.]

This is actually very true! I applaud you for your candidness in acknowledging it (most people are less candid than you). In fact, disease is actually not the only sphere of life where this applies. (Did you ever see the movie “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”) However, this is something that needs to be worked on (to address a weakness of human nature), not to be accepted simply as a given and given up on!

Cheers.

Re: # 12

Well I think your examples are totally out of context. We are not talking about spouse or children but reaction as a society.

See, we are not creating these deformities, these diseases are an inevitable abnormality of every society and the whole mankind.
Instead of telling our children that repulsing these diseased people is OK, we should tell them to accept them as normal people. Even if 1% of every new generation becomes more acceptable of these people than the previous generations, world would be a better place.

If you`ll tell them that Replusion is OK, next they will shun untouchables from the society, then another group of people, and then another.

Let me put it another way, may be this example will show you a reason.

Would you rather have an offspring that is a victim of a disease/leprosy. Or, would you rather have an offspring that keeps a beard as an adult?

Would you rather have a spouse that is deformed with a disease, Or one that keeps uncut hair, or is a black?

This is a rhetorical question for you.

Ask a Brit if she would rather have a white leper or a bearded and turbaned healthy husband. YOU will be surprised.

If you are such a goody goody, why stop at bringing them into society why don`t you marry off your kids to someone who is ``cured`` and have scars, and has a golden heart and successful business?

This liberal goody goodyness goes away once YOU are directly affected.

Re: # 10

I want to laugh at your categorization!!

Its just one`s beliefs about things and not instinct or learned behavior.

Just like you think that a person cured of leprosy but with 101 scars on his face is ok to be shunned, then tell me whats wrong with British or Americans shunning an indian with beard, skulcap and a turban??

You don`t like a face with physical deformities, they don`t like a face with beard and turban! Simple!

Revulsion or reaction to the deformity/disease is an INSTINCT; a natural trait. Hate towards cultural, social, or race is a LEARNED BEHAVIOR.

That is the DIFFERENCE. I hope you understand - it is simple.

#8 Kaurasach.

Let me clarify myself. These are “fully cured” individuals, who are NOT a threat to the health of anyone! Therefore, the “fear” is strictly based on their appearance (just like some racist individuals would pre-judge people of other faiths based on appearance alone, without bothering to find anything about them). That’s all!

#7,

Yes, so do muslims, Christians, etc.

How does someone wearing a beard, turban, or skullcap, compared to deformity or a contagious disease? If I grow a beard, will you also get one by interacting with me, and die from it? Will a turban wrap around your head if you touch mine, and become bed ridden?

Why are you trying to equate two completely different things; racism and physical diseases?

Stupidity and madness knows no bounds these days.

Comment to #6, Kaurasach:

I think what #3 (Hush) was referring to was the fact that most followers of the Sikh faith retain distinctive physical attributes which are required by the Faith and so can not be changed just in order to accommodate the general population and make that population feel “comfortable”. In the same way, the individuals described in the article (who are all medically cured, you remember, and so not a threat to the health of the society at large) have certain physical attributes (left from the disease) they are unable to do anything about, which still makes the general population uncomfortable without any real basis! So, there is a legitimate comparison (at least as I see it). That’s all!

#3,

* It was dumb of you to compare a disease to a faith.

* I will feel very bad if I had leprosy and people shunned me. But, that is a fact or rule of nature. One person`s emotions don`t call for sacrifice of entire society. The revulsion is a naturally evolved reflex, and rightly so. This practice is a must to contain contagious diseases. I do not blame the people who avoid the victims.

* On a related subject, I cannot comprehend, how billions are spent on AIDS circus and politics, while completely healthy persons perish due to lack of basic necessities.

Obviously, a very touching and sensitive article! However, while wholeheartedly sympathizing with these individuals, let us also not lose sight of the “positives”.

Treatment was received and the patients were cured! These people, although segregated, have a positive outlook on life and are contributors! Their next generation does not suffer from this affliction!

Quite a change from the Biblical times, or even from a couple of centuries ago!

Name of Basti sounds cool. Why is it called that? Basti Yaqoob Shah.

Re: # 2
what a trite and selfish thought!
How would you feel if you were dejected and rejected by normal looking human being just because you have a disease. or more normally, just because you are sikh?

If its one`s choice to keep a distance from the victims of such diseases, then kaurasach, you should also accept racial discrimination as fair!

How would you feel somebody looking down upon you just because you are a sikh?

People are expect to help such victims not turn their heads around and go their own way.

I pray that such maladies never befall anyone, and if curable should be cured.

Keeping the emotions aside, what do you expect?

There should be no guilt associated with one`s or society`s choice to distance from victims of such dreadful diseases.