Re: [tied] Digest Number 2804

From: macfaust@...
Message: 43579
Date: 2006-02-27

Marius,
 
You would not have written what you did had you been aware of the Hindutva (fundamentalist Hindu) attempt to get California textbooks rewritten recently to reflect their beliefs (faith, not science).
 
They have engaged in racial and ethnic slurs against Michael Witzel, Madhav Deshpande, Stephen Farmer and many others because they did not agree with their views.
 
They have pretended to represent themselves as Dalits ("untouchables") setting up fake websites presenting the Dalit point of view as corresponding to their own and that of the BJP party in India. These websites have been exposed as the frauds they were.
 
But I need not go on. All you need do is read some of the more recent posts on the yahoo list "Indo-Eurasian_Research.
 
Exposing faith-oriented belief as non-scientific is hardly the same as denouncing the religion as a whole. The Hindutva movement is a political and religious based group with a point of view to impose on others.
 
Please bear in mind that there are members of religious groups who wish to impose their views not only on others who are not co-religionists, but also members of their own faith.
 
And this doesn't belong on a list which is meant for scientific investigation of languages and their inter-relationships.
 
I wonder what you mean by "dangerous", Marius, when you attack Daniel for trying to tell the truth?
 
Please go to the yahoo list I mentioned. You'll be surprised by what you read there. The credentials of its members are impressive. They do not deserve to be attacked solely for disagreeing with an attempt to pass belief off as science.
 
If you are interested in discussing this matter further, I suggest that you write me offlist.
 
I can only wish that Mr Kelkar himself write in good faith and good will.
 
Best wishes,
 
Michael Pajak
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
In a message dated 2/27/2006 11:59:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, alexandru_mg3@... writes:
Daniel, if there is 'an obsession here' is your obsession against 'the
fundamentalism'. This kind of obsessions is a more 'dangerous
fundamentalism' than that ones that you acussed here.

I prefer the persons that have a strong faith (even their faiths could
lead something to wrong conclusions at least every one here knows Mr.
Kelkar's position) than the persons that try in any occassion to
destroy the faiths of the others...


Best Regards,
   Marius