use Perl

• All? (Score:3, Interesting)

  by rafael (2125)

  This morning the radio woke me up announcing the visit of the Dalai Lama in Paris. Just a thought...
  • Re:All? (Score:2, Insightful)

    by jordan (120)

    The Dalai Lama in Paris? Were there demonstrations, calls for the removal of his travel documents and immediate expulsion?
    

    I know some people in France consider religion an "Unnecessary Evil".
    

    ...Or maybe it's just the Christian religion? That must be it. No one would dare apply the term "Evil" to any religion except for Christianity, certainly not Buddhism, certainly not Islam. No, that would be considered insensitive.
    • Re:All? (Score:2)

      by rafael (2125)

      Firstly, the Dalai Lama is considered here more as a political authority (the lead of the resistance against the Chinese assimilation and colonization of Tibet) than an religious one. In spite of their colorful folklore, there are very few Tibetan Buddhists on the planet currently.

      Secondly, your assertion that atheism or agnosticism may lead to religious intolerance is just pure FUD. If you want to find a country were the Dalai Lama would be unwelcome on the sole basis of his religious opinions, you'd bett
      • Re:All? (Score:1)

        by jordan (120) on 2003.10.15 11:06 (#24883) Homepage Journal

        • Firstly, the Dalai Lama is considered here more as a political authority (the lead of the resistance against the Chinese assimilation and colonization of Tibet) than an religious one...

        
        Ask the Dalai Lama if he considers himself to be a religious leader or a political leader. I think you'll find that he considers himself to be both [tibet.com].
        

        • In spite of their colorful folklore, there are very few Tibetan Buddhists on the planet currently.

        
        

        I think you'll find the Dalai Lama is one of these Tibetan Buddhists. There may be more than you think. Before the Chinese seized Tibet, I believe that just about everyone in Tibet identified themselves as Buddhists. Now, they may be more or less afraid to make that association.
        

        • Secondly, your assertion that atheism or agnosticism may lead to religious intolerance is just pure FUD.

        
        

        I wasn't the one who suggested that a specific religious group is an "Unnecessary Evil" [perl.org], neither was it you who made that remark, but it was someone who identifies themselves as an atheist. However, the person who did make that remark happens to be French, so I couldn't resist the temptation to point out that a Religious Leader is in Paris now. I doubt that this person would refer to Tibetan Buddhism as an "Unnecessary Evil".
        

        Religious intolerance? No, not really. Certain people consider Christians "Evil" and "Unnecessary" while other Religions are just examples of diversity.
        

        BTW, how do you like being baited?

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        • Re:All? (Score:2)

          by rafael (2125)

          The Dalai Lama might consider himself -- and be considered by Tibetans -- as a religious authority, that's usually not revelant when he's received by political authorities in non-Buddhist countries, including India, where he lives. I very much doubt that Bush, receiving him at the White House not so long ago, considered him as a religious authority. Neither does Debré.

          And you're surely joking when you're asserting that Robin's game of words about the well-known idiom "necessary evil" was to be taken
          • Re:All? (Score:1)

            by jordan (120)

            I'm sure you're right about this. Being European and thus far more worldly and informed that a silly American like myself.

            I expect it's just a mistake that the President's press Secretary insisted that he was a spiritual and religious and not a political leader [whitehouse.gov]:

            Q Ari, is the President prepared to press China on Tibetan rights? And why didn't he meet with the Dalai Lama in the Oval Office, why in the Roosevelt?
            
                      MR. FLEISCHER: The President met with him in the