Regarding the discussions going on, it was really fantastic and its sure that we all gained great deal of knowledge and information. I wont say Sri stopping the discussion is right or wrong.Its right in many aspects and may be wrong in some aspects. If you see the origin, the discussion started somewhere and went into religion and then into Caste etc etc..as Sri said, we are humans and may tend to cross our limts. So lets take it in the right spirit and consider 'So Far So good' and move to the next orbit.
But I think, everyone here will accept few things as the outcome of this discussion as well as whats prevailing...to summarize 1. Secularism is preached only to the Hindus in India. 2. Hindu/Brahmin Bashing is happening at the national level and it cant be done with any other religion/caste. 3. Hindus are the most tolerant lot in the world.
I can add more..but... many argued that the scriptures are not correct and some said scriptures are correct but not practised correctly. I go with the second part. Consider our law..Bribe is forbidden and accepting or giving bribe is against the law. But the followers of law dont follow it by word and spirit. It has become a trait that without bribe nothing can be done in Govt. offices. If a govt. employee asks bribe does that mean, the law is wrongly written. Its just 57 years and in such a short span of time many laws have been bent. In next 100 years the practice will be like a seperate counter will be opened to accept bribes in govt.office as it will be the way of life then. This does not mean that the law written was wrong from the very begining. If this is the case of something written just 50 years back, then imagine what would have happened to something written thousands and thousands of years back. I request the group members to think rationally and accept the fact. Hinduism is such a beautiful way of life which cannot be equated to anything in this world. It has answers for everything under the universe...only that we dont know the truth. So without knowing the truth one should not comment. It really hurts people who belive in it.
For the members who are hurt by Hindu/Hinduism Bashing statements...I remember one saying in Tamil ..'Kaikira maramthan kalladi padum'..that is Stones are pelted only on the tree which bears good fruits. If Hindus/Hinduism is bashed so much by everyone, then..... should I say anything more.....lets take it in the right spirit friends. People who belive, lets belive, people who dont belive, lets not belive. Its up to us...
Sri and SPS, as good moderators have tried their best to do things in the best possible way. We should appreciate their efforts..by this I dont say that they are correct (or not)..I remain neutral.
Lets get ahead, we have miles to go before we sleep...
It is going in circle. We started at one point and now it has come back to the starting point. If I remeber correctly, discussions started from muslim invasion and then somebody started talking about periyar. When you discuss about periyar, it is alomst default that you need to talk about religion and caste problems and they are quite sensitive issues.
Now, you have given conclusion in your own way and it can only provoke for some other debate.
I fully agree with Dr. sridhar and Mr. SPS. I have been to those kind of forums. So, I know that to where it will lead.
My previous mail was not so clear. It was just reply to others. It was not reply to moderators mail. I fully support moderators actions. I am in this group since the beginning of 2002 and it was going in right direction and his part was impeccable.