No respect for Hindus ?

[JPersad]

Did Manning slight the hindu community by calling elections 4 days before Divali?
Was this intentional ?
If not , then his ignorance of Divali and its significances to hindus , is pathetic .
I expected better from Prime Minister Patrick Manning .

[Falcon]

JP I dont understand.......how is this disrespectful to the entire community?? :?

[serenity]

I am a hindu and I dont think it was a slight. Around this time of year there is preparation for Ramadhan, Nawrattam, Divali, Christmas etc etc. I think the opposition was just looking for something to complain about, something to highlight and make an issue of. They should try focussing on substantial issues like healthcare and food and not this pettiness.

Besides, ah sure is a pundit who give him that date as a date that will be favourable to him. :? There is talk of a pundit in Aranguez.... :twisted:

[JPersad]

JP I dont understand.......how is this disrespectful to the entire community?? :?
November 5 th is in the final week of fasting and prayers for hindus .It is also when they make last minute touch ups and preparation for thier most important celebration .
I am almost certain that they would have preferred a date after Divali , when they can focus fully on something as important as a General Election .
Having said that , most hindus will find the time to go and do their civic duty , inconvenient as it may be .

[Falcon]

I see, ok thanks. I think this will mostly affect those who are intimately involved in drumming up last minute voters.....

[serenity]

I forget to add that the only prejudice I see is that Panday and othr hindu politicians may suffer the disadvantage of not being able to indulge in the usual nastyness that plagues politics around this time bec they supposed to be fasting....thus the electorate, for that month at least, should be only privy to the lies and scandals of their non-hindu counterparts...

[Solachica]

I am a Hindu and I really don't see wht the big deal is abt.....and thts just MY opinion.
I think some people just wanted something to complain about.
Last time I think Elections fell within Ramadan...did the Muslims complain? Just asking eh becos I not sure. :?
Some people complaining and woun't even be going to Vote but they complaining becos they hear other people complaining. :roll: :lol:

[lou_uk]

When the people who complain about the PM playing with the election date, get their fixed date, what will they do when it falls within Ramadan for example? Cyah please nobody here.

Wasn't one of the previous elections called near Christmas?

[JPersad]

We need to have a set date for election .This date should take into consideration all religious holidays .
I think the first Monday in July may be appropriate , since Divali and Eid usually falls in the last 6 months of the year .

[Solachica]

true.
A set date wud fix all this problem and the issue abt the date being in a backpocket :lol:

[Scorpio]

I also think there should be a fixed date for elections. The opposition parties may be playing into the PM's hands by making a bigger deal of this than it really is.

[raider]

i don't see it as disrespectful.

[jacques]

This is just yet another example of how childish the level of the political debate is...

[JediKnight]

I am a Hindu and personally I don't think that it i sdisrespectful. Under the Constitution is he wanted to call it on Divali day he could have. I just think that its is insensitive of him to have done it during the week of Divali. But as someone said, Hindus are no longer a recalcitrant minority and I do not think that they will allow the date to deter them from their civic duty.

[JPersad]

This is just yet another example of how childish the level of the political debate is...
Would you have agreed , if he had call it on Christmas day ?

[JPersad]

I am a Hindu and personally I don't think that it i sdisrespectful. Under the Constitution is he wanted to call it on Divali day he could have. I just think that its is insensitive of him to have done it during the week of Divali. But as someone said, Hindus are no longer a recalcitrant minority and I do not think that they will allow the date to deter them from their civic duty.
AS a PM ,being insensitive can be the same as being dis respectful .He should have known better .
As a hindu myself , sometimes I feel we are too damn passive for our own good !

[serenity]

This is just yet another example of how childish the level of the political debate is...
Would you have agreed , if he had call it on Christmas day ?


But he didnt. Nor did he call it on Divali day. So I really dont see what the issue is. The day chosen is not a holiday either, so if it wasnt election day, ppl would be at work. The only loss therefore is to the business places which may have to close early to facilitate their staff going to vote.

[JediKnight]

He should have known better .


Ahhh... therein lies the problem.

[Scorpio]

Any of you considered that the choice of election date was a deliberate attempt to divert attention from other issues that the PNM ain't looking too good in at the moment ?

[jacques]

This is just yet another example of how childish the level of the political debate is...
Would you have agreed , if he had call it on Christmas day ?

I am simply saying that there are more important topics than the date of the election. To pick a date like Divali, Xmas or Eid would indeed be ridiculous. That did not happen. Therefore let us focus on issues like:

- economic development (are we or are we not running out of oil/gas and what are we doing about it - what are we doing about our agriculture - how many smelters do we want, etc...)

- social development (what are we doing about the appalling state of our hospitals, the rampant lawlessness, etc...)

If you fix the economy and the society, I am willing to go and vote on any date at any time in any place...

[BW]

Panday and de UNC should be de last people to complain. Everybody know, Divali season or not, them UNC going tuh have dey usual rum-and-fete political meetings. COP probably goh organise some Passa-passa dotishness to raise funds, just like before. And furthermore, ah doubt any ah dem politician goh stop de bad talk and malicious comments (Divali season is about cleaning the mind, remember?).

Ah want to see how much ah dem politican who playin big-time Hindu now goh have to eat they words. De same people who bawlin about how this disrespectful to the Hindu community-- is de same people who goh be organising fetes later this month! Imhan Ismal say that they does have BEEF ROTI and GROG in dem UNC rally. How dat respectful to hindus? What kinda ah stupidness Panday an Kamla promoting?

But besides that, de problem is not that people have to go out on election day. De problem is the dotish atmosphere the election season brings. Racism? Check. Hatred? Check. Dishonesty? Check.

And who make that?
Politicians.

Doh be naive, UNC just as guilty as PNM.

Kamla, Panday and de rest of them have no right to talk about "respecting hindus".

[Somebody007]

Would a change in the election date have affected the hindus significantly in such a way that they would have voted for the PNM??

[Somebody007]

I am a Hindu and I really don't see wht the big deal is abt.....and thts just MY opinion.
I think some people just wanted something to complain about.
Last time I think Elections fell within Ramadan...did the Muslims complain? Just asking eh becos I not sure. :?
Some people complaining and woun't even be going to Vote but they complaining becos they hear other people complaining. :roll: :lol:


My family are all muslims and there were no complaints about elections being held in the month of Ramadan.

[snowbird]

I am not familiar with the Hindu religious celebration; however I would imagine some are insensed like Christians would have been if an election were to be called say..... four days before Christmas, or four days before Easter, as both of those holy days are preceded by days of penitence in preparation for the holy event.

[peanut]

I don't believe it is a lack of respect for the Hindus, but rather it was very insensitive. Considering this is a period of strict prayer and fasting, to insinuate the rum and roti politics, and the raccous behavior that Election Campaigns are famous for from the PNM is totally insensitive.

What would the Country on the whole think should a Prime Minister of another Faith/Religion decide to call an election during Easter?

[gaia]

I have no idea if Manning had this thought in mind when he fixed the date and I cannot see why it shows no respect. Havent the politicians more serious matters to think about than to agitate the Hindus and even influence some in a negative manner? Why not empower them instead, help them to think and make responsible decisions in their lives. This type of reasoning by all our politicans is only splitting the nation instead of integrating it. I think this is a fantasitic opportunity for the Hindus, and all others, to prayer and meditate for the nation. It is a period of high energy, light and love and those who really love the nation should spend this time praying that the elections will lead the nation into a place of love and light where even the smallest is considered. That the nations best will be enforced. The Hindus have this opportunity to do so and forget what the politicians wish!!!

[sapodila]

Frankly I don't see a problem.....hindus get up to go their last minute shopping, head up to the voting centre / school ...vote , then proceed with business as usual.........they just have to start out early.....most do ;)

[brag]

Too bad the election was not set for Divali day! On election day, each vote must be counted as an act of sacrifice and unelfish love for the main purpose of the removal of the glimpses of ignorance in T&T, not as a Hindu or non-Hindu vote. Election day is an opportunity for lighting the lamp of love at the ballot box, and removing any shadow of political darkness/ignorance in T&T.

Let us pray and or hope that all will vote in peace, without any disturbance in casting their vote, and without any harm to any voter. We have an opportunity to demonstrate maturity in how we vote in T&T, and let us take advantage of it, and show as well our maturity to the rest of the world where voting has not always been positive. In the end, justice will always prevail as a matter of course.

[ISME]

So, does this mean you voting against the PNM?

[brag]

I love the question and my answer is a chuckle.

[Somebody007]

I think the hindus should be happy about the election date....at least all ah dem telling themselves that we are closer to voting against the party we all seem to hate at the moment. (The PNM).

[Solachica]

Was there an Election in 1991 or there about?
Sometime in the 90's there was an election close to Diwali I was told.

[six4]

We need to have a set date for election .This date should take into consideration all religious holidays .
I think the first Monday in July may be appropriate , since Divali and Eid usually falls in the last 6 months of the year .

in july?? yuh mad or wha. dat too close to america's independence day!

[guyguy]

We need to have a set date for election .This date should take into consideration all religious holidays .
I think the first Monday in July may be appropriate , since Divali and Eid usually falls in the last 6 months of the year .

in july?? yuh mad or wha. dat too close to america's independence day!
:D :D :D
An yuh cyar miss dat, eh six4? :D :D :D

[citizen]

I cannot speak for the annual date of Divali. However, for Eid-ul-Fitr, the date each year is determined by the lunar calendar and is therefore about 11 days earlier each year. So next year, the date will be on or around October 2nd or 3rd.

[brag]

Every day is a day of sacrifice in the life of a Hindu, so one more sacrifice of voting (even on Divali day) to rid the nation of the scourge of the attitude of PNMism can be the greatest sacrifice of the 21st century.

[sapodila]

Every day is a day of sacrifice in the life of a Hindu, so one more sacrifice of voting (even on Divali day) to rid the nation of the scourge of the attitude of PNMism can be the greatest sacrifice of the 21st century.
Remember these words you Hindus. Don't make the election date another excuse for not voting Bas Rass OUT....come out , VOTE! .....for change, for leadership for a new light!

[six4]

We need to have a set date for election .This date should take into consideration all religious holidays .
I think the first Monday in July may be appropriate , since Divali and Eid usually falls in the last 6 months of the year .

in july?? yuh mad or wha. dat too close to america's independence day!
:D :D :D
An yuh cyar miss dat, eh six4? :D :D :D

well i don't know what to say again nah breds. it is ALWAYS something. damned if you do; damned if you don't. they lambasting manning for not revealing the election date, when he finally does, de silly season starts.

anywazz, how u going? i hope all is well.

[Vampire_Princess]

Should a religion really affect matters of state? Aren't the two separate?

Esp. in a multicultural society like Trinidad, it will become a minefield negotating all the potential offenses.


We have Christmas, Eid Ul Fitr, Divali... Adventists aren't going to want to come out on a Saturday, November 2 is a rasta holy day (Selassie Birthday), All the Pentecostals and Witnesses will go nuts if asked on a Sunday.


And to answer some people questions YES, I think Christians would come out if it was 4 days before Christmas.

Allyuh joking or what? It could be CHRISTMAS DAY with a hurricane blowing, the die hards will be there.

[nigelward]

If one considers the question in the light of Hindus only it may in fact seem to be an affront to their religious practice, yet consideration must be given to the fact that we live in a plural society in which religious observances will be taking place throughout the year.

Concurrent with the celebration of Deepavali is the observance of Ramadhan. Shortly thereafter the Catholic community shall be observing their season of Advent, whilst the Jewish community, small as it is may be, observe Hanukkah and the Baha'i preparing for the Birth of Baha'u"llah. There may be more. This is just to illustrate how difficult it is to please everyone.

A fixed date will also pose challenges as some of these observervances depend on the the winter solstice or some such event and not on a fixed date.

Since a general or local election only requires your attention to your civil duty, a concept generally accepted by all religions once that duty is not at odds with your beliefs, then what we have is a "perceived" problem.

This can be played on by the political forces which do not care about leadership but power. These people see the majority of a population as sheep to be led meekly and without resistance. Sure even the sheep have to fed and housed and protected but for whose good? The sheep?

Please think, pause, then think again before you act.

[nigelward]

To the hindu community: Shubh Deepavali.

[sheppy]

Who is this Nigelward person...and why is he talking sense on the politics board...this truly is a nice change of scenery...

[lou_uk]

Ah know Kamla not too well these days but, in her budget speech she spoke of opening up the "festival of lights" to the tourism industry. At that time nobody had any opinion on that statement but elections bring the drama. :geek:

[gaia]

Every day is a day of sacrifice in the life of a Hindu, so one more sacrifice of voting (even on Divali day) to rid the nation of the scourge of the attitude of PNMism can be the greatest sacrifice of the 21st century.brag
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Well said. Let the Hindus use this time to prayer for change and I hope they all take their civic rights seriously and vote. Even though Divali is spiritual, worship of the Source, we are living in a physical world and we should ask for enlightment to help us make the right choices here on earth,