Apparently, actor Richard Gere mock passionately embraced and kissed an Indian celebrity at an event for the awareness of AIDS/HIV in India a day or two back. It so outraged the country that they went so far as to stage protests and burn the actor in effigy. Public Displays of Affection (or "PDA" as they are often called here in The Great Satan, America) are still considered taboo in the country and the celebrity in question, a Ms. Shilpa Shetty, told the media that Gere apologized profusely and said he never meant to offend Indian sensibilities.
Now, I do have a thing about the proliferation of pornography in our society; as I continually state, there's a place and time for porn and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but making pornography mainstream is simple selling-out sex and it leads to disillusionment and desensitivization to the act. In other words, it makes it more an activity and less an "act," and depending on your morality and beliefs this is either a good, bad, or pointless thing, but it is a very real change in mores that needs to be observed and addressed.
But a kiss? It was obviously a staged, posed thing which even though spontaneous was very obviously meant to be humorous and not offensive. Perhaps Gere did overstep his boundaries trying to make his own political point, but for an entire country to protest a frigging screen actor is just ridiculous.
Hell, wait 'til they hear about the gerbil thing...
Now, I do have a thing about the proliferation of pornography in our society; as I continually state, there's a place and time for porn and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but making pornography mainstream is simple selling-out sex and it leads to disillusionment and desensitivization to the act. In other words, it makes it more an activity and less an "act," and depending on your morality and beliefs this is either a good, bad, or pointless thing, but it is a very real change in mores that needs to be observed and addressed.
But a kiss? It was obviously a staged, posed thing which even though spontaneous was very obviously meant to be humorous and not offensive. Perhaps Gere did overstep his boundaries trying to make his own political point, but for an entire country to protest a frigging screen actor is just ridiculous.
Hell, wait 'til they hear about the gerbil thing...
3 comments:
I can't believe this rediculous over-reaction!!! I mean really!
It seems like it was all just in fun and the Indians really do need to chill and cultivate a sense of humor.
How is it that these people in that part of the world can just drop everything and protest every other week or so? I mean, don't they have jobs or families or non-politically or religiously-motivated hobbies?
I certainly don't agree with our American values, norms, and values - such as they are - but if we were to protest on the scale these people do, it would be a major event!
These cats riot like it was on a par with running to the store for milk or making a phonecall.
As many as three lawyers have filed charges against Gere and Shetty for their shocking kiss.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, real tragedies and shocking events are unfolding.
Lucky you, India.
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