This has more to do with ‘rights’ than with ‘religion’, although religion emerges as the chief offender. I’m referring to the obnoxious practice of amplifying religious dogma at any hour of the day or night at the whims and fancies of the incumbents of the religious institutions in question. And it would appear that the chief offenders are the mosques and the temples – the Muslims and the Buddhists.
With scant regard for the rights of those who are disturbed by the high decibel cacophony – often indecipherable, the practice continues. No respite is possible, as the din invades the privacy of homes, schools, hospitals, tourist resorts, old-age homes and just about any habitation – unless of course one is fortunate to possess a sound-proof refuge from this invasive nuisance that shatters peace of mind.
The old, the young, the sick and infirm, students trying to concentrate on studies and many others that are affected have no recourse other than to curse the perpetrators of this assault on their sensibilities and wonder why their representatives in government don’t have the spine to take on these inconsiderate purveyors of sound pollution. The Environmental Authority and or the ministries in charge of environment and health must surely have this malady within the ambit of their responsibilities? Are they afraid of the mullahs and monks? And what about the learned members of the Sangha? Don’t they realize that this practice is in direct contradiction to the ‘Eight-fold Path’ and is a perversion of the beautiful philosophy that is Buddhism? And the members of the public (read ‘all of us’) who are doubtlessly affected curse and bear it. I have, on previous occasion attempted to begin a debate on this in the local dailies by writing something on these lines, but none of my letters to the editors were published – no big surprise to be sure, as I guess the ‘don’t rock the religious boat’ mindset prevails!
And so here we are – as apathetic as ever – as usual, while the perpetrators of this abuse of our fundamental rights spew their pious platitudes and pontificate on ‘religious’ matters, whilst missing the forest for the trees.
There’s more to this abuse of our fundamental rights in the name of ‘religion’, where we are disallowed from purchasing certain foods and beverages due to what some consider to be ‘holy days’. But that’s another story – perhaps better kept for later!
What do you think?
8 comments
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January 23, 2007 at 8:21 am
RD
The noise pollution in Sri Lanka is something that always intrigues me. As a “foreigner” it’s one of the things that creates the Sri Lankan atmosphere for me. But that’s when I only have to live with it for a few weeks at a time and then can come back to London.
It’s not just the religious institutions though, it’s the blaring PA systems and the horning and the general hubbub that you guys have to live with that would drive me up the wall.
The tropical heat must be a factor as well in that sound always travels further in warm temperatures.
January 23, 2007 at 8:25 am
mala
i was having a chat with a jewish friend of mine recently regarding the same subject – sparked off coz of an incident with a slight twist. the offender was not an actual religious institution, but an individual with fervor. an over zealous shop owner at the junction i live by has decided it his duty to blare out pirith every morning and every evening, for approx 30 – 45 mins each. as u can imagine, it drives me mad. i am quite sure that there must be some law in the books against having loud speakers and blaring stuff out without permission etc, though never implemented. i am also pretty sure that no such procedure would have been followed – keep aside the right or wrong of it. but if i were to lodge a complaint in the police, or try talking to the shop owner myself, i will be faced with such wrath and be blacklisted in my own home zone, that i have now decided that i can curse and bear it for the moment and will call the jury back on it at a point when i am no longer able to do so. and i hate having to do it this way. but having been previously blacklisted for speaking out on many an occasion, i must say, it drains u.
my (jewish) friend’s take on it was – at least the muslim call to prayer is short and one would have to be a bit of an arse not to put up with it. (having lived right next door to a mosque as a child, after a point u do acquire the ability to “not hear” it.) but 30 – 45 mins per session, twice a day is rediculous!
here’s the problem – my own mother would be against me talking to the shop guy or the police.. urgh! i’m now working on learning to “not hear” the pirith as well!
if the written law was more freely available for viewing, thereby giving more people the chance to actually be aware of their rights, perhaps more people would do something against it?
and i wont even go into the crazy neighbour with three huge insanely brought up dogs!! (before u think it, i love dogs, have a dog, and dont blame the dogs!)
January 23, 2007 at 11:34 am
Janus
I know what you mean! In maddinagoda, every time there is some Buddhist festival, they feel compelled to string out loudspeakers right in front of our place and blast our ears with chants, songs and announcements! I cant hear myself think!
January 23, 2007 at 11:43 am
shannon
i wake to the sound of ‘bana’, i dress to the sound of ‘bana’ and when i leave home…in the junction they’re playing ‘bana’….and when i was in school doing A/L’s..the mosque next to school was having prayers…
it’s noise pollution that’s true..and religion is being practiced at the expense of the sanity of another…doesn’t that contradict the basis of religion?! but what does one actually do to stop this kind of abuse? nothing na….
January 23, 2007 at 3:56 pm
RD
On the other hand, I don’t suppose a silent call to prayer would really work either would it?
February 3, 2007 at 5:56 am
javajones
Hey Janus – I just noticed your home town – Mad in Nagoda. Far out!!!
March 18, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Smoky
Hasn’t this been going on for millions of years.
Thanks,
Smoky
http://www.ambitenergypower.com
March 19, 2007 at 1:32 am
javajones
Hey Smoky – Hasn’t what? Abuse and no recourse or amplified religious crap that disturbs? The former – maybe. The latter – not likely!
Cheers!