8.27 Buddhists' Mass Demonstration Against Discrimination:
"In what was the first event of its kind, approximately 200,000 Buddhists belonging to 27 Buddhist denominations protested in downtown Seoul on August 27 against what they called religious discrimination on the part of President Lee Myung-bak’s administration.
The Ven. Wonhak, head of the organizing committee for what was called the 'All Buddhists’ Assembly for Denouncing the Lee Myung-bak Administration’s Constitution-Destroying Religious Discrimination,' said that Korean Buddhism is in the most 'distressful' state it has been in “since it came to Korea 1,700 years ago.'
'Buddhism has been kicked out into the street by thoughtless fanatics who dream of a Christian republic,' he said.
Monks and regular believers filled the streets in front of Seoul City Hall, from Taepyeongno and Deoksu Palace to the corner of the Hanwha Building..", The Hankyoreh reported today about the event (here's the entire article!).
Yesterday also Korea Times (Buddhists Urge President to Apologize) reported about it..
But, in my opinion, very "remarkable" are some of the comments to the article! Here just a few examples:
jsburgeson (59.5.86.36) 08-27-2008 18:44
These monks are harboring anti-state fugitives wanted by the law. If the police searched a monk's car leaving the temple grounds looking for one of these fugitives, it is not "religious prejudice or persecution." It is simply treating a monk the same as any other person whose car might be searched by the police if it looked suspicious. Are monks now above the law? Who's more arrogant here?
jsburgeson (59.5.86.36) 08-27-2008 18:45
I was at the "peaceful" Buddhist rally today they were handing "Lee Myung-bak OUT" placards, so if calling for the impeachment of a president is not hostile and poltical then I don't know what is. If Korea Times cannot report the true nature of this rally, then I hope all readers on this site will see clearly through their biased BS. Democracy cannot thrive without a REAL media to spread the TRUTH!
jsburgeson (59.5.86.36) 08-27-2008 18:51
"They also demanded the removal of members of the People's Association against Mad Cow Disease hiding in a Buddhist temple from a wanted list." On what grounds? Are these arrogant monks now in charge of the Ministry of Justice? These anti-government protest organizers have sent 500 police -- innocent young military conscripts -- to the hospital and I personally saw these protesters attacking ordinary citizens, hitting and kicking them over the course of weeks. These monks are simply pathetic!
Some more questions? I don't think so (^^)..
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