BS: Jail for one kiss?

Subject: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 11:42 AM

India court orders Gere's arrest
POSTED: 7:37 a.m. EDT, April 26, 2007

Story Highlights• Gere's kisses at an AIDS event caused mass outrage
• The actor can face up to three months in prison
• Shetty said it was overboard, but not obscene

JAIPUR, India (Reuters) -- An Indian court ordered the arrest of Hollywood star Richard Gere on Thursday for kissing Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at an AIDS awareness event this month saying it was an obscene act committed in public.

Gere's repeated kisses on Shetty's cheeks at an event to promote AIDS awareness in New Delhi sparked protests in some parts of India, mostly by Hindu vigilante groups, who saw it as an outrage against her modesty and an affront to Indian culture.

The order by a court in the northern city of Jaipur came in response to a complaint by a local lawyer.

The judge watched a video recording of Gere kissing Shetty and found him guilty of violating Indian laws against public obscenity, the lawyer, Poonam Chand Bhandari, said.

The court also summoned Shilpa Shetty to appear on May 5, Bhandari said, adding that Gere was also ordered to be arrested.

Gere can be sent to jail for up to three months or fined or both for the crime if he is arrested. He is not in India now but can be held if he visits the country again.

The Hollywood star is a devout Buddhist and a vocal supporter of the Tibetan cause and visits India frequently to meet the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India.

He is also involved with charities looking after HIV-infected people and orphans, as well as AIDS prevention groups in the country.

Groups of men had burned and kicked straw effigies of Gere and Shetty in sporadic protests across the country after newspapers published the picture of the kiss on their front pages and TV channels aired visuals of the event.

Shetty, the winner of the "Celebrity Big Brother" reality TV show in Britain this year had said the kiss may have gone a "little overboard" but it was not obscene and the protests made India look regressive.

She said Gere was only re-enacting his moves from the film "Shall We Dance" to entertain the audience at the AIDS event and communicate in a Bollywood style as he did not speak Hindi.

Many commentators had subsequently expressed their unhappiness at what they said were fringe groups making a mountain of a harmless peck on the cheek.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 11:48 AM

When in Rome, ...

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Mickey191
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 11:58 AM

There was also an uproar when actress Elizabeth Hurley got married wearing leather shoes & did not remove them as she took her vows. Arrest warrant issued too. The main complainant was her father-in-law. There's always sumthin'!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 12:16 PM

Perhaps Mr. Gere could placate the Indian authorities by agreeing to perform suitable community service in the US. Something like manning the front desk of a budget motel in Encino for a few hours while Mr. Patel takes a nap.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 12:23 PM

Hmmm.... It's obscene but you can print it on the front page of the newspapers?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 12:23 PM

Which Mr Patel is that Bee-dubya? The one I know is from Pakistan.
G

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 12:36 PM

If not at a hotel desk, there are plenty of Dunkin' Donuts here in NJ where he can substitute.

I think they're over-reacting. If it was illegal to kiss, why didn't the authorities stop him after the first one?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Grimmy
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 12:42 PM

Perhaps he should kiss a few butts amongst the Indian judiciary in the hope of a lighter sentence.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:27 PM

Giok, I've met lots of Patels, some from India and some from Pakistan. Most of them have been in the budget motel business. According to Wikipedia, "It is estimated that over 60% of motels and hotels in the US are owned by Indians, of that one-third have the surname Patel." (Wikipedia article here.)

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:35 PM

I saw that on TV and it was may more than a kiss on the cheeks. He practically wrestled her to the floor and bent her over double, which looks cool in the romantic movies, but if a woman was not expecting it, and it was taboo in her culture anyway, could reasonably be seen as an assault. It was definitely not just kisses on a cheek. If that had happened in a dark alley he could have been thrown in jail... mg

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: jeffp
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:42 PM

Only if it was without her permission.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Greg B
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:58 PM

Gandhi did the English a favor.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:07 PM

What I saw did not look like a voluntary act on the part of the woman. She was thrown off her balance, held in far too intimate a way etc. etc. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:11 PM

I agree with mg on this one. The news slip really looked as if he was taking advantage of the situation. Such cultural stupidity deserves redicule, however, rather than jail time.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:14 PM

Richard Gere seems to be getting better at causing controversy; this isn't the first time recently.

It was over the top and looked "uncomfortable". It wasn't immoral and perhaps he was trying to make some statement following the recent high profile of Shilpa Shetty and the Big Brother household - who knows?

It was a daft thing to do and he should have learned a lesson from it!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:14 PM

"The news slip ... " Is this an example of a "Freudian clip"?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:20 PM

"The Ugly American" is not just a saying. Our ignorance of other cultures is profound.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:28 PM

"Jail for one kiss"

I wonder what Judas would say about that?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Greg B
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:34 PM

Ah, yes... when an American does something offensive to a
3rd-worlder, it's him being an 'ugly American.'

When an American finds a 3rd-worlder's behavior offensive,
it's because said American is lacking in 'diversity training.'

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:37 PM

As long as it is ALWAYS the American's fault, that is ok... (SARCASM)

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:39 PM

"When in Rome, do as the Romanians do. When in Poland, do as the Polaroids do."

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Greg B
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:53 PM

Oh c'mon Bruce. When we're in India we can ALWAYS blame the
English!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:56 PM

Hear, hear, Greg. The Scottish part of me is in total agreement with you. So is the Irish part. But the English part says, "That's not cricket, old chap. Not cricket a tall."


There are times I think Gere just ain't too bright. This is one of those times. His performance for a post 9-11 audience of firefighters and EMS people was another of those times.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:59 PM

Don't worry about Ricky - look at all the publicity he's getting out of this ...

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: MudGuard
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 05:45 PM

over 60% of motels and hotels in the US are owned by Indians, of that one-third have the surname Patel

The second third have the surname "Motel", the third third have the surname "Hotel" ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 06:33 PM

Oh, f234567890k, the religiously repressive again. In the county of the Kama Sutra, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 07:37 PM

People in the U.S. get bent out of shape for things just a stupid. "Wardrobe malfunctions," for instance. Big deal.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 07:38 PM

Just as stupid. Proof read proof read proof read. . .

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 07:47 PM

I agrre.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Grab
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 06:18 AM

Too right SRS. Pot, kettle, black. :-)

What I saw did not look like a voluntary act on the part of the woman. She was thrown off her balance, held in far too intimate a way etc. etc.

The point of that dance move is that the woman *is* off balance. And if they are *both* re-enacting the scene, then it's entirely her choice to do it.

Anyway, we're talking about re-enactment of a scene from a romantic movie, right? Would you rather they maintained a clear foot of space between them? It'd look a bit strange, wouldn't it? :-/

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 08:03 AM

We seem to have two schools of thought here. The blame America first group, and the Never blame America for anything gang.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 08:04 AM

From my memory of the news shot, it looked as though she was smiling and enjoying the playacting.
I better have a llok againand go back to the opticians if I got that wrong.
Harmless fun is what I call it.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:46 AM

Gere says "end the circus" over public kiss 1 hour, 7 minutes ago



MUMBAI (Reuters) - Asking the media "to end the circus," Hollywood star       Richard Gere said on Friday that his kissing of Bollywood actress       Shilpa Shetty was due to his failure to understand local culture.

An Indian court, acting on a complaint by a local lawyer, described the kiss as an obscene act in public and ordered Gere's arrest. The kiss sparked sporadic protests in India.

Gere twirled Shetty in his arms, arched her over and kissed her several times on the cheek at an event in New Delhi last week to promote       AIDS awareness among Indian truckers. Gere has since left India.

"My clumsy attempt at a 'Shall We Dance' dance move was a naive misread of Indian customs," Gere said in statement addressed to "my dear Indian friends" and issued by an AIDS charity he is associated with.

"To be honest, this recent media storm has taken me by complete surprise.

"End the circus around this episode," he said.

The 57-year-old "Pretty Woman" star's posters and straw effigies were burnt in protest in some parts of India, mostly by Hindu vigilante groups, who saw it as an outrage against Shetty's modesty and an affront to Indian culture.

Shetty, the winner of the "Celebrity Big Brother" reality TV show in Britain this year, had said the kiss may have gone a "little overboard" but it was not obscene and the protests made India look regressive.

Many commentators expressed unhappiness at what they said were fringe groups making a major issue out of a harmless peck on the cheek.

Gere said it was not his intention to offend anybody and described the charity event as an evening of celebrating courageous people associated with the fight against       HIV/AIDS in India, which has the world's highest HIV caseload.

Although Gere, who also starred in "An Officer and a Gentleman," could face three months in jail or a fine or both for such an offence, he told a U.S. cable channel on Thursday that he did not know anyone who had gone to jail for something like this.

"Me kissing the girl on the cheek was nothing," Gere told cable channel Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With       Jon Stewart" in New York where he was promoting his latest film, "The Hoax."

Gere, a devout Buddhist, visits India frequently to meet the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India, and is a vocal supporter of the Tibetan cause as well as being involved with charities dealing with AIDS and orphans in the country.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:57 AM

" ... mostly by Hindu vigilante groups ... "

Once again we see a relatively innocuous incident being blown out of all proportion by a small number of religious fanatics, self-righteous nationalists, and cynical power-mongers ... seems to be almost a universal phenomenon ...

I can't imagine any of the many Indian people I've known over the years getting too worked up over this silliness ... Most of them would just laugh at the whole thing, I am sure ...

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Amos
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:59 AM

Some folks take themselves entirely too seriously.

These are the principals of a nation that has thousands of people begging in tthe streets and endemic poverty in its provinces despite the rapid growth of tis cities. One would think they would prefer to concern themselves with issues more relevant to their survival.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Grab
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 10:15 AM

As Shilpa Shetty says, in a country famous for the Kama Sutra, where AIDS is spreading like wildfire through prostitution, close dancing and a kiss on the cheek should not be the end of the world. If these nutters really care about public morality, there are better places for them to start. Women forced into prostitution through poverty, for instance.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 11:40 AM

Gere should be impeached! Oh, yah, he's not even prime minister ...

In this media/inter-cultural interchange, the important principle is never to leave a turn unstoned.

Or in other words, he without sin should cast the first fly!

Cheerily,
Charley

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: mg
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 12:03 PM

THIS WAS NOt a kiss on the cheek, although there are some film clips of kisses ont eh cheek which could confuse people as to which part of the event we are discussing. This was practically forcing a woman to the ground. If they were reenacting a dance scene, perhaps she should have been warned in advanced and she could have said that won't be appreciated by the people here so let's not....This was a very aggressive act and not a simple kiss on the cheek that would be an entirely different story and a simple cultural misunderstanding. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 12:56 PM

Perhaps the customs of India could use a little loosening up. But I have to go with mg. To my eyes, irrespective of the prevailing customs, it looked like an assault to me. In an alley, or on a stage.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Jarosic
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 04:39 PM

What a contemptable person this man Richard Gere he seem. In my country a man kiss a lady's "Shilpa-Shetty" in public is fined three goats. He kisses her "Shilpa-Shetty" in private he no found guilty if no lady complains too often.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Indria
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 05:25 PM

I agree entirely, but Jarosic, Shilpa Shetty is a Hindu goddess and not a lady's private parts as you mistakenly assume. The sub-Continent is not all superstition and Ghandi, you know.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peace
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 06:01 PM

It isn't Ghandi at all. It's Gandhi! But then I guess you didn't mean Mahatma. You meant Goerge, right? George Ghandi?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peace
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 06:05 PM

PS, It ain't got nothin' to do with the US. It has everything to do with Richard Gere.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Indria
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:36 PM

Peace. Good Lord, no: I meant Goosie Goosie Gandhi.

Only a few people know this, but The great man worked as a cloakroom attendant in Glasgow when a student. This is where he got the exalted title when patrons said 'Ma hat, Ma coat!' Don't let Jurasic near your "Shilpa-Shetty"!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:27 PM

In the clips I saw he went more than a little overboard - it would have been just as inappropriate in the United States. She looked extremely uncomfortable, and yes, that kind of public display is offensive to many Indians. Especially when it is so clearly non-consensual. At the same time, the mass protests and burnings in effigy are indeed overboard.

As for being charged with a crime - in the United States, sexual assault is defined as any unwanted sexual touch, and what I saw seemed to meet that definition. The difference is that it sounds like Ms. Shetty did not decide to file a complaint, though I don't believe she'd have been overreacting if she had.

I'm coming to a new realization of how much sexism still permeates our culture - whether it's the Senate Majority Leader who thinks nothing of an arm around the shoulder of the female Speaker of the House, or the US President who gives the German Chancellor an uninvited shoulder rub. The Gere incident is no different. Are these really our models of public decorum, respect and equality?

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:27 PM

Don't forget the Mahatma was a lawyer.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Indria
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:39 PM

Bring back suttee! Or should that be Sooty, Peace?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: mg
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 11:08 PM

I think it went way beyond an arm around the shoulder or shoulder rub. And this is not part of our culture..an unwanted kiss on the cheeks perhaps, unwanted hugs, yes..but wrestling a woman to the ground..I have never ever experienced it or seen it...it is not OK in any culture I am aware of...he went nuts is the only explanation I can have...it would have gotten him arrested here I would say...I'd call the police and/or file a complaint on any man or woman who tried that with me..She was sort of in a bad position..probably from a traditional culture that both did not allow displays of affection (and that was not affection...something mimicing extreme lust or something else) but that also probably teaches people not to make a fuss when something bad happens...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 06:43 AM

It was done on stage in front of lots of people.It was a show gimmic.
Blimey we won't be able to point at anybody soon for al the politically correct brigade.
To me it was a bit of fun, that has obviously not been taken in that vain.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: mg
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 07:22 AM

was it voluntary? Did she know about it? What I saw did not look like fun. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 07:47 AM

He was way out of line.
When will we ever get a clue that we have no right to decide what is or is not proper in another culture?

For instance, in this country, it is quite acceptable to show two men (or even two women) beating each other to a pulp, with the express purpose of hurting the other in the prize ring, yet, it is not proper to show people displaying affection.

I remember when the movies could not show two people in the same bed!

WE decide what is proper for US. THEY decide what is proper to THEM. Our arrogance continues to make enemies, and we still don't wake up.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Greg B
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 02:35 PM

Well, at least there was no gerbil involved :-)

But:

"I'm coming to a new realization of how much sexism still permeates our culture - whether it's the Senate Majority Leader who thinks nothing of an arm around the shoulder of the female Speaker of the House, or the US President who gives the German Chancellor an uninvited shoulder rub. The Gere incident is no different. Are these really our models of public decorum, respect and equality?"

Our role models? Of course not. This President doesn't believe a woman
should control whether or not her womb continues to be occupied,
so why should we look to him as an egalitarian role model? As for
the Senate Majority leader, it is the upper house, after all :-)
Then again, why should we look to a Hollywood hunk to be a role
model for for gender equality and decorum? I don't recall him
volunteering for that role.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Jarosic
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 04:19 PM

kendal: "I remember when the movies could not show two people in the same bed!"

Surely you are making the mistake. In my country we often see Mr Laurel and his chum Mr Hardy in bed same bed too much. These are very funny men.

Was Mr Gere in the same bed as another in cinema? I am sorry for my early mistake about Ms Shitty. Were they in bed when this deed took place in the movie? I have not seen this yet, in my land. Our news has still not become family entertainment yet, but we are hoping gladly that some day too soon it will be the same as yours.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Indria
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 05:13 PM

Jarosic, Jarosic - it was not permitted to show a MAN and a WOMAN in bed together. It was all right to show two men or two ladies in bed together at the same time. Hollywood was built on homosexuality - many fine actors are now or ever have been members of the Greek Club.

But your big mistake is thinking that our custom of reporting trivia as news is entertaining - it is not. We, in the West, try to make up as much news as possible. 24 hour news does not happen by itself you know - it must be assisted or invented to keep the populace entertained. Mr Richard Gere has a duty to be offensive to Ms Shetty (not Shitty as you say, but don't worry I myself made the same mistake with Gandhi) it was for the sake of news. He made people sit up and think about AIDS and how best to transmit it. He should have worn a condom!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 07:44 PM

I never liked him anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 08:09 PM

More to the point: did this Shilpa Shetty ever like him anyway?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 01:05 AM

The rule in our house is the basic rule for any successful movie is not to have Richard Gere in it -- he's a lightweight and he can't act..........; and as Kendall points out, has no sensitivity about what is acceptable in different cultures. I had read news reports but just saw the photo today -- for someone who professes to be in sync with Indian/Pakistanti culture, one can only say -- what an idiot!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 08:29 AM

He's an actor! What can you expect?
Let's hope he doesn't run for president, he might make it.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 12:24 PM

I don't care whether Shilpa likes RG of not, I wish she liked me.

Kendall's got it dead right - what's acceptable in the US and the UK is often not acceptable in other countries, and we should all ('celebrities' also, and in particular because they're perceived as 'representing' their own nation) respect the cultures of others, just as we would wish them to respect ours.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: mg
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 04:09 PM

but this particular thing would not have been acceptable in part of US or UK that I have been in...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 08:47 PM

mg-

I agree with you. If such an act were performed on the main street of Richmond, Maine, the police would have hauled off the couple to the lock-up. Of course they would have assumed they were a "couple" and just being a public nuisance. They would not have focused on Gree unless the lady in question was under 17 in age, and she's probably older than 20.

But in the context of a special event in India, the interaction is explosive, and stupid. Gree should know better, and his apologies may not be sufficient to erase the bad impression he has created. God, why do we let actors roam the world?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Greg B
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 09:19 PM

"If such an act were performed on the main street of Richmond, Maine, the police would have hauled off the couple to the lock-up."

...unless of course they'd spent more than $2000.00 in the local tourist trade, then they'd have given them a room upgrade and a box of Trojans
courtesy of the local chemist, with a special inscription which
read 'Rhde' until in use, then transformed to read 'Richmond, Me' along
with a coupon for a free lobster dinner.

(I call BS)

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 03:37 AM

It was illegal to kiss in public in Spain not so long ago, that has now changed.
It was repressive then in Spain, and it's equally repressive now in India, but that's what religion is all about repression and conformity.
Giok.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Grab
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 07:36 AM

Ye gods, has the entire world not heard of Latin dance?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tango_(dance)

In particular, check the two pictures further down. Yes, Shetty is off balance and doesn't seem to be doing it well. But if you notice, she's also holding a microphone, which doesn't exactly help.

Yesh, all those dirty, filthy perverts who dance tango - or any other close dance that might imply intimacy between the participants. Lock them up!

Charley and MG, if Richmond, Maine is far enough up its own ass that close dancing is a jail offence, I thank whatever gods there are that I'm living somewhere that's out of the Middle Ages. Sounds like the only difference between Iran and Richmond, Maine is the language.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 07:43 AM

GBS it was I think who described dancing as "The vertical expression of a horizontal desire"
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Grimmy
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 09:27 AM

HG Wells once said "Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo"

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 09:39 AM

Graham-

Anytime you want to visit our town and holler "if Richmond, Maine is far enough up its own ass that close dancing is a jail offence..." you are more than welcome to do that. But the police are unlikely to trouble you. More likely it's the Public Works Department that will pick you up and re-deposit you in the Town Landfill, assuming that the "good ol' boys" don't get to you first.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 11:24 AM

What goes in Argentina, and what does not go in India are two very different things.

I can't imagine a worse Ambassador at large than a friggin' actor. Unless it's a political hack who bought the Ambassador's office. Isn't that where the term, "Ugly American" came from?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Donuel
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 12:17 PM

Greer looked like a pig with bad breathe trying to molest the woman.
It was nothing you wouldn't see at an American trailor park wedding reception however.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Grab
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 12:18 PM

If I'd been asked to do a tango demonstration for a charity event (of which the chances are vanishingly low :-) and some nutter told me to stop because dancing like that was lewd and offensive, they can stick it up their arse, good ol' boys or not.

I hope that you're misrepresenting the general attitude of Richmond, Maine. More likely, I hope, some nutter picketing a demonstration of tango would be subjected to public ridicule. If that's not the case, we can all thank you for the warning and avoid the place.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 12:22 PM

What country was the Khama Sutra written in?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 12:24 PM

I've been wanting to say that since this thread started, Giok. LOL.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 02:59 PM

Grab, you still don't get it! The Tango is perfectly acceptable in Argentine, what Gere did is NOT acceptable in India! You sound like one of those people who think they have the right to do just as they damn well please no matter where they are.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 03:13 PM

Do you just get to grab a woman like that (it did not look voluntary, and it is a different situation if it was voluntary, planned, etc.) and Tango anywhere, even Argentina? If I was in Argentina, even if I was in a Tango festival, I would not want a man just grabbing me and throwing me to the ground like that in the name of "Tango." Now, I assume he meant well, and part of it was he seemed to have caught her off balance, but still....only cave men and perhaps Huns got to grab women like that...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 05:37 PM

Men mature after they have exhausted all other options.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: HuwG
Date: 01 May 07 - 04:56 AM

It might be thought repressive to threaten Richard Gere with clink for an unwelcome or inappropriate kiss. I'll credit the Indians with at least not stoning Miss Shetty to death for her apparent dishonour in allowing it to happen.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Wordsmith
Date: 01 May 07 - 05:32 AM

http://hubpages.com/hub/ShilpaShetty-RichardGere_Kiss

"Of this we can agree,
A kiss is just a kiss..."

Looked like she liked it to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 01 May 07 - 07:41 AM

It does indeed look like she enjoyed it. However, that is not the issue here. What they did was a violation of the law in India, and she does not have the authority to say it's ok.
It's like statutory rape in this country, no minor girl can legally give permission for a guy to break the law. Laws must apply to everyone.
He was still out of line.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Thammim
Date: 16 May 07 - 08:54 PM

Other important news on channels ' Watch it out

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 17 May 07 - 05:28 PM

It was more like a pecker on the cheek.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 May 07 - 06:21 PM

Well, he didn't get stoned to death.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 May 07 - 08:07 PM

To me, it didn't seem like practically forcing her to the ground or wrestling her to the ground - it was more like he expected her to do a deep dip and instead it surprised her enough that the whole thing was awkward, even ungainly.

I think he was out of line, but he did make it clear at the end that he was paying homage to her.

It appeared to me that after they exited the stage she was saying something to him on the order of 'You surprised me!'

Except for it being in a country not his own, it reminded me a good deal of when that actor - who was it? - grabbed Halle Berry after she won the Oscar and gave her a heavy kiss. That too was out of line.

It appears that show biz people are as prone to gaffes as anyone else.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 May 07 - 09:10 PM

Uh, maybe more prone? Given the 'liscense' they seem to expect?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 May 07 - 09:22 PM

Yeah. I remember when Elvis leaned over a girl in a diner and took a bite out of her burger. She filed charges.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 17 May 07 - 09:43 PM

Giok's right, Kendall's wrong and MG obviously needs to get a life. According to Hindustanis I know, who read the Mumbai newspapers, most of India is appalled and embarrassed that such a fuss has been stirred up by a few religous sealots.

As for references to the Kama Sutra (including one made much higher in the thread Big Mick) Shetty made that point herself, at the time, in response to the furore. And there's the basic problem for MG: if this was a crime, where's the victim?

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 18 May 07 - 07:32 AM

He was out of line. Our opinion on their customs are irrelevent.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 May 07 - 07:53 AM

Tell that to the Iraqis, to whom democracy is an alien concept, yet we are intent on foisting it on them. Or the millions in Africa who were converted, often under duress, or with promise of material rewards, to convert to Christianity.
This is all done under the guise of improving their lot, but only according to our values.
It was then and is now based on our opinion of the barbarity of their customs, and the rightness of ours.
If we kept our noses out of other people's business, both their and our lives might be a lot better, and less confrontational !
As an added benefit, there would be fewer graveyards.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 18 May 07 - 09:33 PM

Kendall and Giok - right on............I think for some Americans (not all by far) it is diffiicult to comprehend that someone wouldn't want to live a 'Better, Fuller, AMERICAN way of life.....' -- talk to the people who live in countries with National Health and ask them how they feel.....

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 19 May 07 - 07:30 AM

People always dwell on how many come here to have a better life in the greatest country on earth. They never mention those who DON'T want to come here, and they outnumber those who do.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 19 May 07 - 09:03 PM

But why are our opinions on other people's customs irrelevant Kendall? You might as well say "their country right or wrong" which is no more acceptable to me than the usual phrase. Are we not entitled to challenge customs that we don't like, whether they're the custom in our country or womeone else's?

Another custom among small minorities of Hindus has been the practice of sati, in which women immolate themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands. (It still happens occasionally.) I regard that as barbaric and would do so even if it was a sacred custom of every religion in the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: kendall
Date: 20 May 07 - 03:13 PM

Poor comparison.You are not obligated to like or approve of another culture's customs. You are also not obligated to tell them what you think of their customs.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 May 07 - 04:13 PM

Peter, I want to make sure I understand. You are saying that folks have every right to comment on issues in other countries, correct?

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Wordsmith
Date: 22 May 07 - 05:00 AM

I understand that the judge who issued the warrant has been sent to a place far, far, away. Guess we should leave it up to India to decide...is that what the majority is saying. Well, I guess they have done so.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 22 May 07 - 08:08 AM

Pakistan's Tourism Minister Nilofer Bakhtiar has quit after weeks of controversy surrounding a photo of her hugging her French paragliding instructor.

She had a fatwa against her for an embrace.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Indria
Date: 22 May 07 - 03:58 PM

In parts of the subcontinent it is a serious crime to have carnal knowledge of domestic animals and beasts of the air!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 07 - 06:47 PM

Everything is illegal in "parts of the Sub-Continent". For instance, gay weddings are not allowed in the Punjab.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: GUEST,Indria
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 08:12 PM

So Paris Hilton goes to jail while Richard Gere goes free - where's the justice in that?

I am deeply shocked that in America a young Millionairess can be sent to prison for DUI - does wealth count for nothing these days?

Richard Gere grossly offended 400 million poor Indians and walks free because he is a Millionaire movie star and Indians are very poor, while poor Paris is a Millionairess and has offended other wealthy people (all Americans are very rich)and is martyred by being sent to jail:- two rights don't make a wrong in America!

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 08:34 PM

Good one, Indria.

Just today I was contemplating the term 'millionairess' and thinking I'd never heard 'billionairess'. In today's inflated market it's bound to happen.

Subject: RE: BS: Jail for one kiss?
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 08:35 PM

It just occurred to me that a female arsonist is an arsonistess.