NationStates Jolt Archive

It's official: Shambo is dead.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42902000/jpg/_42902081_shambo300pa1.jpg

Skanda Vale community leader Brother Alex said that, now Shambo had been taken away from them, a "nightmare" was just beginning for the Welsh assembly.

"Ignorant people have chosen to desecrate our temple and have chosen to destroy life unnecessarily," he said.

"I am very happy that I am not involved in it, because this is something that will resonate for generations in their lives."

For those of you who haven't been following the story, Shambo was a 'sacred' bull at a Hindu Community who tested positive for bovine TB. The Welsh Assembly ordered him destroyed, causing protests from the Community. Despite forming a human shield around the bull, a warrant was obtained and Police entered the premises yesterday, taking him away for slaughter.

Once again, it raises the old question of what should prevail: 'the public interest' or religious beliefs.

Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said he was glad "common sense had prevailed at last" and that it was "absolutely unacceptable" for people to say their religious rights were supreme.

"The consequences of going the other way and the bull potentially infecting the national herd and the massive financial consequences of that for people's lives, and indeed potentially people's health, are just unthinkable," he said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6918618.stm

What do you think; should the sacred bull have been slaughtered?

What do you think; should the sacred bull have been slaughtered?

Well, they could have made it a two option thing. Option one, they destroy the bull.

Option two, they put a cordon around the community. Nothing gets in, nothing gets out, absolutely nothing. Cut water and electricity. Cite quarantine measures. (scale measures as deemed fit)

See how long it'll take for them to capitulate.

It depends. How likely was the bull to infect other cows? If it was likely, then, absolutely, destroy it. If not, or if it could be quarantined properly, destroying it seems to adversarial to be worth the small benefit.

Public interest, naturally.

It depends. How likely was the bull to infect other cows? If it was likely, then, absolutely, destroy it. If not, or if it could be quarantined properly, destroying it seems to adversarial to be worth the small benefit.

It wasn't just other cows at risk, according to wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycobacterium_bovis), the bacterium can infact humans as well.

I think religious rights, as in fact all rights, only go so far until they present a danger to others. In this case, public health was threatened and appropriate action was taken.

I agree with kinda.
If there was no chance of it infecting other cows (or people if bovine TB can do that) then I don't see why it should have been killed.

On the plus side, now the Muslims in Britain can't say their the only ones who are being 'attacked' :p

It wasn't just other cows at risk, according to wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycobacterium_bovis), the bacterium can infact humans as well.

I think religious rights, as in fact all rights, only go so far until they present a danger to others. In this case, public health was threatened and appropriate action was taken.

The thing is, they're all up in arms about it now. Hence my two option proposal.

If they want to die so much for their religion even when it's clear that it's killing them, oblige them. Cordon off the area, cut all supplies, and wait for the inevitable. See what they think about the sacred cow when they're all dying from TB. Once they're all dead, sterilize the place.

The thing is, they're all up in arms about it now. Hence my two option proposal.Too bad we don't have those MiB memory zappy thingys. Would have been so easy just to zap the lot and tell them "You'll cease being fucking insane" :D

Seriously though, I'm all for not using force against anyone, but in this case, destroying the critter was clearly an act of self defence. Superstitions are all fine and shit, but not when they endanger the lives and livelihoods of bystanders.

Testing positive for Bovine TB doesn't mean that it has TB, just that it has been exposed to TB in the past. Having said that, there cannot be one rule for farmers and another for religions, so yeah, sucky as it is, that Bovine should have been put down.

It depends. How likely was the bull to infect other cows? If it was likely, then, absolutely, destroy it. If not, or if it could be quarantined properly, destroying it seems to adversarial to be worth the small benefit.

The monks insist that there was no actual risk to anyone.

There are still tests he can undergo that would indicate whether he actually has TB, that is not conclusive. At the moment he is in perfect health and shows no sign of illness.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6265998.stm

Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
Religion is not above the law
....

It's official: Shambo is dead.

Good.

Good.

Poor Shambo.

It being 'Karma' (Dharma?), presumably they'll wait until whoever ordered it dies and say "Ha - we told you so" and be reassured in their faith. Being cynical it would take the visible and verified resurrection of Shambo (Shambo II) to keep me happy.....

Provided the TB was infectious, putting it down was the only prudent course.

If it had been in India, there would have been no fuss.

Funnily enough, I heard on the radio that a place in India had offered to take him in order to prevent the slaughter. I can't find it in any of the articles though, and, needless to say, the offer was turned down.

Poor Shambo.

If there was reasonable evidence that it had a dangerous infectious disease, then it had to be put down.

If it had been in India, there would have been no fuss.

Poor Shambo.
Indeed.

The poor beastie, feeling sick and confused with all the hoo-hah going on around it. Shame.

Though I fully support the Welsh Assembly's position; we can't be having bovine TB floating about, especially in somewhere like rural Wales.

Ooh, and I want to call you on the thread title - twas the best Channel 4 News advert break caption for a while.

It being 'Karma' (Dharma?), presumably they'll wait until whoever ordered it dies and say "Ha - we told you so" and be reassured in their faith.
It's Karma, as in cause and effect.

Dharma is the natural order and actions according to that order within the universe.

Shambo's Dharma was to go 'moo' and get friendly with the lady-cows.

Sorry lil' cow, but TB is too nasty and too much of a risk to merely let it fester.

Ooh, and I want to call you on the thread title - twas the best Channel 4 News advert break caption for a while.

Really? I can honestly say, with my hand on my heart, that I never saw that.

I would say great minds think alike, but when the other mind is Channel 4...

Really? I can honestly say, with my hand on my heart, that I never saw that.

I would say great minds think alike, but when the other mind is Channel 4...
Great minds think alike, and fools seldom differ. :D