Guest guest Posted June 28, 2005 Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 I like to think that Durga was watching out for her, but that's just my opinion. Also, I don't think these lions were "confused" by the girl's whimpering, again, just my opinion. A heartwarming story any way. http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2005/06/21/ lions_rescue_guard_beaten_ethiopian_girl/ Lions rescue, guard beaten Ethiopian girl By Anthony Mitchell, Associated Press Writer | June 21, 2005 ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia --A 12-year-old girl who was abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage was found being guarded by three lions who apparently had chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday. The girl, missing for a week, had been taken by seven men who wanted to force her to marry one of them, said Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo, speaking by telephone from the provincial capital of Bita Genet, about 350 miles southwest of Addis Ababa. She was beaten repeatedly before she was found June 9 by police and relatives on the outskirts of Bita Genet, Wondimu said. She had been guarded by the lions for about half a day, he said. "They stood guard until we found her and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest," Wondimu said. "If the lions had not come to her rescue, then it could have been much worse. Often these young girls are raped and severely beaten to force them to accept the marriage," he said. Tilahun Kassa, a local government official who corroborated Wondimu's version of the events, said one of the men had wanted to marry the girl against her wishes. "Everyone thinks this is some kind of miracle, because normally the lions would attack people," Wondimu said. Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert with the rural development ministry, said the girl may have survived because she was crying from the trauma of her attack. "A young girl whimpering could be mistaken for the mewing sound from a lion cub, which in turn could explain why they didn't eat her," Williams said. Ethiopia's lions, famous for their large black manes, are the country's national symbol and adorn statues and the local currency. Despite a recent crackdown, Hunters also kill the animals for their skins, which can fetch $1,000. Williams estimates that only 1,000 Ethiopian lions remain in the wild. The girl, the youngest of four siblings, was "shocked and terrified" after her abduction and had to be treated for the cuts from her beatings, Wondimu said. He said police had caught four of the abductors and three were still at large. Kidnapping young girls has long been part of the marriage custom in Ethiopia. The United Nations estimates that more than 70 percent of marriages in Ethiopia are by abduction, practiced in rural areas where most of the country's 71 million people live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2005 Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 I'm certain that Ethiopians have a "lion goddess" of their own, somewhere in their Pagan past. It seems strange to culturally appropriate Hindu divinities and arbitrarily superimpose them on a completely different culture. How much influence did Egypt have on ancient Ethiopia? More likely some form of Sekhmet watching out for the girl? Nice story, anyway. -- Len (whose name, Leonard, means "like a lion") --- prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow wrote: > I like to think that Durga was watching out for her, > but that's just my opinion. Also, I don't > think these lions were "confused" by the girl's > whimpering, again, just my opinion. A > heartwarming story any way. > > > > http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2005/06/21/ > lions_rescue_guard_beaten_ethiopian_girl/ > > Lions rescue, guard beaten Ethiopian girl > By Anthony Mitchell, Associated Press Writer | > June 21, 2005 > > ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia --A 12-year-old girl who was > abducted and beaten by men trying > to force her into a marriage was found being guarded > by three lions who apparently had > chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday. > > The girl, missing for a week, had been taken by > seven men who wanted to force her to > marry one of them, said Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo, > speaking by telephone from the provincial > capital of Bita Genet, about 350 miles southwest of > Addis Ababa. > > She was beaten repeatedly before she was found June > 9 by police and relatives on the > outskirts of Bita Genet, Wondimu said. She had been > guarded by the lions for about half a > day, he said. > > "They stood guard until we found her and then they > just left her like a gift and went back > into the forest," Wondimu said. > > "If the lions had not come to her rescue, then it > could have been much worse. Often these > young girls are raped and severely beaten to force > them to accept the marriage," he said. > > Tilahun Kassa, a local government official who > corroborated Wondimu's version of the > events, said one of the men had wanted to marry the > girl against her wishes. > > "Everyone thinks this is some kind of miracle, > because normally the lions would attack > people," Wondimu said. > > Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert with the rural > development ministry, said the girl may > have survived because she was crying from the trauma > of her attack. > > "A young girl whimpering could be mistaken for the > mewing sound from a lion cub, which > in turn could explain why they didn't eat her," > Williams said. > > Ethiopia's lions, famous for their large black > manes, are the country's national symbol and > adorn statues and the local currency. Despite a > recent crackdown, Hunters also kill the > animals for their skins, which can fetch $1,000. > Williams estimates that only 1,000 > Ethiopian lions remain in the wild. > > The girl, the youngest of four siblings, was > "shocked and terrified" after her abduction and > had to be treated for the cuts from her beatings, > Wondimu said. > > He said police had caught four of the abductors and > three were still at large. > > Kidnapping young girls has long been part of the > marriage custom in Ethiopia. The United > Nations estimates that more than 70 percent of > marriages in Ethiopia are by abduction, > practiced in rural areas where most of the country's > 71 million people live. > > > > Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: http://tour.mail./mailtour.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2005 Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 Ah, you're right, the Goddess in Her form of Sekmet. It's just that I meditate so often on Durga and Her wonderful lion,....or tiger... whatever and it seemed to me that there was incredible benevolent and divine intervention in this case. It moved me personally and I thought of my Goddess in connection with it. Truly in a world of so much violence, it was so nice to hear such a nice story. Blessings, prainbow , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > > I'm certain that Ethiopians have a "lion goddess" of > their own, somewhere in their Pagan past. It seems > strange to culturally appropriate Hindu divinities and > arbitrarily superimpose them on a completely different > culture. > > How much influence did Egypt have on ancient Ethiopia? > More likely some form of Sekhmet watching out for the > girl? > > Nice story, anyway. > > -- Len > (whose name, Leonard, means "like a lion") > > > --- prainbow61 <paulie-rainbow@u...> wrote: > > > I like to think that Durga was watching out for her, > > but that's just my opinion. Also, I don't > > think these lions were "confused" by the girl's > > whimpering, again, just my opinion. A > > heartwarming story any way. > > > > > > > > > http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2005/06/21/ > > lions_rescue_guard_beaten_ethiopian_girl/ > > > > Lions rescue, guard beaten Ethiopian girl > > By Anthony Mitchell, Associated Press Writer | > > June 21, 2005 > > > > ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia --A 12-year-old girl who was > > abducted and beaten by men trying > > to force her into a marriage was found being guarded > > by three lions who apparently had > > chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday. > > > > The girl, missing for a week, had been taken by > > seven men who wanted to force her to > > marry one of them, said Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo, > > speaking by telephone from the provincial > > capital of Bita Genet, about 350 miles southwest of > > Addis Ababa. > > > > She was beaten repeatedly before she was found June > > 9 by police and relatives on the > > outskirts of Bita Genet, Wondimu said. She had been > > guarded by the lions for about half a > > day, he said. > > > > "They stood guard until we found her and then they > > just left her like a gift and went back > > into the forest," Wondimu said. > > > > "If the lions had not come to her rescue, then it > > could have been much worse. Often these > > young girls are raped and severely beaten to force > > them to accept the marriage," he said. > > > > Tilahun Kassa, a local government official who > > corroborated Wondimu's version of the > > events, said one of the men had wanted to marry the > > girl against her wishes. > > > > "Everyone thinks this is some kind of miracle, > > because normally the lions would attack > > people," Wondimu said. > > > > Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert with the rural > > development ministry, said the girl may > > have survived because she was crying from the trauma > > of her attack. > > > > "A young girl whimpering could be mistaken for the > > mewing sound from a lion cub, which > > in turn could explain why they didn't eat her," > > Williams said. > > > > Ethiopia's lions, famous for their large black > > manes, are the country's national symbol and > > adorn statues and the local currency. Despite a > > recent crackdown, Hunters also kill the > > animals for their skins, which can fetch $1,000. > > Williams estimates that only 1,000 > > Ethiopian lions remain in the wild. > > > > The girl, the youngest of four siblings, was > > "shocked and terrified" after her abduction and > > had to be treated for the cuts from her beatings, > > Wondimu said. > > > > He said police had caught four of the abductors and > > three were still at large. > > > > Kidnapping young girls has long been part of the > > marriage custom in Ethiopia. The United > > Nations estimates that more than 70 percent of > > marriages in Ethiopia are by abduction, > > practiced in rural areas where most of the country's > > 71 million people live. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Mail > Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: > http://tour.mail./mailtour.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 Isn't this what we non-Hindus are doing here at SS? With no ill intentions, but nonetheless! > > , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: It seems > > strange to culturally appropriate Hindu divinities and > > arbitrarily superimpose them on a completely different > > culture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 >From the moment in 1980 when I stepped into the Hindu Temple in Flushing, Queens, and dissolved into tears of bliss while standing before Ganesha's manadapam, with the feeling of having finally "come home" -- well, my devotion was not "arbitrarily superimposed" by someone else. It was my own conscious choice. -- Len --- Mary Ann <buttercookie61 wrote: > Isn't this what we non-Hindus are doing here at SS? > With no ill > intentions, but nonetheless! > > > > , Len > Rosenberg > <kalipadma108> wrote: > It seems > > > strange to culturally appropriate Hindu > divinities and > > > arbitrarily superimpose them on a completely > different > > > culture. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 I didn't think Prainbow's feeling about Durga in relation to the story of the girl protected by lions was imposing her devotion on anyone else, either. But your seeing it as an imposition caused me to ask whether such "imposition" is what we non-Hindus do in this realm. Despite our inner feelings of devotion, though certain aspects of Hindu deity and teachings may feel like "coming home," other people may still view us as appropriating or misappropriating, arbitrarily or otherwise. Does that make our inner experience any less? I'll bet that girl (at some point) would love to know of any and all examples of girls and women being protected by lions and/or tigers since her experience was so special, yet, if depicted in spiritual imagery of any culture, not unprecedented. , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > > From the moment in 1980 when I stepped into the Hindu > Temple in Flushing, Queens, and dissolved into tears > of bliss while standing before Ganesha's manadapam, > with the feeling of having finally "come home" -- > well, my devotion was not "arbitrarily superimposed" > by someone else. It was my own conscious choice. > > -- Len > > > --- Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote: > > > Isn't this what we non-Hindus are doing here at SS? > > With no ill > > intentions, but nonetheless! > > > > > > , Len > > Rosenberg > > <kalipadma108> wrote: > > It seems > > > > strange to culturally appropriate Hindu > > divinities and > > > > arbitrarily superimpose them on a completely > > different > > > > culture. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2005 Report Share Posted June 30, 2005 Well, maybe it is imposition. I mean, I feel pretty irritated when Christians interpret events in *my* life as being the result of the works of their Jesus Christ. Really irritated sometimes. I don't like the events of my life being appropriated to the glory of their god, particularly when they use the influence of their faith to change the laws that affect my life. So maybe I was wrong. But what I was feeling was just grateful and moved. Namaste, prainbow , "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61> wrote: > I didn't think Prainbow's feeling about Durga in relation to the > story of the girl protected by lions was imposing her devotion on > anyone else, either. But your seeing it as an imposition caused me > to ask whether such "imposition" is what we non-Hindus do in this > realm. Despite our inner feelings of devotion, though certain > aspects of Hindu deity and teachings may feel like "coming home," > other people may still view us as appropriating or misappropriating, > arbitrarily or otherwise. Does that make our inner experience any > less? I'll bet that girl (at some point) would love to know of any > and all examples of girls and women being protected by lions and/or > tigers since her experience was so special, yet, if depicted in > spiritual imagery of any culture, not unprecedented. > > > , Len Rosenberg > <kalipadma108> wrote: > > > > From the moment in 1980 when I stepped into the Hindu > > Temple in Flushing, Queens, and dissolved into tears > > of bliss while standing before Ganesha's manadapam, > > with the feeling of having finally "come home" -- > > well, my devotion was not "arbitrarily superimposed" > > by someone else. It was my own conscious choice. > > > > -- Len > > > > > > --- Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote: > > > > > Isn't this what we non-Hindus are doing here at SS? > > > With no ill > > > intentions, but nonetheless! > > > > > > > > , Len > > > Rosenberg > > > <kalipadma108> wrote: > > > It seems > > > > > strange to culturally appropriate Hindu > > > divinities and > > > > > arbitrarily superimpose them on a completely > > > different > > > > > culture. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2005 Report Share Posted July 1, 2005 I definitely agree with buttercookie, that is exactly how I look at it. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2005 Report Share Posted July 1, 2005 If you were there wagging your finger at that girl and telling her it was Durga and only Durga, that would be imposing. Otherwise, I think it's possible to recognize God/dess in all images and experiences of the Divine, in uncommon as well as common events. It is truly imposition when people create laws to support only one view of God and demand that others accept their view of God as the only true one. It's imposition when people perform harmful acts in the name of their God, avoiding the personal responsibility for choosing to harm others. My 2 cents, anyway. , "prainbow61" <paulie-rainbow@u...> wrote: > Well, maybe it is imposition. > > I mean, I feel pretty irritated when Christians interpret events in *my* life as being the > result of the works of their Jesus Christ. Really irritated sometimes. I don't like the events > of my life being appropriated to the glory of their god, particularly when they use the > influence of their faith to change the laws that affect my life. > > So maybe I was wrong. But what I was feeling was just grateful and moved. > > Namaste, > > prainbow > > , "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61> wrote: > > I didn't think Prainbow's feeling about Durga in relation to the > > story of the girl protected by lions was imposing her devotion on > > anyone else, either. But your seeing it as an imposition caused me > > to ask whether such "imposition" is what we non-Hindus do in this > > realm. Despite our inner feelings of devotion, though certain > > aspects of Hindu deity and teachings may feel like "coming home," > > other people may still view us as appropriating or misappropriating, > > arbitrarily or otherwise. Does that make our inner experience any > > less? I'll bet that girl (at some point) would love to know of any > > and all examples of girls and women being protected by lions and/or > > tigers since her experience was so special, yet, if depicted in > > spiritual imagery of any culture, not unprecedented. > > > > > > , Len Rosenberg > > <kalipadma108> wrote: > > > > > > From the moment in 1980 when I stepped into the Hindu > > > Temple in Flushing, Queens, and dissolved into tears > > > of bliss while standing before Ganesha's manadapam, > > > with the feeling of having finally "come home" -- > > > well, my devotion was not "arbitrarily superimposed" > > > by someone else. It was my own conscious choice. > > > > > > -- Len > > > > > > > > > --- Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote: > > > > > > > Isn't this what we non-Hindus are doing here at SS? > > > > With no ill > > > > intentions, but nonetheless! > > > > > > > > > > , Len > > > > Rosenberg > > > > <kalipadma108> wrote: > > > > It seems > > > > > > strange to culturally appropriate Hindu > > > > divinities and > > > > > > arbitrarily superimpose them on a completely > > > > different > > > > > > culture. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Tired of spam? Mail has the best spam protection around > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2005 Report Share Posted July 1, 2005 Wow, it's a new experience for me to have someone agree with me This may alter my body chemistry! , Katiadriel@a... wrote: > I definitely agree with buttercookie, that is exactly how I look at it. =) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2005 Report Share Posted July 1, 2005 Well, brace yourself, I agree with you too. >Wow, it's a new experience for me to have someone agree with me >This may alter my body chemistry! I see no reason why devotees of different traditions cannot find commonalities in their symbolic systems. That's not to say that they _must_ necessarily mean the same, but they often do. The ancients equated deities of other peoples with their own all the time, notwithstanding the differences between them. Max -- Max Dashu Suppressed Histories Archives Global Women's History http://www.suppressedhistories.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2005 Report Share Posted July 2, 2005 How nice - I can actually stop bracing myself and just allow myself to be as I am. Thanks Max, and you, too, Katiadriel. Great minds think alike, they say , Max Dashu <maxdashu@l...> wrote: > Well, brace yourself, I agree with you too. > > >Wow, it's a new experience for me to have someone agree with me > >This may alter my body chemistry! > > I see no reason why devotees of different traditions cannot find > commonalities in their symbolic systems. That's not to say that they > _must_ necessarily mean the same, but they often do. The ancients > equated deities of other peoples with their own all the time, > notwithstanding the differences between them. > > Max > > -- > Max Dashu > Suppressed Histories Archives > Global Women's History > http://www.suppressedhistories.net > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.