Thursday 20 March 2008

Dhoni gets PETA’s goat for sacrificing act


Mahendra Singh Dhoni hardly misses a chance to visit temple when he is at his hometown Ranchi. Though he has miles to go before matching teammate Sreesanth, who does not discriminate and frequents every possible religious place around, Dhoni too comes across as a god-fearing soul. But it’s one such act that has put him in some spot of bother.

The Indian ODI and Twenty20 captain recently sacrificed a baby goat at the Silli temple in Ranchi praying for further success and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) believes it was not the temple but the act that was silly.

PETA has shot off a letter to Dhoni and, as all publicity-hankering NGOs does, sent copies of it to the media criticizing him for the action.

The letter read, “As a talented athlete, you are a role model for young people. We hope that you will consider the enormous influence you have over the children and in the future refrain from cruel acts that your young fans might be inspired to imitate."

PETA claimed they have been flooded with calls and e-mails from “horrified” people who lambasted Dhoni for his cruelty to animals.

PETA says the whole incident has sullied Dhoni’s image and quipped "Mr Dhoni will really need divine intervention now to repair his tarnished image.” Well, if that is the case, Dhoni might sacrifice one more, this time to revive image.

Meanwhile, though upset by Dhoni's act, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) still wants the cricketer to be its brand ambassador.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a palaeontologist. Humans evolved to be the omnivores we are today. Adding meat to our vegetarian diet was important in the development of sophisticated brains, which help in thinking, analysing and problem solving. As for PETA (People Eating Tomato Atchar) they should stop the double standards. Kudos to Dhoni for practising his culture. He is proud of it, and he should be. I was born Christian, but am proud of my Hindu Ancestry. Shame to all the people who wrote-off him and his young brigade. They will go on to do great things without your support. To Dravid & Ganguly, please don't bring your tired, aging & mummifying bodies to T20 & ODI's. We need youngsters. Stick to test cricket where you can field off block shots or slip. Yes, you have done great things, but your shelf life is long expired! Indian cricket like our economy, strives to be dynamic, you will only slow us down!

Som said...

First of all, Doosra welcomes a palaeontologist. I'm not a PETA fan either. But regarding Dravid and Ganguly, I think they merit a grand farewell. These guys have opted out of Twenty20 and atleast Ganguly did better than all his younger colleagues in one dayers since his comeback. Of course it's time to pave way for the youngsters. But their exit has to be graceful, no question about that. Even Dhoni would loath such unceremonious exit when he grows old, isn't it? So when Ranatunga says Indians don't know how to treat their heroes, he is not far from the truth, isn't it? Maybe selectors need to take Ganguly and Dravid to a corner, lay hand around their shoulder and say 'Thanks guys for your excellent service. We love you but time has come to leave the stage. Let the next match be your swansong and we'll arrange a grand farewell and a benefit match for you.' See even Capello brought back Beckham!

Anonymous said...

I would not like them back at the cost of loosing. They are more suited to the five-dayers where they are vital. The team selection would have been justified had they just finished 2nd in the Aus tri-series. They surpassed all expectations and won the competition. I can't see Dravid and Ganguly taking India to such emphatic heights in ODI and T20 anymore. They can still be honoured off the field. Give them both national awards. Name streets after them. Create statues. Induct them into the hall of fame. Cricket India from now on should worry more about collective team performance than revering their cricket stars as Gods. We are the only country to have turned them into Gods and therein lies the problem. This is exactly what has hindered team India for ages. But see what happens when you select a few simple, humble but committed lads. They not only deliver the goods but add with it passion and exuberance. The selectors have gained interest on their investment in youth. Long may it continue!

Som said...

Exactly. Twenty20 is just not meant for them and in ODIs too, the go-young policy has already started paying dividends. My sole point was to give the seniors a chance to exit the ODI stage with their grace intact. Once the ODI team has delivered and Dhoni has made it clear that he does not want the seniors in the side, there is no way you can go back and accommodate the Gangulys and Dravids. That would be a disaster. Just imagine how the dressing room atmosphere will be.

Anonymous said...

'Kudos to Dhoni for practising his culture.' for you information THIS IS NOT PART OF OUR CULTURE. And even I AM A HINDU and a devout one. ANIMAL SACRIFICES and other such practices were some of the Practices such as ANIMAL SACRIFICES AND SLAUGHTER have now been banned by the Constitution of India.For that matter in ancient times, there used to be human sacrifices at Kali temples (derived from myths that Kali had killed Raktabija-a Rakshasa;etc.) It has been banned now, in the name of HUMAN RIGHTS.
And speaking of Fundamental Rights, A FUNDAMENTAL DUTY mentioned in the INDIAN CONTITUTION is also "To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures"
Similarly, Animal Sacrifice is also now looked down upon by the 'sopicticated society'. Sophistication is all about respecting other lives and being campassionate toward them.

An even such as a big public figure today like DHONI killing a poor baby animal for his selfish motives is highly condemnable and sends a wrong message to the young aspiring fans that he claims.
Also if DHONI is Actually such a devout believer i would like to convey to him that "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves" and a man can fail in the opposite case, even when he follows all possible superstitions.He sould concentrate on playing well and devising foolproof strategies for the game and help bring out the best in his team. Cricket today is a big game in our country and and commands a vast public support and interest. BUT IT IS VITAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS IS YET ONLY A GAME WHICH IS NOT BIGGER THAN A LIFE.
How many people would see a little innocent baby goat and find it cute and childlike.Does a poor creature like that , who's not even aware of of fate has in for him and even why he's about to die so painfully; deserve to be KILLED?
IF there is even one person on earth who wants to support this killing , it is a matter of great shame how merciless and brutal and unreasonable our race is becoming now!
Do you even realise the amount of pain the goat is going thrugh? and if M.S.DHONI will even get a small scratch on his finger most of India will be under stress praying for his quick recovery. Then The GOAt is going through DEATH! How much more painful is that!

And it is a disgrace that at the end of your paragraph you are trying to divert the whole conversation toward cricket and who should be on the team!

Anonymous said...

MR ABRAHAM or whoever , you say you are a palaeontologist. in that case it is more a matter of shame for you to have the audacity to talk in favour of killing other forms of life, and that too, for puposes of religious sacrifices, as the case is in the above piece of news. i wonder why youare so damn shameless! By what you talk about YOU DON"T EVEN SOUND EDUCATED!
and then on top of that you try to justify that animal slaughter is not bad mentioning that 'humans evolved as omnivore'. being a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian is a personal matter of choice.(Only using big words won't make whatever you are trying to say magnificent or right, there should be authenticity and sense in it too! p.s. i can't believe you are such a loser.)
although people should try to quit eating animals.but this has become deep-rooted now.and sometimes a debateable issue too.so i will not talk about that right now.
Instead of opposing a malpractice like this you are trying to thrive on it, attaching religious sentiments to it. This is the behaviour of a typical parasite. because you seem to come off as someone who wants to make a good impression in the area of religion.
look, it is not a matter of what religion you belong to or whether you are proud of it of not.(if you think that in case you sweetly mention that you are convert but are proud of your ancestors being hindus; What are you trying to say - pleasing fanatic forces in our country??) So please stop making this a communal topic!
And before making such a big statement and declaring to the whole world how proud you are about belonging to which religion, better get your facts right. No true hindu today is proud of killing other living beings.Besides a true believer in God never harms other creations of God. If you are such a strong supporter of ancient religious practices and strong customs; i might bring it to your notice that most of the people who got converted were the ones that belonged to the lower castes or 'shudras'.and following the ancient customs you ,being a convert shoul not have been allowed to live freely and get an education. you should have been assigned menial jobs.and abused and tortured by the upper classes at all times. Would you Like that? and then, you wouldn't have the guts to open your mouth and say such utter nonsense. For who knows YOU might have served a BETTER and MORE YIELDING SACRIFICE for MAHENDER SINGH DHONI at the temple! (i don't generally talk in terms as these.for i myself don't like the ill-practices of religion that discriminates against any other living being.but you seem to deserve it.)
and when you say 'Adding meat to our vegetarian diet was important in the development of sophisticated brains, which help in thinking, analysing and problem solving' ,who are you trying to kid ?do you thing people who are vegetarians cannot think or analyse properly?? who do you think are you to pass off remarks as that!

Anonymous said...

I am a palaeontologist. Humans evolved to be the omnivores we are today. Adding meat to our vegetarian diet was important in the development of sophisticated brains, which help in thinking, analysing and problem solving

Clearly it has not helped you! If at all your brain was sphisticated and capable of analysing, you would never support animal abuse in any form. I wonder how you would feel if your baby or anyone you knew was sacrificed in the name of CULTURE!

Anonymous said...

this is the best answer that could be expected from o real HINDU :MR ABRAHAM or whoever , you say you are a palaeontologist. in that case it is more a matter of shame for you to have the audacity to talk in favour of killing other forms of life, and that too, for puposes of religious sacrifices, as the case is in the above piece of news. i wonder why youare so damn shameless! By what you talk about YOU DON"T EVEN SOUND EDUCATED!
and then on top of that you try to justify that animal slaughter is not bad mentioning that 'humans evolved as omnivore'. being a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian is a personal matter of choice.(Only using big words won't make whatever you are trying to say magnificent or right, there should be authenticity and sense in it too! p.s. i can't believe you are such a loser.)
although people should try to quit eating animals.but this has become deep-rooted now.and sometimes a debateable issue too.so i will not talk about that right now.
Instead of opposing a malpractice like this you are trying to thrive on it, attaching religious sentiments to it. This is the behaviour of a typical parasite. because you seem to come off as someone who wants to make a good impression in the area of religion.
look, it is not a matter of what religion you belong to or whether you are proud of it of not.(if you think that in case you sweetly mention that you are convert but are proud of your ancestors being hindus; What are you trying to say - pleasing fanatic forces in our country??) So please stop making this a communal topic!
And before making such a big statement and declaring to the whole world how proud you are about belonging to which religion, better get your facts right. No true hindu today is proud of killing other living beings.Besides a true believer in God never harms other creations of God. If you are such a strong supporter of ancient religious practices and strong customs; i might bring it to your notice that most of the people who got converted were the ones that belonged to the lower castes or 'shudras'.and following the ancient customs you ,being a convert shoul not have been allowed to live freely and get an education. you should have been assigned menial jobs.and abused and tortured by the upper classes at all times. Would you Like that? and then, you wouldn't have the guts to open your mouth and say such utter nonsense. For who knows YOU might have served a BETTER and MORE YIELDING SACRIFICE for MAHENDER SINGH DHONI at the temple! (i don't generally talk in terms as these.for i myself don't like the ill-practices of religion that discriminates against any other living being.but you seem to deserve it.)
and when you say 'Adding meat to our vegetarian diet was important in the development of sophisticated brains, which help in thinking, analysing and problem solving' ,who are you trying to kid ?do you thing people who are vegetarians cannot think or analyse properly?? who do you think are you to pass off remarks as that!

28 November 2009 13:33