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Mumbai's Dirty Open Secret
Times of India ^ | 9/25/2009 | Ravi Rao

Posted on 09/25/2009 10:36:42 PM PDT by Saije

A recent survey by Mumbai’s civic authorities has found that urinating and spitting in public are the most common offences in the metropolis. Apparently, the BMC’s clean-up marshals raked in Rs 6 crore from such ‘dirty offenders’ in a single year!

Now, that should not raise a stink among Mumbaikars who see and endure it everyday. But yet we need to ask: What is it in our genes that makes us unzip our pants and let loose at the sight of the nearest wall/gutter/lamp-post/dustbin---in fact everywhere but the darned loo?

We are used to seeing tiny tots being urged by their parents to either pee or ‘do potty’ in the great outdoors (railway stations and bus stops are for some reason, a favourite watering hole---public property is your property, so wash it clean?) while proud Papa and Mama look on thrilled at the fact that their little one has answered nature’s call so easily.

But what is disgusting is that these unclean habits formed in early childhood spill over (onto the roads) in adulthood. So you have every Shyam, Dick and Hari taking aim here, there and everywhere...

Spitting, clearing one’s throat, nose and other orifices is another civic act that Mumbaikars have mastered... Of course, one has to make two honourable exceptions. Women in general don’t resort to such misdemeanours; and two, those so impoverished that their shanties themselves rest on filthy, open drains or along the railway tracks...

But as for the others, it just beats me. The most common argument presented to justify their actions is this statement: All of Mumbai is a shit-hole, so what difference do a few piddling drops more make? Also, where is the clean, airy public restrooms that our civic authorities are supposed to provide?...

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: filthy; india; mumbai; publicurination
Just one of those cultural differences we celebrate because it makes humanity so richly vibrant.

(I got the traditional liberal indoctrination in college just like everyone else, ok?)

1 posted on 09/25/2009 10:36:43 PM PDT by Saije
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To: Saije
Just one of those cultural differences we celebrate because it makes humanity so richly vibrant.

LOL

2 posted on 09/25/2009 10:50:04 PM PDT by stripes1776 ("That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" --Chaucer)
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To: Saije
Ha ha.

A century and a half ago, pigs used to run through the streets of New York amid piles of horse manure. And we still have plenty of homeless people who think nothing of pooping in the streets of major cities. How many homeless people are in a place like Mumbai? Certainly not an opportunity to "celebrate cultural differences", but sneering at it serves no useful purpose either apart from illustrating how good we have it here now. Either way it's India's problem, not ours.
3 posted on 09/25/2009 10:53:30 PM PDT by dr_who
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To: dr_who

“...pigs used to run through the streets of New York amid piles of horse manure.”

Pigs aren’t people. And the article specifically states that homeless people can be excused, they don’t have sanitation facilities readily available.

The person who wrote the article was commenting on his own countrymen, wondering why they behave this way. I, in turn, was commenting on the liberal mentality in our country that would never allow for criticism of this behavior lest we seem bigoted or “sneering”, a point you’ve quite nicely proven for me! Thank you!


4 posted on 09/25/2009 10:59:15 PM PDT by Saije
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To: dr_who

LOL—you’ve never had the opportunity to walk through JacksonHeights,Flushing etc ? incredible and unbelievable all the hucking and spitting or simply closing one nostril and emptying out the other directly on the sidewalk or subway platform.
Or the groups of day labor loitering and toileting all over the place.
Laws ?
what laws ?


5 posted on 09/25/2009 11:02:41 PM PDT by catroina54
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To: Saije

If you think that sanitation standards in a city in India have anything to do with preserving traditional American values, perhaps you should go to India and set them straight on our behalf.


6 posted on 09/25/2009 11:12:15 PM PDT by dr_who
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To: catroina54

Spitting on the sidewalk? Shocking.


7 posted on 09/25/2009 11:14:46 PM PDT by dr_who
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To: dr_who

‘If you think that sanitation standards in a city in India have anything to do with preserving traditional American values...”

The author of the article, Ravi Rao, certainly seems to think traditional Indian values need a rewrite. And traditional American values in this country do not support criticism of this behavior —here or anywhere else— as you again have shown.

The liberal viewpoint IS the tradition in this country and has been for decades. We conservatives are the outliers.


8 posted on 09/25/2009 11:17:26 PM PDT by Saije
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To: Saije

Who’s “we”? I obviously can’t be a conservative outlier like you if I disagree with your pompous, crass tone and think your thread is pretty lame as arguments for criticism go. And yes, I endorse going to the bathroom on public sidewalks at every opportunity!


9 posted on 09/25/2009 11:30:06 PM PDT by dr_who
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To: Allegra; Lurker; CougarGA7

In germany a wall with water running down it into a trough is a urinal.

In the middle east arab nations such a water wall is where islamakazis wash up before they enter a mosque.

Fastest mile I ever ran after I made that mistake in saudi arabia.

Piss on em


10 posted on 09/25/2009 11:32:01 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Saije
I love living in Asia, I'm in transition to get moved (following my job) to India, but this aspect of Asian culture I can really do without.

Tsukuba Japan was the first place I had ever seen someone (a woman) squat over a sidewalk and take a dump.

Tokyo Japan was the first place I had ever seen a man in a business suit stand up alongside a temple (jinja) wall and pee on it.

Let's not talk about what central Tokyo train stations look like midnightish on Friday and Saturday nights when University is in session.

Sadly, there doesn't appear to be much I can do to persuade Mrs. Altair from hawking and spitting on the sidewalk.

I suppose if you don't like that kind of stuff, you can move to Singapore.

I've stepped in enough chewing gum carelessly discarded on US pavement to know that things aren't really any better in the US. Oh and on the last (and final) time I walked through the Hollywood & Vine intersection, it smelled like urine - almost as bad as how Manhattan smelled.

11 posted on 09/25/2009 11:37:20 PM PDT by altair ("We are content and happy if Obama can stay forever as president of America." - Gadhafi)
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To: altair

“Oh and on the last (and final) time I walked through the Hollywood & Vine intersection, it smelled like urine - almost as bad as how Manhattan smelled.”

Well there used to be a lot of street people around Hollywood and Vine so that isn’t a surprise. It was like that when I lived in LA many years ago.

I posted the article because this Indian writer was commenting on what he thought was inappropriate and disgusting behavior by his fellow citizens. I give him credit for that. In our country you get criticized for criticizing, especially but not only if it involves anyone from another culture. We’re supposed to be tolerant and understanding or we’re racists or bigots or snobs or elitists.


12 posted on 09/25/2009 11:45:13 PM PDT by Saije
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To: Saije
Thank G_d, we are no longer a Christian nation. Now we can become more "Progressive" like our afreekin betters.



Ifn ya need an /s tag, yer not thinking hard enough.

13 posted on 09/26/2009 1:33:35 AM PDT by rawcatslyentist (Ifanationexpects tobe ignorantandfree,inastateofcivilization,itexpects whatneverwas andnever will be)
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To: Saije

Im going outside right now and pee


14 posted on 09/26/2009 1:38:02 AM PDT by woofie
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To: Squantos

Fastest mile I ever ran after I made that mistake in saudi arabia.

&&&
LOL!

I swear, I don’t think you ever make a post that is not clever.


15 posted on 09/26/2009 2:18:59 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012)
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To: Saije

...every Shyam, Dick and Hari...

**
Clever.


16 posted on 09/26/2009 2:20:07 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012)
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To: Bigg Red

Life is funny after the fear wears off....:o)

Stay Safe !


17 posted on 09/26/2009 2:46:51 AM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Squantos
Fastest mile I ever ran after I made that mistake in saudi arabia.

ROFL! Did you really do that?

Did anybody chase you?

Glad you got out of that one!

18 posted on 09/26/2009 3:23:17 AM PDT by Allegra (It doesn't matter what this tagline says...the liberals are going to call it "racist.")
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To: Allegra
Yep

Almost killed me as I wasn't acclimated to the heat yet. I was in civilian clothes as we were living downtown due our early arrival. Had a sidearm an 3 spare mags but it would have looked real bad on my resume if I stood my ground an fought.

Had 1 new guy with me an when he saw me haulin ass he followed without question till we got back to our hotel.

I think there were a few more reported incidents of troops deployed from their bases in germany doing the same thing. They got caught by the saudi police I think so that was an international incident.

19 posted on 09/26/2009 5:03:02 AM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Squantos; Allegra; Lurker

Hey, all you have to do is go to an older stadium and you will be familiar with the pee trough. Well, maybe not you Allegra.


20 posted on 09/26/2009 7:51:32 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (My tagline is an honor student at Free Republic Elementary School.)
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