Texas gets 90-ft-tall Hanuman sculpture, 3rd tallest statue in US: Know all about it

Hindustan Times ^ | August 20, 2024 | Sumanti Sen

[fireman15]

Yes, it is horrendous, but before we begin getting all smug about sculptures produced by Western artists... it is slightly better than many pieces shoved in the public's face by woke "art aficionados". This bronze sculpture found in the Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections is either a Penis or the Leaning Tower Of Turd... You Be The Judge.

It is installed on the north central grounds of the Sculpture Park, along Grand Avenue, between 13th and 15th Streets in Downtown Des Moines, IA 50309

[oil_dude]

Planet of the Apes? How lucky we are

[DallasBiff]

.

[Magnum44]

You Be The Judge.

Its a penis

[Openurmind]

I am taking in the thread as a whole. It is self explanatory.

[ansel12]

You can’t force people to shut-up, don’t try to stop them from exercising free speech.

[buwaya]

Its interesting, perhaps, to note that the backers of this and most overt Hindu temples and other such constructions are the conservative and largely pro-Trump parts of the US Hindu community.

They are the “religious right” of Hindus.

The Hindu/Indian left (Democrat voters) are rarely religious. The Hindu left in the US heavily outnumbers the Hindu right.

[buwaya]

Almost certainly wealthy people in the Hindu community. These aren’t poor people. On average Indians in the US make more money (household income) than Jews.

[jagusafr]

Ft Bend County is the most ethnically diverse county in Texas and one of the most diverse in the nation. My kids live there and I estimate 90% of the campaign signs are for Hindu or Muslim candidates.

[buwaya]

There were no Catholics, Episcopalians or Lutherans on the Mayflower either. They were all members of a rather insular Calvinist sect. And not one that represents anything but a small minority of Christians that ever were in the US.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yes bring back idol worship. Why not. 😆

[Openurmind]

“You can’t force people to shut-up, don’t try to stop them from exercising free speech.”

I didn’t, show me where? Don’t twist my words out of context. I was merely offering suggestion that we might want to think twice before suppressing the speech and faiths of others. Because if we do we will ourselves be next. I respect free speech just as much as freedom of religion. Like this Statue, it is both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Hypocrisy is the problem I have. Like you trying to suppress my own free speech right now by twisting it into something it is not. Wanting tolerance of our own faith yet being intolerant of others is hypocrisy. Especially when it is based on ignorance of that other faith.

[buwaya]

Hanunan, the monkey-god.

Its a Hindu thing, but the monkey-god is all over East Asia. The real source in re this character is the Chinese classic, “Journey to the West”, which is actually a fantasy novel riffing off Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, what have you.

The beginning few chapters are really very funny, as it uses the monkey to make a monkey, so to speak, of all the religious beliefs and sacred cows (metaphorically) of China. Its a great satire. Highly recommended.

The thing is huge though, and goes on and on, episodically. I dont think there is even an English translation of the whole thing.

[TribalPrincess2U]

And whose idea was that? ....spit!

[ansel12]

People can complain about that giant statue and our immigration laws and what they are doing to our nation all they want, discussing immigration and it’s effects is how we citizens make immigration law.

[HYPOCRACY]

The new Montezuma’s revenge. Same as the old Montezuma’s revenge.

[buwaya]

Have you been in a Catholic Church? The majority of Protestant opinion, back in the day, would have called us “idol worshipers”.

Btw - what is this then?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_(statue)

[Openurmind]

There were Muslims who sailed with the Vikings. And the Vikings were here first. There is evidence that the phoneticians may have been here before that.

[CodeToad]

Millions.

[buwaya]

The Phoenicians were, religiously, the villains of the Old Testament. It was their gods that were the counterpoint to Yahweh, and a perpetual temptation to the Israelites.