Everyone's got an opinion

[CharleyH]

I woke up today to find this golden nugget the moment I logged in to MSN:

Liz Hurley wore leather shoes - OH MY god!

It had me chuckling, although it may have had some hurling swear words amongst other things. Read if you will. If not, the gist of the matter is that Elizabeth Hurley and her East Indian husband face up to three years in prison, not because they shot a cow, but rather in part because she wore leather shoes to her wedding, albeit in a country that finds the cow sacred.

Anyhow, in this day and age and when we visit other countries or cultures ... does the old saying, "Do as the Romans do" still apply? Should it? Obviously in some countries we must comply or else be jailed, if not stoned to death ... but what's your opinion of the incident or the saying?

 

[Kev H]

I'd bet isolationism sounds more appealing to poor ol' Liz right about now.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Did the ceremony take place in India? The article doesn't say. If it did then sure they have jurisdiction. If it didn't the they can blow all the smoke up someone's ass they want, they have no jurisdiction.

And it wasn't because she wore leather shoes, it was because she wore shoes, period.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Us Americans have a hard time understanding that the Romans might not do as we do. Sometimes it's funny or only annoying, sometimes it's really bad...
There are Americans in jails all over the world who presumed that our liberties- and our system of justice- were universal.
I travelled for maybe five years, as a model, which means that I had to make a temporary home in any city or country that I went to, and I can remember incident after incident that reminded me of this; a group of girls that went to a villa in the country, in France, and were drugged and raped. A girl who scalded herself in Milan, because the taps were marked "F" for frigido, cold and "C" for caldo, hot and in her world, "C" means "cold" I can't remember anything that I did, but I suspect that I've repressed the memories.... At least i survived any untoward incidents of that nature

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I'm forwarding that article to GW Bush. Those Indians can't do this. We'll invade India, clean out those "Shoe Terrorists" and make India a country safe for democracy.

I see no way around it

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I'm forwarding that article to GW Bush. Those Indians can't do this. We'll invade India, clean out those "Shoe Terrorists" and make India a country safe for democracy. No doubt "al-shuda" is involved along with Weapons of Anti-Leather Marketing (WALM's).

I see no way around it

 

[CharleyH]

Did the ceremony take place in India?

Yes, sorry - it did and I have not linked the original post I read this morning.

 

[CharleyH]

Us Americans have a hard time understanding that the Romans might not do as we do. Sometimes it's funny or only annoying, sometimes it's really bad...
There are Americans in jails all over the world who presumed that our liberties- and our system of justice- were universal.
I travelled for maybe five years, as a model, which means that I had to make a temporary home in any city or country that I went to, and I can remember incident after incident that reminded me of this; a group of girls that went to a villa in the country, in France, and were drugged and raped. A girl who scalded herself in Milan, because the taps were marked "F" for frigido, cold and "C" for caldo, hot and in her world, "C" means "cold" I can't remember anything that I did, but I suspect that I've repressed the memories.... At least i survived any untoward incidents of that nature

First and as aside: I find myself tipping 20% in Europe when I should be tipping 2 bucks.

Second: I get you. Other cultures seem funny to us North Americans and dare I say foreign (we really should concern ourselves more with language and culture before travelling). Liz Hurley is only lucky she is not in India. As a traveller, I am a firm believer in "do as the Romans do" and not because I want to, but only because it will keep me safe at times. I still tip 20% in Portugal, even if they only expect 2 bucks, but over tipping won't ever get me in trouble. I expect to go to Egypt someday and have already heard enough horror stories similar to yours from flight attendant. I shall not want that. Thanks for your take Stell.

 

[slyc_willie]

Us Americans have a hard time understanding that the Romans might not do as we do. Sometimes it's funny or only annoying, sometimes it's really bad...
There are Americans in jails all over the world who presumed that our liberties- and our system of justice- were universal.
I travelled for maybe five years, as a model, which means that I had to make a temporary home in any city or country that I went to, and I can remember incident after incident that reminded me of this; a group of girls that went to a villa in the country, in France, and were drugged and raped. A girl who scalded herself in Milan, because the taps were marked "F" for frigido, cold and "C" for caldo, hot and in her world, "C" means "cold" I can't remember anything that I did, but I suspect that I've repressed the memories.... At least i survived any untoward incidents of that nature

Being in the service industry, in a major tourist destination, and having lived around the world, I can see things from both American and Non-American points of view.

For the most part, I've noticed that Americans tend to exhibit a sense of arrogance when away from home, as if we're saying, 'we run the world, so don't you forget it.'

A friend of mine in Amsterdam once told me, 'I can't always pick out the French from the Brits, or the Poles from the Deutschers, but I can always pick out the Americans. They're stuck up like the Brits, rude like the French, grumpy like the Poles and loud like the Deutschers.'

I'm not necessarily agreeing with all those stereotypes, but it does illustrate the point (or rather, my perceived point) that many Americans expect the people and customs of other countries to conform to them. That's ignorance and arrogance at work.

On the other side of the coin . . . .

I interact with tourists from all around the States and the world as well. Mexicans, South Americans, Canadians, Europeans . . . and what I have noticed is that, especially since 9/11, tourists from other countries have made the effort to learn more about American customs and practices. Most tip well, because they know that 15-20% is expected, and most make the effort to speak English.

"When in Rome . . . ?" Absolutely. That's called respect.

 

[R. Richard]

And it wasn't because she wore leather shoes, it was because she wore shoes, period.

Good point! If it was because she wore cow [sacred to Hindus] leather shoes, then they would have to prove that the leather was actually cow leather and not buffalo, kangaroo, or whatever. Also, they would have to prove that the leather was not synthetic.

On the other hand, I can see the removing of the shoes to be a sort of the enforcement of the old idea of "keep 'em barefoot and pregnant."

 

[jomar]

I'm glad Liz is British so Nancy Pelosi doesn't have to make a trip to smooth things over diplomatically.

 

[CharleyH]

I'm glad Liz is British so Nancy Pelosi doesn't have to make a trip to smooth things over diplomatically.

LOL

 

[starrkers]

Good point! If it was because she wore cow [sacred to Hindus] leather shoes, then they would have to prove that the leather was actually cow leather and not buffalo, kangaroo, or whatever. Also, they would have to prove that the leather was not synthetic.

On the other hand, I can see the removing of the shoes to be a sort of the enforcement of the old idea of "keep 'em barefoot and pregnant."

The requirement to forego shoes had nothing to do with her being female and everything to do with it being a Hindu ceremony. Her husband ditched his clogs.
It is sad that she couldn't be bothered to learn enough about the religious customs of the faith she chose to get married under.

 

[damppanties]

what's your opinion of the incident ...

Court cases on celebrities seem to be the new pastime in India. It's just free publicity and the media get new stories, etc. It's news generation + publicity for the person who filed the case - that's all. Will blow over in a couple of weeks when something different comes along.

 

[slyc_willie]

Court cases on celebrities seem to be the new pastime in India. It's just free publicity and the media get new stories, etc. It's news generation + publicity for the person who filed the case - that's all. Will blow over in a couple of weeks when something different comes along.

My, haven't they become Americanized . . . .

 

[damppanties]

I'm forwarding that article to GW Bush. Those Indians can't do this. We'll invade India, clean out those "Shoe Terrorists" and make India a country safe for democracy. No doubt "al-shuda" is involved along with Weapons of Anti-Leather Marketing (WALM's).

I see no way around it

You're welcome.