Rubel Sheikh, 25, reportedly went to a shrine in Bangladesh to receive the blessings of one of five crocodiles in the shrine pond. He quickly became a Bangladish when the crocodile skipped the blessing and went straight to eating Sheikh.
Rubel Sheikh and his mother traveled with their mother to receive the blessing at the Muslim Khan Jahan Ali shrine. Every day, people throw hens and goats to the crocodiles and then bath in the pond to receive their blessing.
I suppose it is no more dangerous than running the bulls at Pamplona, but it is still surprising that the government allows people to throw animals into crocodile infested waters and then bath with the crocodiles.
Of course, golf courses and other public sites are known to have alligators. Indeed, in 2007, a man named Bruce Burger (I cannot make this up) was attacked by a one-eyed alligator at Lake Venice Golf Course and pulled under the water, here.
Even police officers appear incapable of resisting the thrill of a good alligator wrestle, here.
For a picture of the pond, click here.
For the story, click here.
I’m guessing the blessing the crocodile gave was; “rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub! Yeah God!! Don’t let the turkeys know about this or there’ll be hell to pay on Thanksgiving.
JT – these stories are not humorous and the recent callous comments, presented here, by ‘Thingum’ Bob, Esq. AND most recently by ‘Jill’ really set me off – as a health-care provider.
Just to start, if you all knew half as much as I know about animal behavior, animal habitat, and the environment you would be much more circumspect.
Patty C:
I am very sorry if I have been too glib in this posting. I must confess that I have no sympathy for people who throw animals to crocodiles and bath in their ponds. Moreover, I have nothing but contempt for a government that allows such displays to occur. I do not like the inclusion of animals in golf courses and other public sites for the same reason. Nevertheless, we are often a bit macabre in our humor on this site and I am the most to blame. I understand your point and I hope that you will forgive some of us if we occasionally stray across the line. I have always enjoyed your comments, which are a steady and enriching part of this blog.
JT
‘Don’t let the turkeys know about this or there’ll be hell to pay on Thanksgiving.’
****
Believe me, ‘the turkey’s’ already know who they are – gobble gobble…
Thanks for that, JT. I am not completely without guilt in this area either
There are lots of times, in my field, if we are not inappropriately jocular in our exchanges, we would just CRY – all the time.
I do ‘get it’.
However, I always perceive our moments as ‘private’, professionally, and fairly well asured they will never reach beyond our walls.
If you only knew…and you might, since your’ bro is an ER doc!
My father, before me, was, as well.
Ahh, some folks just need to lighten up and have a little fun, JT.
After all, this story sounds like a crock.
Perhaps when the crocodile heard him praying he thought the guy was just saying grace.
Before dinner.
“I am very sorry if I have been too glib in this posting.”
Are you kidding me??
It’s one thing to drain the swamp to try and get rid of the mosquitoes; it’s quite another to assume the crocodiles will love and bless you for it.
People like the one in this post are prime candidates for the Darwin Award– Honoring those who improve the species…by accidentally removing themselves from it.
http://www.darwinawards.com/
This is a good argument for the difference between spirituality, and “religion”.
It is a striking contrast to the logic that comes from spiritual gurus like Depak Chopra and Dr Wayne Dyer, and those who practice the dogmatic rituals of archaic religions.
And I’m with JT. (not that that fact pleases him, lol) I have very little sympathy for a government that tolerates, and likely perpetuates, such archaic rituals as tossing live animals into a pool of hungry crocidiles.
This is animal sacrifice, something that should be globably banned.
And letting their people climb in with them?
Downright stupid.
Course… on the upside, guess the croc did help the guy find God.
Query: After JT’s comment might we describe his recent lapse as well, trollish? (Sorry, like an old LP record I can’t get off this topic–I resolve to stop)
I am always puzzled by the logic, or abhorent lack of logic, behind these kind of rituals. It seems barbaric, backwards, and woefully moronic. Why must you need be blessed by this ancient scalely beast? And, if you must, why can you not be blessed by these carnivorous stomachs in a way that doesn’t put your life or its life in jeopardy? And, if you are blessed, what on earth are you to gain by this? And, how would you measure such?
Aren’t these obvious questions with obvious answers, or am I too cynical?
I don’t think you’re too cynical Josh. I think you’re right on target.
People cannot seem to consider the idea of a God, or spirituality, without having someone else laying it all out for them, complete with words to say, zany rituals and some really funny hats.
I certainly wouldn’t begrudge lawyers a laugh at foolishness. I don’t see how it can be otherwise, with them needing to be compassionate and professional in the face of some of the predicaments human beings get themselves into. Same with doctors and nurses. By the way, we have a very professional 2nd year post-grad resident here at UW Hospital named Turley. He seems to be one of the good ones.
LindLou:
If he has any money, I claim him as a relative.
JT
Heck,
If he has money, I will claim him as a relative and my name isn’t Turley.
rafflaw,
Count me in on that too!
Josh,
I think those are great points. We have animal/human sacrifice as important aspects in the religions of the book as well. God demands Abraham to sacrifice his son and he’s willing to go through with it. In christianity god asks Jesus to sacrifice himself for everyone’s sins. We are used to hearing these things so I don’t think we notice how very strange these demands for the death of an animal–human or otherwise, are. Why would any god either need or demand these sacrifices? If such a god exists, why should we go along with these demands?
With his brains and polish, it’s only a matter of time. And he has an adorable smile.
Did this gator tick like a clock? That’s sort of a dead giveaway that there’s going to be trouble.
Sounds ‘dangerous’, LindyLou.
http://www.jointcommission.org/SentinelEvents/SentinelEventAlert/sea_40.htm
Issue 40, July 9, 2008
‘Behaviors that undermine a culture of safety’
Patty C,
I’m not sure I understand what part of the Jcaho stuff pertains to this discussion. I did talk about maintaining a compassionate and professional demeanor. And you did talk about your own inappropriate jocularity.
Facing daily tragedy is tough enough, but when the tragedy is preventable it’s worse. Then you have the people that almost dare tragedy to happen, like in this story. The frustration has to go somewhere.
Obviously, I’m not advocating that people involved in patient care take a “gomer” attitude. That wouldn’t last a second at UWH.
But lawyers? I give them a lot of latitude. This is law, not patient care. One of my favorite laws is the law of common sense which tells me, and apparently a lot of other people, not to get into a pond with flesh-eating animals.
I’d have to agree, you missed it…
I was ribbing you a smidge about your ‘Crush’ – the dangerous disruptive nature to be found in the ubiquitous 2nd year
‘adorable smile’…!
I’m older than you. My SO for the last 14 years a vascular surgeon.
FYI- I am one of a few original blog ‘turlees’ and precede the skeleton crew you observe ‘chatting’ daily, currently.
My education and background is Law and Medicine in Maine, and Boston ie HMS (Harvard Medical School)
mespo practices Litigation, Michael Spindell was a Prediatric Social Worker for NY State before he retired. Rafflaw, I believe, has a general law practice. I dunno what Jill does. Gyges plays in an orchestra. binx101 is some big ass former air line exec. Bob Esq. usually just ticks me off…
As to lawyers, generally, unless they are close personal friends, I couldn’t agree less with your comment.
I managed lawyers and others in offices in four states, singularly, also negotiated settlements personally, and also engaged in adversarial processes with plaintiff attorneys as a part of one of my jobs.
While I’ve also dated several lawyers, I also married one
- once.
I trade ‘latitude’ toward lawyers for attitude almost any chance I get!
I dislike stories about people abusing animals resulting
in harm or death, almost more than I dislike stories about people who get themselves maimed or killed because they and/or others do not respect animals and/or their habitat.
Animals can’t speak for themselves.
These Indians practicing religious sacrifices and rituals are ignorant of science and biological triggers. They never heard of Pavlov, I’m sure…
The POs in FL who killed he alligator? Inexcusable – also no latitude from me – none!