A group of Buddhists announced recently that they were going to purchase 534 lobsters to return them to the sea. A group of lobstermen from Gloucester reportedly read about the designated site of the ceremony and followed the Buddhists — laying traps and capturing the lobsters and bringing them to market. This was viewed as really funny by the captain of the fishing vessel Degelyse — according to published reports. However, in an update below, Joe Ciaramitaro insists it is satire and not meant to be disrespectful.
The lobstermen then brag about destroying the purpose of the ceremony on their local blog, Goodmorninggloucester.org. Joe Ciaramitaro, who runs the blog, insisted oddly that “It’s really not meant as a slight toward Buddhism at all. We’re just having fun.’’ I would really like to know what constitutes a slight in Gloucester. I can now see what constitutes fun on the Degelyse. Here are some of the pictures.
Whether you agree with the monks or their faith, it is incredibly nasty and disrespectful to pull this type of stunt. In the video on the blog, the lobsterman taunt the Buddhists. I do not understand how adults could work so hard to be disrespectful to people in a religious-based ceremony. If this story is and these pictures are true, it is not just disrespectful, it is disgraceful. Even if satire, it released a torrent of anti-Buddhist mocking across the blogoshere.
Update: I reached out to speak with Joe Ciaramitaro who insists that they were just engaging in satire. He also noted that he is a practicing Buddhist. It is an ironic twist given the anti-Buddhist sentiment shown after the posting on this and other blogs. However, Mr. Ciaramitaro insists that his site often uses such satire.
Source: Boston.com
Gyges,
I’ve been checking out reviews of the book on-line … I believe I’m going to enjoy it.
Blouise,
If I remember correctly they’re the second or third page of the pictures. I think there’s a picture index in the back. There’s definitely some pictures worth looking at if you can just avoid those.
Gyges,
Thank you … I mean that … I get physically sick … can’t show up at a “Jobs not Cuts” rally throwing up …
Blouise,
Be warned, there are graphic pictures of the Khmer Rouge’s victims in the middle.
Gyges,
I haven’t read it … I checked with our library and will pick it up on my way downtown tomorrow.
Blouise,
May I suggest picking up a copy of The Gods Drink Whiskey it’s written by a man who gets recruited to teach at the Buddhist Institute in Cambodia. He’s of a different branch of Buddhism that gets little to no pop culture representation in the US, even though something like 1/3rd of Buddhists are members.
Anyway, the chapter on Kharma is fascinating.
AY,
I have always been fascinated with the concept of karma as a law of moral causation in Buddhism. Cause and effect … We create our own Heaven. We create our own Hell. We are the architects of our own fate. Yet it isn’t a “predestination” state of being. Breaking the karmic chain is the goal.
Fascinating stuff.
The skeptic in me says the lobstermen are trying to get the genie back in the bottle. The “tell” was the constant comment monitoring and deleting any critical comments almost as soon as they posted.
The damage is done. They demonstrated their true colors and it ain’t pretty.
I agree with Lotta, twice. The lobstermen actually gave more press to the Buddhists protest.
MASkeptic, or a walk-back, spin. Who knows, but the damage is kinda’ done is it not?
The original blog from the Lobstermen has posted an update saying that this didn’t happen and the story was an attempt at humor. Tim Wayne posted a link from his blog.
So… slightly crude inside joke that was taken seriously by persons not in the know?
What BurquePD said. Good observation.
I left a posting that said: “Most of the country knows two things about Gloustermen: a great George Clooney movie; you and your stunt. Well done JoeyC.”
People really need to start thinking ahead about what they do and then post about.
“I do not understand how adults could work so hard to be disrespectful to people in a religious-based ceremony. It is not just disrespectful, it is disgraceful.”
Quite.
Empires are prone to become mean spirited. It does not have to happen, but it always does.
You know, those toxins of power, when the government is so corrupt it smells around the world, some of it trickles down.
Hey, “they are selling postcards of the hanging” …
If I was to put flowers on the graves of servicemen killed in the Iraqi-Stan wars, but a florist said shit I can sell these flowers again, and picked them back up.
Who would let that slide.
MASpetic, Metro,
Very succinct….
Blouise,
Karma is real….I know…I have met her a few time…and when I gave of the tango ….. I finally started getting a life back….
Thanks lobstermen! Assuming the Buddhists’ actions were a form of protest, the fishermen’s response has made it exponentially more successful. Would the story of the Buddhist’s actions be disseminating through the blogosphere like wildfire if it weren’t for the lobstermen?
If the monks are at all interested in protesting the practice of lobster-trapping by communicating their message to an audience (as opposed to simply rescuing the particular lobsters in question), this was a more successful campaign than they ever could have planned.
Weird how the law of unintended consequences plays out. . .
HenMan – if you have a blog, report the story there, mention the censorship and add your deleted comment.
timwayne-
You are correct- they are censoring comments they don’t like. I said, “I wonder if the lobstermen would find it funny if I came to their church and pissed on the altar.”
Don’t look for it- it isn’t there any more.
For as universal as the Golden Rule seems to be, nobody really follows it. I can’t help but wonder how the lobster-men feel about protestors at funerals.
2many,
What’s the difference between a publicity stunt and a public demonstration of faith?