YOUR SAY

Thearchibalds

RAJNI ANANDLUTHRA reported ontheSydneyartist ClausStangl's portrait of L-FRESH The LION at this year'sArchibaldPrizeexhibition.

Phlllp Stassi wrote: "An interestingAustralian..." indeed. Theartist deserveshighpraisefor thesewordsandthis approach.The portrait isbeautifulandarresting.Hemadeanoblepictureof a noble-looking man.

HarJas Doabla wrote: Sogood toseeL-FRESH at theArchies. He'spopped up thisyearin somanyplaces, onABC'sQ andA andinone of your own video series.Andnow at theAGNSW inagiant painting.Alsoloved yourpieceon RameshMario'sself-portrait attheArchibaldPrize. Both menofcoursewill soonbeseen inArchie Plus, anArchibald offshoot atthe Gallery, involving portraitsof otherkindssuchasin sculpture, musicanddance.

Onthattanishqad

Readers weighedin onthe controversysurroundingthejewelleryadin India that wasforced tobe withdrawn forits liberalleanings.

Dhanya Samuel wrote: From asecular democraticIndia, wehavebecome a fascist, non-secular country.

Shweta Deshpande wrote: Whatis wrongwththisad?Itisa wonderful inclusivework.

Gino Rikhye wrote: Hateiseasiertopropagatethanlove.

Renu Datta wrote:Thisisaone-sidedview, respect theother view too.Only demandisnexttime, thesecularpicturebereversed, withaHindugroom and Muslim bride.It will bethe bestexampletoshowsecularismand tolerance. Smritl Jalswal wrote: Nothing wrong withthisad. GrowingupinIndia,Ihad manyfriendsthat wereMuslims.Neverdidit occurtomewhat religionthey were. Lovejihadisa ridiculousidea. Peoplecanchoosewhichever religion they want tomarry, that's theirhumanright.Also, if thisadhad theroles reversed, I still wouldlike it. Becausehateisnot thepoint. I think many would agree welove peacefullyinIndia withfreedomtofollowanyreligion-mosques andtemplessideby side.enjoyingRamzanandDiwalione aftertheother Religionunites us, not dividesus.

Ananya Hazra wrote: What's theprobleminthisad?Onereligion is celebratingtheotherreligion'srituals, what's the issue in that?Doesthe Hindu notcelebrateChristmas bycutting cake anddecoratingSanta? No one protestsforthat, then whyare people protesting forthis?Ritualsare only for self-satisfactionand for societyshow-offs. So, beitHindu, MuslimorChristian ritual.what'stheproblemin celebratinganyritualsby any individual?What isreligion, bythe way -whenwewere bornwe didn'tcomewithany special mark forourreligion.Allof usarehuman; anyone cancelebrate anyritual, howdoesit matter?Whydopeople differentiate?

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Makingmen Outofour Boys

AUSTRALIA'SFIRSTSIKHTEMPLE

RAJNIANAND LUTHRA reported on Gurdwara Sahib atWoolgoolgaNSW being granted heritagestatus.

Renu Datta wrote:Alwaysthememorablestoppage whiledrivingbetween NSWandQLD, nowtotheside.

TJSingh wrote: Maywe keepexcelling. May wealwaysstand together.

Amblka Glrglanl wrote: I've alwaysloved going tothis Gurudwara.

Andrea Stewart wrote:Ireadwithinterestyourarticleabouttheheritagelisting ofthefirstSikhtempleinthelatestissueofthepaper. Ithoughtyoumight be interested in aphotoof thefirstcommitteein1968 that youmightnothave seen. MyfatherBertStewartwasthepublicanmentioned inthearticle.