In my opinion the proposed Buddhist Temple on Cactus Canyon Rd is a fine idea. Buddhism is a peaceful life concept that doesn’t hurt anyone. The temple would be a tranquil place where locals and tourists will be able to learn about a different culture and perhaps experience something new and pleasant. I mean, this whole local area has been built on multiple cultures really, hasn’t it?
But according to the Messenger newspaper on the 20th October, a grand total of 50 whole people (wow, count ‘em. 50. I’ve seen more people in the check out queue at Coles on a Sunday afternoon) packed the Sellicks community hall in a heated debate over this proposal.
A local councillor was quoted in the same article as saying the height of the 35m pagoda would be “... totally out of scale for the environment...” Well, that means we can’t build anything higher than a grapevine or one of the six remaining almond trees, then, if the environment in question is the flats of this shire. However, if I class the environment as the rolling hills of Willunga and Sellicks, then by that scale is the pagoda perhaps a little small?
Other Nay Sayers were concerned about the noise of a bell at prayer times. If a bell is too loud then we’d best put a stop to all aircraft taking off or landing at Aldinga airfield as well. Because planes are loud. Also there will need to be an enforced ban on all doof doof music that emanates from houses and passing cars, as that’s highly offensive to the ears of people over 35, including mine. Trucks must also use quieter mufflers and are to be blown up if they are caught using exhaust brakes anywhere. Oh, and I want the use of scare guns in vineyards abolished and tractors are to be outlawed and you can only use horses and carts at vintage time.
Another point that was raised is that the site would be distracting to motorists. Now, I don’t know about you, but if a stationary building in the near distance is cause for a driver to lose concentration from the task of controlling their vehicle, at great risk to themselves, passengers and other motorists, then I think these particular drivers should have their licences revoked. Does this mean that every time they drive through a city or past a bridge or a phone tower above three storeys high they suddenly become mesmerized by these structures and instantly veer off the road and crash? By this token, all advertising billboards larger than a shop front should be burned as they are designed for motorists to see them and read them whilst in the act of driving. In fact, why don’t we just use taxpayers money to build giant concrete walls like those that used to divide Germany to line South Rd so that no drivers with attention spans shorter than that of a cabbage can be distracted by those horridly intrusive and disruptive sunsets over the ocean and fields that plague us each day as well?
Is it because it’s of Asian background that this temple proposal has caused such concern? Would a Church of England building cause as much fuss? Because in case you had forgotten, anything or anyone that originated from England or a country other than this one is not actually indigenous to this area either, and therefore, no different to a Buddhist temple. The only group that would have actual right to complain should they need to would be the indigenous Australians, anyway.
Is it fear, perhaps? Read up on Buddhism as a religion or way of life, then. Not too many Buddhist extremists out there. No Buddhist monks launching a Jihad against anyone who uses cutlery and toilet paper instead of their hands. No pages of the history books about the Buddhist Crusades where armies of Monks and peasants marched across the lands raping and pillaging in the name of their God.
People travel miles to see such structures. And with them come tourist dollars for the surrounding area. Heaven forbid we have a tourist attraction that doesn’t involve excessive drinking and gluttony or a bunch of men in tights with shaved legs on push bikes. Interestingly enough, few people minded when an American place of worship was proposed and construction commenced. Actually, it received a warm welcome for the most part. Which makes me think no one would have cared about the pagoda if it had a McDonald’s sign on top of it.
Clearly, I despise racism in all its forms. And I’m not being all pious here, though. I judge people and have subconscious prejudices the same as anyone else, but I base mine on the merits of the individual, not their race or background. Were the proposal for a walled biker fortress with razor wire or a training camp for gun toting zealots, or a compound for those who force disciple s to wear blue tracksuits and new sneakers before drinking poison, then, yes folks, that would be out of line and highly negative for the area.
But it’s not. It’s for a place of peace and beauty.
And those are good things.
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