Two wrongs don't make a right

Two wrongs don't make a right

I was appalled to see the Nov. 7 The Jakarta Post article,
that announced the sacrifice in Bali of over 79 animals including
rare species like deer, small antelopes and civet cats, by
slaughter or drowning. Apart from the fact that I am opposed to
unnecessary slaughter, the fact is that more bloodshed, be it
that of other species or humans, isn't going to change anything,
far less cleanse our beloved island of the bombings.

Even if these animals are not protected species, they are wild
animals. True, animals are slaughtered for food every day. But
this?

Born a Hindu myself, although I understand and accept that
Balinese Hinduism differs greatly in a lot of ways, I find it
reprehensible that the Balinese, a largely gentle people, would
actually willingly cause trauma and death in this manner, to wild
animals that are terrified of human beings.

Being captured is bad enough. Being surrounded by crowds of
people in a religious frenzy, and then slaughtered or drowned? I
can't bear to think about it.

I quote from the article: "The pemarisudha karipubhaya' is
only carried out when there is a mass, violent death caused by
enemy attack," Brahmana scholar Ida Bagus Wijaya Kusuma said.

My question: Who, then, will hold a pemarisudha karipubhaya
for the mass, violent deaths of over 79 animals?

I have loved Bali since I first visited over a decade ago, and
have since visited countless times, and will always go back. But
the thought of this enormous sacrifice of innocent creatures is
unlikely, to my mind, to appease any Gods. On the contrary, I do
believe that needless suffering caused to the innocent would,
rather, invoke their wrath.

PRIYA TULI, Jakarta