Two Living Asian Saints

A humorous article published in The Observer today titled, 'You wait ages for a living Asian saint to arrive, then two come along at once' refers to the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi who visited Britain last week.

I arrived in Britain three decades ago when being Asian was NOT cool. 'Effing Paki' were words uttered with as much regularity as a 'Hello'. Fast forward and now we have Asians being called 'Saints'. Have we arrived?

I am still somewhat sceptical though about the use of the term and the level of adulation showered on Aung San. There is a tendency to compare famous women with flowers i.e English rose. If Aung San had not fitted the Western concept of an 'Asian Orchid' would she be whipping up high levels of uber fanship despite having a razor sharp brain? 

Aren't There More Important Things?

In the gay marriage debate the insistence of the question 'aren't there more important things?' is entirely a vacuous ones. The question is only valid if everyone has equal rights and are opposing a single issue from an equal legal and moral footing. This isn't the case is it? 
Relegating equality to the sidelines by usurping the argument in terms of it not being important enough is to consign those who have most to lose from the debate onto a scrapheap.  
Also, in terms of hierarchy of importance there will always be something more important than another just as there is always someone worse off then yourself.  That doesn't diminish your suffering or hardship though does it? .