Sorry but I didn't take WW's initial post as being nasty - it was about being in a compromising situation and about the difference between the two cultures. I didn't take it that there was any real harm in what happened - more like "What's that?" and "Ohhhhhhh! Now what do I do?!" He assumed something and then found out otherwise - he was trying to do the right thing.
In my opinion, the intent isn't a "nasty" one but a very human one - ever try to do the right thing (pick up litter) only to have it suddenly become compromising?
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Quick story:
My husband's family is all from Greece and they are Greek Orthodox. They have a custom of keeping a little lamp that is shaped like a red flame (but bigger than those Christmas candles we place in our windows) as a memorial to a family member that died.
Well, I didn't know what it was and one day when I was at hubby's aunts' house, helping to re-arrange some furniture for them, I suggested they move the lamp. Big mistake. I got a quick education that day but my suggestion wasn't done with the intent to be offensive - it was innocent but ignorant (unlearned). It won't happen again.
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I'd bet that after WW's incident that he'll think twice about lifting a "bag of litter" out of the lake. One man's assumed bag of litter may just be another man's deity.
Last edited by Argie's Wife; 10-07-2009 at 02:15 PM.
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