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Re: Apu from the Quik-E-Mart
Confucius (hell!god@uunet.uu.net) wrote:
: On the smash hit TV show The Simpsons, is Apu a hindu?
I don't remember Apu ever stating explicitly, "I am a Hindu." However, I
can think of at least five facts which suggest that he may be:
1. He was apparently connected to the Maharishi's crowd in India in the
late 1960s, where he met Paul McCartney. (From the episode in which Lisa
becomes a vegetarian.)
2. He is a strict vegetarian. (From the same episode.)
3. He once visited the guru of all Kwik-E-Marts on a mountain in the
Himalayas -- the guru looked a lot like Swami Satchidananda, and was
dressed in a habit similar to the Saraswati Order. (From the episode
where Homer works at Kwik-E-Mart.)
4. He has a puja for Lord Ganesh in his store. (This is the episode
where Homer meets God. Interestingly, this episode marked the
beginning of a series of non-coincidences in my life, which resulted
in my finding my own teachers several months later. The Lord of
Beginnings, indeed!)
5. In last night's episode (involving the death of Krusty the Clown),
Apu reacts to a loud noise by exclaiming "Shiva H. Vishnu!"
While the ethnic humor can sometimes be a little heavy-handed (as in
example #5 above), all in all, "The Simpsons" has a very accepting and
tolerant attitude toward Apu's beliefs. Over the years, the character
has developed far beyond the stereotyped Indian convenience-store owner,
and Apu's character has been the vehicle for serious discussions of
religious tolerance, vegetarianism, cultural differences, etc.
I truly enjoy "The Simpsons". It is satirical without being cruel,
irreverent without being cynical, and it affirms positive human
relationships without being sappy or overdoing the "Awwww!" factor. It's
a shame that many people have dismissed it without giving it a chance.
It's probably the best comedy series on TV.
(NOTE: When replying by e-mail, please state "KATHLEEN" in the subject
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