Janet Collins
Billy MWhoever said Sharon Stone was a Diplomat Anyway?
June 1st 2008 10:34
Sharon Stone’s gaffe, or might we say her politically unwise statement relating to the Chinese and karma, raises some interesting questions about our own belief systems.
For those who may have missed it, Ms Stone made remarks about the Chinese in Tibet and suggested that the earthquakes in China may have been “karma” for all the human suffering inflicted there.
While this might prove to be a rather costly remark for Stone – Dior the company that has used her to promote its products has now distanced themselves from her remarks and it is predicted her current and future movies will be subjected to a boycott in Chinese cinemas – it isn’t way off what we are all brought up to believe.
Western religions and culture continually promote the philosophy of “do unto others what you would want them to do unto you”. Through generations clever sayings are passed down to convince us that we will reap what we sow. Someone getting their “just desserts” is a message perpetrated in our movies all the time.
When many of us started pulling away from our traditional religions, another whole culture took their place. The New Age philosophy was sought out by many who looked further for some understanding of the whole meaning of life. Eastern philosophies were all of a sudden “in vogue”.
Buddhism became very fashionable for many searching for a replacement for traditional Christian thinking. Celebrities such as Richard Gere embraced Buddhism and the teachings of the Dalai Lama, becoming an activist for Tibet and a campaigner against Chinese involvement there. Such high profile followers did much to promote these teachings throughout the western world.
Karma and the belief that everything that happens to us is the direct result of what we have done or are doing is an important part of this doctrine. Many of the teachings go even further to suggest that misfortune may have been caused by wrong doings in a previous life.
While many of us may think this is an absolutely ridiculous way to make sense anyone’s misfortune, most of us, whether or not we have dabbled in Buddhist teachings, do believe in the basic philosophy of cause and effect. Paying the consequences for our actions is deeply embedded into our psyche, whether we are from the East or the West. Who hasn’t at one time or another asked themselves – or at least thought – “what have I done to deserve this?” We have applauded punishment for those who have done wrong as if this confirms our belief that we will always get what we deserve.
The victims of the earthquake in China can hardly be held responsible for the human suffering caused by those in power and Ms Stone may have sounded naïve and childish in her clumsy comments. In a broader sense however, it is how we have all learned to justify the ills of the world.
Sharon Stone may not be the most powerful person in Hollywood but you can be sure she has enjoyed some healthy royalties via Chinese audiences. And just as many around the world many who don’t like what is happening in Tibet, Ms Stone you can be sure (at least before her outburst) has not been reluctant to embrace for much financial gain the large and lucrative market called China.
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