New statue in east Tulsa

[RecycleMichael]

Tulsa Buddhists seek to erect statue of goddess  

By KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer
Published: 3/8/2009 

The church steeples that rise into the sky throughout Tulsa could soon have company.
Plans are under way to erect a 49-foot-tall granite statue of the Buddhist goddess Quan Am on the grounds of the Tam-Bao Buddhist Temple, 16933 E. 21st St. The statue will stand on an 8-foot foundation. The only thing standing in the way is the Board of Adjustment's approval of the temple's application to amend its previously approved site plan. The case will be heard March 24.

"It is our wish to have the statue put on the land, not only to benefit the Buddhist members but to attract more Americans who are interested in Buddhism, and it will beautify the city as well," said temple member Xuan Pham. Pham said Quan Am, which is the Vietnamese name for the Buddhist goddess known as Kuan Yin in Chinese, is considered a mother figure and is a symbol of love, compassion, understanding and listening. Statues of Quan Am are common at Vietnamese and Chinese Buddhist temples, she said.

Read the complete story in Monday's Tulsa World.

How very cool. First of all, I am in favor of big statues all over town. I think the Golden Driller guy at the fairgrounds has been lonely for too long.

Secondly, this statue is going to be a symbol of love, compassion, understanding and listening. These are all wonderful traits to share among us.

Thirdly, it is going to be in east Tulsa. I love living in east Tulsa because of it's uniqueness and separation, yet so easily accessible to everywhere else in town.

Please BoA, approve this.

[Gaspar]

Very cool.  I didn't even know we had a Buddhist temple in Tulsa. 

[TheArtist]

 Sounds great, hope it gets built.

It would be kind of neat to have a more visible "asian" district in Tulsa.  There is a park by a library in East Tulsa that has a small stream running through it and I have always thought it would be neat to have that turned into an oriental garden with a gazebo and a little oriental bridge. Then put 4 gateway elements at that 21st intersection, each one representing a different asian  culture.

It would also be nice to have the Richardson Asian Art Museum in a better location and a larger facility.  Have it by that park and have the grounds be oriental gardens, kind of like Philbrook and its Italian gardens.  It would be neat if some of Philbrooks asian collection were merged with the Richardson collection, and they made another "branch" like they are doing downtown with the western art stuff. Would create an entire new attraction and beautiful area for Tulsa ... But alas, I am full of dreams lol.

http://www.richardsonart.org/

Gateway element like this...

[cannon_fodder]

24 foot tall Quan Am statue on a 10' base in California.  Just  Googling the Goddess it very much seems like she is the Vietnamese Virgin Mary (most popular in Vietnam apparently), with many depictions looking similar to the Catholic statues. 

I hope they approve it.  My initial concern was for the neighborhood... but Google Street View tells me this Temple is the neighborhood in that area. (my embed attempts failed so click here.)

[Gaspar]

24 foot tall Quan Am statue on a 10' base in California.  Just  Googling the Goddess it very much seems like she is the Vietnamese Virgin Mary (most popular in Vietnam apparently), with many depictions looking similar to the Catholic statues. 

I hope they approve it.  My initial concern was for the neighborhood... but Google Street View tells me this Temple is the neighborhood in that area. (my embed attempts failed so click here.)

"Googling the Goddess"  Really CF?  Was that necessary? 

[TheArtist]

Just ran across the TW article and made the mistake of looking at the comments behind it. Immediately there were comments about it being some evil pagan idol, something about communist countries, etc. I expected there might be something like that in the mix, but not just about everyone arguing about that.  I was expecting to see some "oh wont this be nice" "This will be neat looking or beautiful" "what a great cultural or artistic addition to the city" etc.  But I don't think I ran across a single comment to that effect. Its so disheartening.

[swake]

Just ran across the TW article and made the mistake of looking at the comments behind it. Immediately there were comments about it being some evil pagan idol, something about communist countries, etc. I expected there might be something like that in the mix, but not just about everyone arguing about that.  I was expecting to see some "oh wont this be nice" "This will be neat looking or beautiful" "what a great cultural or artistic addition to the city" etc.  But I don't think I ran across a single comment to that effect. Its so disheartening.

That is what you get for reading the comments section of the Tulsa World site.

[cannon_fodder]

1. Props to the TW graphics guy:



2.  I trolled over and read the comments section too.  Some of my favorites:

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:21
(statutes of other religious symbols are idols, his religious symbols are holy.  That and Buddhist don't really worship their Gods, per se)

Vietnam and China are Communist countries. We should not be using Communists as examples of how to do things in America.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3 (Deuteronomy 5:7, Judges 6:10, Hosea 13:4)
(translation:  government shouldn't let your gods compete with my god)

I'm a Christian and I don't have any problem with the Buddists and their statue, just as long as Christian's can can post the 10 Commandments wherever and whenever they want.
(pretty sure this is a Buddhist temple putting Buddhist symbols in their front lawn - which Christian churches already do following the same rules)


Reading over the comments, most are positive.  Perhaps the hateful ones were purged.  But I'd say 75% are either positive, "who cares," or refuting the idiots.

If it is altered on height requirements per the rules so be it, but I have not seen nor heard a rational objection to it.  In fact, the only objection I have seen is that it is a statue to the wrong God, which won't get far even in Tulsa.

[joiei]

They are wanting to put up this statue on their own property not some public space.  Exposure to other cultures would be good for some Tulsans.

[OSU]

One of my favorite activities from my youth group probably 10 years ago was traveling to different houses of faith. We went to Tam-Bao, the Masque in the neighborhood around 51st and yale (can't remember the exact name), Temple Israel, and Holy Family downtown. It was an awesome experience and one I hope my future children can enjoy.

[Conan71]

I thought this should be a real non-issue.  It's seems to me the Tulsa World is trying to stir the proverbial bucket of smile by using this for their lead headline this morning.  Everytime a new steeple goes up in Tulsa is it printed above the fold on page 1?  No.

It's their property, and as someone else pointed out, it's not like there's much else out that way.  Cool, yes.  Newsworthy, because it does imply some sense of cutural diversity in Tulsa.  Front page news, no way, not unless they were trying to get the hillbillies riled up.

[swake]

I thought this should be a real non-issue.  It's seems to me the Tulsa World is trying to stir the proverbial bucket of smile by using this for their lead headline this morning.  Everytime a new steeple goes up in Tulsa is it printed above the fold on page 1?  No.

It's their property, and as someone else pointed out, it's not like there's much else out that way.  Cool, yes.  Newsworthy, because it does imply some sense of cutural diversity in Tulsa.  Front page news, no way, not unless they were trying to get the hillbillies riled up.

+1

And a sad example of the local paper going to the way of local TV news.

"Coming up at 5 on 2 Works for YOU, something that might KILL you and rape your cat, and it's in your home NOW!"

[cannon_fodder]

and the hits just keep coming:

i'd rather have a statue of buddha rather than a muslim temple representing terrorism like the one they have at tu.
(other Gods and religions not in caps, Muslim's in Temples instead of Mosques. . .  an educated opinion)
- -
Im sure the Buddhist are a benevolent people. Look how well the countries are doing that have buddhism as their main religion. Evidently the United States is slowly conforming to eastern religious values.
This is war being waged on the United States with the constitution being used as the enemy sword. The constitution is for our perpetuation as a Christian Nation.
Divide we fall, in other words. If we are not in one accord as a nation. We will fall to the hands of others who will dictate to us our own lives and freedoms.
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The Taliban knew how to deal with Buddhist Statues. The Christians will too.
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I must remind you the the United States of America was on Christianity and not another religion. Our greatest days appear to be behind us when we were faithful to Christianity. I do not mean to imply that other religions should not have a place in the US; however, they should be made aware of the fact this nation is a Christian...oops, I mean it WAS a Christian nation.
- - -

I still assert that MOST posters are either in favor of or ambivalent to the statue going up.  For my own amusement I hope this gets the Fundamentalists out of their rockers and protesting another religion.  The other part of me doesn't want media attention for Tulsa in that light nor to see the Buddhist temple put through all that... but still.

Best reply to the zealots so far:

Leviticus 19:33
When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

[Conan71]

+1

And a sad example of the local paper going to the way of local TV news.

"Coming up at 5 on 2 Works for YOU, something that might KILL you and rape your cat, and it's in your home NOW!"

NOOOOOOO!!!!!! Not the cat!!!!!!!!!!  Aaaaagh!!!!!!