photo results | The 5th Gender & Launching War in Iraq | Traditionally the mediums between kings and gods, Bissu priests represent a sort of "fifth gender" in southern Sulawesi. In a part of the world that recognizes four genders -- a) men, b) women, c) men who live as women and d) women who live as men -- the Bissu priests fit e) none (or all?) of the above.
Gentle and endearing, their administrative duties are now largely restricted to wedding ceremonies, where they dance and impale themselves with their kris daggers, yet somehow remain uninjured. Their free time is spent practicing a mixture of animism and ancient mystical Islam, traditions now largely forgotten as more and more Indonesians rack up frequent flyer miles on pilgrimage to Mecca.
I shot these priests at a royal wedding in Pare Pare, alongside a documentary film crew in March 2003. As George W. Bush penetrated Iraq, our gaggle of Americans penetrated a devoutly religious corner of the world's largest Muslim population with concern and heavy hearts. By day three, the roaming wedding commentator (who announced the festivity's play-by-play over loudspeaker) brought the crowd to a hush. It was the ceremony's culmination, when the bride and groom approached to meet for the first time in their lives. "Ladies and Gentlemen," whispered the announcer, fixing his stare on me as the terrified teens sized one another up, "At this moment all I can say is... I am so glad our friends from America are here!!" Onlookers erupted and slapped me on the back and I knew I would never feel unwelcome in this country, though I sometimes wonder why not. | |
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harry_ndhuz
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teapotmommommerced
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cmsk2005
(1207) | | Today i am just posting different sites which i think are somehow important for all of us. So once again here is another site which you may fin very useful if yu use airmiles and try to accumulate... | |
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(16) | | This has got to be one of the coolest moments from a concert that I've ever heard, especially when combined with this background material from Surfline Magazine:A three hundred-pound plus Hawaiian... | |
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View From the Wing
(1) | | Free Frequent Flyer Miles points out that you can get 500 miles for an auto insurance quote from Ameriprise, and that it works every six months. So even if you've done it before it might be time to... | |
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All articles at B...
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View From the Wing
(1) | | Free Frequent Flyer Miles points out that the USAirways Mastercard offer of 15,000 bonus miles with first purchaseNo fee for two years50% bonus on all spending the first yearComplimentary USAirways... | |
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View From the Wing
(1) | | Free Frequent Flyer Miles points to an an offer of Delta miles for new countertops.There are always miles for shopping offers, but I point this one out because I hadn't seen it before and because... | |
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Progressive U blogs
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View From the Wing
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meme834
(0) | | An Egyptian man planning to fly to Saudi Arabia was detained upon discovery of his attempt to smuggle 700 poisonous snakes aboard the plane. (He was planning to sell them...perhaps for assassination... | |
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Wedaholic.com
(0) | | If you are looking for some money saving tips when it comes to planning your wedding then you should definitely check out Martha Stewart’s website. Her feature “50 ways to trim your budget” contains... | |
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FishStripes
(0) | | The Marlins organization changed their mind and Abercrombie is back with the team, as Jim B sort of noted. Outfielder Reggie Abercrombie was back with the Marlins after the team changed its mind... | |
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