anna, you just made my monday.

Yes, and the constant stupid political grandstanding between Dems and Republicans about flag burning, or the innuendo about Obama not putting his hand over his heart during the pledge, are evidence of that. I wasn’t implying that Americans don’t fall prey to this nonsense, but the bar for prickly idiots to become nuisances does seem lower in India, since the judicial doctrine allows them to file suit even if they have no horse in the race (as compared to the onerous requirement of standing in the US, which the “constructionists” (aka rich white men, and I include Clarence Thomas in that list) on the Supreme Court keep tightening in an effort to prevent people from filing lawsuits).

Anyone who values a symbol above common-sense, their own resources, or human life is a certifiable idiot, no matter what country they hail from.

There is a reasonably high number of frivolous lawsuits in India, because of the concept of PILs. PILs do make access to justice easier, but it also lowers the bar for easily offended nut jobs to cause significant annoyance. If I recall correctly, this flag offense issue has led to lawsuits against Narayana Murthy for cutting a cake with an Indian flag on it, some actress for wearing a saree with the flag on it, and so on. There was a discussion about this on SM a few months ago, and here’s a rediff article on the phenomenon (which I haven’t read).

Also, the introduction of said digits could possibly stimulate the prostate, leading to pleasurable sensations. This would be a direct affront to the long and venerable tradition of asceticism among reactionaries.

Allopathic medicine is Western and the insertion of digits could be viewed as a form of imperialist violence against the East. desi progressives & reactionaries may agree that this is an outrage, but for altogether different reasons

Persaud is claiming that due to the rectal exam, he is now incapacitated by PTSD; he is seeking unspecified damages.

Revenge of the Sooth, perhaps?