Mark Steyn, on Bill Bennett's "Morning in America" radio program, related a story about British General Charles Napier (1782-1853). When in 1842 he was posted to India, the general was shocked to hear about an Indian custom called "Sati". Whenever an Indian male died his body typically was cremated...right next to his live widow! When he objected to the Indian authorities he was told he should not interfere with Indian customs. Here is his response: "You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."
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