Once upon a time in India, a British officer inquired what a group of people were doing, as they seemed to be setting about some project the officer had never observed before.
"We are preparing a fire to burn up the body of a man who died, and his widow," one of the participants replied.
"They died together?" inquired the officer. The Indian then explained that it was a centuries-old Hindu custom to burn a widow alive on her husband's funeral pyre. Widows were expected to throw themselves on, but if they would not, the funeral participants would help to see that it was done.
"I won't permit that," replied the officer.
"But it is our custom!" replied the Indian.
"And it is our custom to hang blokes who do that," said the officer.
Without apology, I might add. That's one thing about the English Empire; for better or for worse, the English were never afraid to tell people "Our culture is better," and mean it.
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