Paul, YOur point is well taken, but Manu Smriti is not a Hindu text. Manu was an advisor. Very few Hindus know about Manu, or his writings. Actually Manu never knew he was a Hindu ! The word Hindu is foreign to India. All the bad practices you refer to are part of Brahminism. Most of the "Hindus", are not Brahmins. Brahmins are just the most powerful, and the most visible; but they are a minority.
