RE: Please Act to stop the insult to Hindus, Please remove our beloved LORD RAM

[Guest guest]

Namaste, Respected Vaisnavas!

 

It is a great seva to Lord Rama to send letters like the one below. This kind of

letter would be improved by including a simple explanation of why it is an

aparadha/offense to put pictures of Sri Rama on shoes. People in the European

countries often do not understand the way feet and shoes are perceived in India

and other nations in Asia, nor do they understand that this means that it is

highly offensive to put sacred images on shoes, or even to point one's feet

toward someone. To the modern Western culture, they think that putting an image

of someone on a garment is a gesture of respect, and do not realize that this

may be considered offensive to others. So, they need to have the cause of

offense explained to them.

 

Your servant,

~Mark

 

>To The French Embassy:

>Minelli

>Press Office

>155, rue du Dirigeable - Z.I. Les Paluds

>13685 AUBAGNE Cedex - FRANCE

>Email: info

>

>It has come to my notice that you are currently marketing shoes with the

>pictures of our sacred and highly revered Hindu God Lord Rama printed on

>them. We read about in the Times of India newspaper (May 26) through this

>link:

>

>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1122438.cms

>

>We are outraged by this complete lack of sensitivity on your part. I

>wish to point out to you that Lord Rama thus illustrated is actually

>worshipped by millions of Hindus across the world. Such display of contempt

>for the spiritual beliefs and practices of a billion Hindus worldwide is

>causing a sense of fury and outrage in among Hindus worldwide.

>

>You have shown total disrespect for the beliefs of the millions of

>followers of the oldest living, breathing spiritual civilization in the

>world-namely the Hindu civilization. Being a fashion company, it is

>difficult for us to accept that this has been done in blissful ignorance!

>

>By marketing these products, I feel that your company is participating in

>the degradation of Hindu culture. I request that you withdraw this line of

>shoes from circulation and sale immediately so as to prevent further

>unwarranted stress and distress to Hindus worldwide. Naturally, I also

>expect you to publish a fully apology to the Hindu community.

>

>Thank You.

>Yours faithfully,