Chez Moi

…. let me tell you why I want to do so. I read this article in BBC News   website and admittedly, my first reaction was ‘what the heck does it matter when people are dying?’ But then, the sentiment behind the anger made vague sense to me. Whilst in the past I have often thought the whole world is bowing to Islamic whims purely because of the possible violent repercussions, I am going side with them in this. I can remember very well one New York Fashion Week a decade or so ago, when the models sashayed down the catwalk wearing sparkling sandals embedded with pictures of Ganesha and other assorted Indian gods. And what did we do? Nothing!  Maybe the VHP burnt a few effigies, I can’t be sure but Hindus the world over kept mum.

I do not condone violence in the name of religion. But I do feel that every religion, every faith, every belief demands respect. When you know that certain things are depictions of certain religions, either a. you make it a point to find out what it means and THEN use it appropriately or b. make sure you do not use it in any defamatory way. Why is this so difficult to grasp? Even if the blessed designer who put Ganesha on sandals would happily put the cross or Jesus Christ on shoe soles, it is no justification for the use of any other religious symbol.

Whilst the manufacturers of these offensive balls might have meant no harm, religion and use of religious symbols is a touchy topic. Why couldn’t they have got a simpler, easier way of connecting with the locals? Surely one can ‘connect’ without tramping all over their feelings, surely?