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What's not understood is the company calls it 'Sacred Seat collection', but only features Hinduism. According to an investigation carried out by Rediff.com correspondent Nirshan Perera, one Lamar Van Dyke runs the company. It was founded in 1999 and does not have a distribution presence beyond its Web site. There was no response to repeated phone calls and e-mails to the company and its owner by the members of American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), the San Diego-based coalition of Hindu organizations devoted to the awareness of proper use of Hindu symbols and icons.
She's
A Feminist Activist!
Can a feminist activist denigrate Goddess Kali? Yes! Further probe by Rediff
revealed that Lamar Van Dyke is a well-known tattoo artist and a radical lesbian
feminist activist employed at American Beauty Tattoo in downtown Seattle. She
is also the subject of a documentary about artists exploring "unusual forms
of body modification" and contributes to sociology journals. Van Dyke featured
in a 1991 documentary video on "body modification as an exploration of
beauty, self-determination, and female sexuality" and the author of a 1996
how-to manual for "dominants and submissives in sadomasochistic relationships".
Why
Put Gods on Toilet Seats?
Do people who do such things have anything inherently against Hinduism? Many
people try to cash in on the inconsiderate use of popular Hindu icons and symbols
without considering its effect on the Hindu community.
The
'Piss Christ' Case
AHAD in a press release expressed its outrage saying the designers of these
seats have completely ignored Hindu sentiments in their eagerness to cash-in
on the popularity of Hindu images. Harping on the point that the act is offensive,
not designer, sacrilegious, not sacred, the release pointed out that the reaction
of Hindus is no different from the reaction of all Americans when an Art exhibit
in 1996, entitled "Piss Christ", depicted a crucifix inside a jar
of urine.
Earlier
Instances
Some
earlier incidents have emphasized the need to be
more sensitive to foreign cultures and religions. In July 2000, a California
shoe company had to withdraw sandals, which had images of Hindu deities blazed
on them, from the market after it learned that they offended Hindu religious
sensibilities. The sandals, selling for $ 5 a pair, had images of Ganesh, Shiva,
Lakshmi and Parvati imprinted on them.
In another instance, the AHAD had complained against a topless dancing bar in Texas that used the Radha-Krishna iconography in their ads and stage shows. Many such incidents have hurt the Hindu community in recent times.
Next page
> Should
You Protest?
> Page 1, 2, 3
Update
> Van Dyke's Apologia to the Hindu Community
Picture Courtesy: Ravi Adhikari, News India Times, NY
