McDonald's frying French Fries in Beef Tallow
_______________________________________________________________________
Before we get down to stating our view on the protests that the above news led to in the US and India, we want to present a similar but hypothetical case. Here it is:
"McDonald's frying French Fries in Pork Tallow"
Such an occurrence in supposedly moderate and US friendly countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait or Pakistan; would have led to an immediate uproar from the faithful and a decision from these governments to arrest the staff of McDonald's for frying French Fries in Pork Tallow. Worse still would have been the fallout in terms of the staff of McDonald's being tried and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment or worse still flogging and capital punishment for the crime of blasphemy against Islam.
This scenario would be very much real if such a faux pas had been committed by McDonald's in the America friendly countries. The fallout would have been very different if it had occurred in countries like Iraq or Afghanistan. Oh! but how stupid of us to think of these countries, there is no McDonald's there anyway! So let us get back to the Hindu protesters.
We condemn the uncivil behavior of the protesters
By comparison with what would have happened in Saudi Arabia, Jordan etc, the reaction from the Hindu mobs of defacing the McDonald's outlets was mild.
But we nevertheless condemn the mobs for having done what they did. They could have protested by having sit-in protest and telling those who are veggies not to patronize McDonald's. By issuing advertisements in Newspapers, asking people who are veggies to stay away from French Fries, etc.
A sinister plot to spoil the growing friendship between India and the USA?
We suspect that the protests against KFC (Kentucky Friend Chicken) last year and the use of images of Hindu gods on toilet seats leading to another furore, and the derogatory references to some Hindu gods in satires evoking protests from Hindu organisations in the USA and India, followed now by the troubles in the Enron project, and the current uproar against McDonald's ALL are string in a chain of sinister events that are engineered by those who seek to throw a spanner in the works and derail the growing Indo-American understanding in facing the common threat of theology-inspired terrorism.
There are many less-reflective and easily excitable elements among us psychologically frail humans. These elements are very finicky when it comes to issues like vegetarianism; and can be made to take to the streets in India and launch public interest litigation in the US, when they feel that their sentiments have been tampered with. We should realize the damage such actions can do to Indo-American relations.
The actions of the Mobs were Regrettable
We want to convey through this page that the action of the mobs against McDonald's was regrettable. Although McDonald's has now been frank to admit that they used the wrong ingredient and that they would not press charges against the protesters. While we welcome the BIG Mac's magnanimity, we would also ask them to be more pragmatic in future, while doing business. Please be frank enough up-front and come clean. Tell your customers that we use these ingredients. Publish the list of ingredients at your outlets and display it prominently. And avoid the use of those ingredients like beef or beef related ingredients in India, since these are taboo due to religious reasons. This would reduce the scope for misunderstanding and remove the possibility of some folks being used as the cat's paw to harm Indo-American business and other relations.
Hindus are Lacto Vegetarians
Those not familiar with Hindu culture need to know that Hindus are Lacto Vegetarians and may consume any dairy product. So they consume milk and milk products like curd, yogurt, butter milk, clarified butter (Ghee), etc., that originate from a cow, but not eat the meat of a cow or consume beef tallow, since these items involve the killing of an animal. According to Hindu culture, killing of any living being is a sin as Hindus traditionally practice non-violence (ahimsa).
Thus while beef tallow is prohibited, since its making involves the killing of a cow, Hindus can consume clarified butter (Ghee), as the making of clarified butter (Ghee) does not involve the killing of the cow. It is interesting to note here that clarified butter (Ghee) and beef tallow are made of very similar biological ingredients, since both are the fat of a bovine animal, although the method of extraction differs. And it is this difference that makes the consumption of beef tallow abhorrent to devout vegetarian Hindus.
We have to be on our guard from those who seek to derail Indo-American Relations
The lesson for us from all this fuss and the string of earlier episodes like the protests against KFC (Kentucky Friend Chicken) last year and the use of images of Hindu gods on toilet seats, and the derogatory references to some Hindu gods in satires, followed by the troubles in the Enron project, and now the uproar against McDonald's is that there would be many more sinister attempts in the coming months and years to derail the emerging Indo-American understanding, especially in Military matters. So we have be alive to these dangers before jumping on the anti-American bandwagon and play into the hands of our adversaries. This would be foolish and self-defeating.
American authorities need to be more vigilant
American authorities on their part need to take up these issues with the errant American firms and ensure that no inadvertent or willful error on the part of American firms is allowed to ruffle the feelings of the devout leading to avoidable controversies that can mar the growing Indo-American understanding.
A reversal of the Indo-American understanding is something that should never be allowed to happen. If it does, it would be victory for the Pakistanis and for the forces of theology-inspired terrorism.
___________________________________
___________________________________
(This Hindutva Site is managed by a Virtual Team of Webmasters across the globe. The articles included at this site do not necessarily represent the views of the Webmasters.)
________________________________________
Send your feedback to:
- The Hindutva Team
From the Hindu Mahasabha
______________________________________________
| _ _ _ |
You may view what others have said about this webpage
_____________________________________________________________ We invite you to use our Message Board to start a discussion on any relevant topic ___________________________________________________________
|
_________________________________________________
We invite you to participate in an online chat in our Hindu History Chatroom.
___________________________________________________
_________________________________
______________________________________________