the season to be......politically incorrect.

C_steam · 01-11-2005, 04:49 PM

The Royal mail under fire from Hindu's.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4396204.stm

Quote:

Hindus criticise Christmas stamp

A Christmas stamp depicting a Hindu couple worshipping baby Jesus has been criticised as "disrespectful" but Royal Mail has refused to withdraw it.
The stamp, featuring a man and woman with Hindu markings, is one of six depicting images of Madonna and child from around the world.

The Hindu Forum of Britain has asked for it to be re-designed without the Hindu markings or withdrawn.

Royal Mail, while apologetic, said it was not possible to amend or withdraw.

A Royal Mail spokesman apologised for any "unintentional offence" caused to the Hindu community by the 68p stamp, taken from a 17th century picture.

The original painting hangs in a Mumbai gallery.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "It was common for Hindu artists during that period to paint images that depicted western culture, including paintings about Christianity.

"The stamp simply features a Hindu artist's interpretation of Christianity's Madonna and Child scene.

"However the Royal Mail does apologise for any unintentional offence caused to the Hindu community."

The Hindu Forum of Britain, an umbrella body representing more than 250 Hindu organisations, called the stamp "disrespectful" and questioned its use.

Secretary general of the Hindu Forum, Ramesh Kallidai, said: "Royal Mail sources claim that the original painting printed on the face of the stamp is dated 1620.

"While many people doubt the authenticity of the age of the painting, we believe that even if this were true, it would be insensitive to use it at a time when the issue of conversions in India has been a subject of heated debate.

"Even if we accept that an artist in 1620AD took the artistic license to portray practising Hindus worshipping the baby Christ, we should be asking if this is politically and sensitively correct in the 21st century."

He asked for it to be withdrawn or re-designed without the Hindu markings.

"The use of Hindu images in an appropriate manner has never been an issue," he added. "It is only when images are used in a disrespectful or inappropriate way resulting in offence and hurt that we become concerned."

Cyburn · 01-11-2005, 04:53 PM

Good thing Royal Mail didnt change it just to suit a minority's needs

mkpdavies · 01-11-2005, 04:59 PM

The Royal Mail acted well, a quick apology for unintentional offence is all that was required.

Another acceptable response would have been, get a friggin life.

Anthony Butcher · 01-11-2005, 05:55 PM

How pathetic. I hate the idea of people looking to find offence. I find that offensive. They have just smeared the name of all Hindus, 95% of whom I strongly expect couldn't care less what picture the Royal Mail use on a stamp.

These organisations that purport to speak on behalf of large numbers of ethnic groupings should really take their role a lot more seriously. Race relations are vitally important; far more important than having a whinge about something trivial.

Alex McKee · 01-11-2005, 06:01 PM

Good response by the Royal Mail.

mkpdavies · 01-11-2005, 06:02 PM

At least Royal Mail didn't pull it, like some other PC appeasers would have.

smooveOp · 01-11-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher

They have just smeared the name of all Hindus, 95% of whom I strongly expect couldn't care less what picture the Royal Mail use on a stamp.

But Anthony - have they really?

Would you have said the same if some fundamentalist Christian group had come out with a complete load of tosh about something?

Would you have said, "They have just smeared the name of all Christians"?

I wouldn't and Anthony, if you think about it for a moment, you would have to agree that you wouldn't either.

There's a lesson there somewhere for us all...

Anthony Butcher · 01-11-2005, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Would you have said the same if some fundamentalist Christian group had come out with a complete load of tosh about something?

Would you have said, "They have just smeared the name of all Christians"?

Yes. The overall impact does indeed damage the entire group in the eyes of the public, even if it is only in a minor way.

All I mean is that this kind of thing is jumped on by the papers. There is a huge responsibility when talking for large groups of people as their representative.

Of course an organisation shouldn't be seen as speaking for everyone, but we live in the world of the media. People aren't reasonable and analytical; all they see is a bunch of Hindus moaning about something trivial.

It is the same for any group. Blair is seen as speaking for all Labour members and Shami Chakrabati was seen as talking for all Liberty members when she called UKIP racist.

Oliver · 01-11-2005, 08:18 PM

Any organisation set up to be a mouthpiece for whoever will be letting its constituents down if they say nothing. As a christian I can sympathise with the Hindus in as much as the stamp gives the impression that Hindus are worshipping Christ. The fault is with the post office design team who seem to be as bright as the proverbial "toch H" lamp (not very). As has been stated the media sensationalise everything and have made the usual mountain out of the molehill. The post office have for a long time been the worst of PC limpwrists and if someone has a go at them for their inept standards and products, good for them.

Bluemerle · 02-11-2005, 12:12 AM

I bought a set of these stamps today. The 68p stamp isn't the only one that could cause a furore. The 1st class stamp shows a white madonna and child, the 2nd class stamp is a black madonna and child.

Of course, these are all famous paintings, but a lot of people will try and read something INTO phpbb_it which isn't there. It was the postmaster here in the village that pointed this out to me, he seemed to think that a boo boo had been made. :roll:

01-11-2005, 04:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 32,059 Party: Libertarian Party	The Royal Mail acted well, a quick apology for unintentional offence is all that was required. Another acceptable response would have been, get a friggin life. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Lib Dems

01-11-2005, 06:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 32,059 Party: Libertarian Party	At least Royal Mail didn't pull it, like some other PC appeasers would have. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Lib Dems

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01-11-2005, 04:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cyburn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kilburn, London Posts: 523	Good thing Royal Mail didnt change it just to suit a minority's needs

01-11-2005, 05:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 10,315 Party: None	How pathetic. I hate the idea of people looking to find offence. I find that offensive. They have just smeared the name of all Hindus, 95% of whom I strongly expect couldn't care less what picture the Royal Mail use on a stamp. These organisations that purport to speak on behalf of large numbers of ethnic groupings should really take their role a lot more seriously. Race relations are vitally important; far more important than having a whinge about something trivial.

01-11-2005, 06:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alex McKee Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gloucester Posts: 6,666	Good response by the Royal Mail.

01-11-2005, 08:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Oliver Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: WHITBY North Yorkshire (but my heart is in Woking) Posts: 1,062	Any organisation set up to be a mouthpiece for whoever will be letting its constituents down if they say nothing. As a christian I can sympathise with the Hindus in as much as the stamp gives the impression that Hindus are worshipping Christ. The fault is with the post office design team who seem to be as bright as the proverbial "toch H" lamp (not very). As has been stated the media sensationalise everything and have made the usual mountain out of the molehill. The post office have for a long time been the worst of PC limpwrists and if someone has a go at them for their inept standards and products, good for them.

02-11-2005, 12:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	I bought a set of these stamps today. The 68p stamp isn't the only one that could cause a furore. The 1st class stamp shows a white madonna and child, the 2nd class stamp is a black madonna and child. Of course, these are all famous paintings, but a lot of people will try and read something INTO phpbb_it which isn't there. It was the postmaster here in the village that pointed this out to me, he seemed to think that a boo boo had been made. :roll: