Hindu Convenience Stores

[ValiantDomain]

This thread isn’t as serious as you might hope for it to be, but I also think there’s a serious issue at stake…

…for you see, I work for an American corporation that deals with convenience stores on a regular basis. As a part of my own occupation, I wind up seeing several hundred convenience store names in a single week. Not surprisingly, most of these stores are owned by someone with the last name “Patel.” I’ve also noticed that a lot of these convenience stores have names obviously rooted in Hinduism: store names such as “Shree Ganesha Inc.” or “Lord Ram Enterprises.” I, for one, don’t find Hinduism insulting, intimidating, or anything of that nature - but it occurred to me that these businesses are getting away with placing their religion in public eye! Never have I seen a public convenience store with the name “Kingdom of Heaven Enterprises” or “Christ’s Blood Inc.” Nor have I seen anything like “Kuffir Stop-n-Shop” or “Shalom Quick Stop”! The only time I have seen any store with a religious title in its name is when it is a store devoted to selling religious goods; however, even the local Christian bookstore in town here is called “The Master’s Loft” so as not to coerce freedom of religion.

Should Hindus be allowed to get away with this?

Even if we say ‘no,’ it definitely seems no measures will be taken to stop it simply because Hinduism is fairly harmless.

 

[Ahimsa]

This thread isn’t as serious as you might hope for it to be, but I also think there’s a serious issue at stake…

…for you see, I work for an American corporation that deals with convenience stores on a regular basis. As a part of my own occupation, I wind up seeing several hundred convenience store names in a single week. Not surprisingly, most of these stores are owned by someone with the last name “Patel.” I’ve also noticed that a lot of these convenience stores have names obviously rooted in Hinduism: store names such as “Shree Ganesha Inc.” or “Lord Ram Enterprises.” I, for one, don’t find Hinduism insulting, intimidating, or anything of that nature - but it occurred to me that these businesses are getting away with placing their religion in public eye! Never have I seen a public convenience store with the name “Kingdom of Heaven Enterprises” or “Christ’s Blood Inc.” Nor have I seen anything like “Kuffir Stop-n-Shop” or “Shalom Quick Stop”! The only time I have seen any store with a religious title in its name is when it is a store devoted to selling religious goods; however, even the local Christian bookstore in town here is called “The Master’s Loft” so as not to coerce freedom of religion.

Should Hindus be allowed to get away with this?

Even if we say ‘no,’ it definitely seems no measures will be taken to stop it simply because Hinduism is fairly harmless.

Uhhh…what’s the problem again?

 

[eleonardo]

Should Hindus be allowed to get away with this?

 

[ValiantDomain]

I guess it’s just a question of religion in the public domain, that’s all.

 

[DaveBj]

Looks to me more like a problem with us Christians being reticent than with them pushing their religion into the public square.

Speaking for myself, if my medical transcription business ever gets going, I plan to call it “JMJ Transcription.”

DaveBj

 

[ValiantDomain]

I see your point. I only framed this question because a recent Catholic friend told me about an event at a school where they hosted a Da’wali Day and my friend objected, and I think rightly so, because school children should not subjected to tales of Lord Ram if it’s not going to be countered with tales of Muhammed, Christ, and Moses. Like I said, I don’t feel threatened by it, but it did strike me as interesting that this sort of thing goes on under the public’s eye.

 

[FCEGM]

I guess it’s just a question of religion in the public domain, that’s all.

Since the stores owned by Hindus are not supported by public taxation, then they are free to name their stores whatever the choose.

 

[Ahimsa]

I see your point. I only framed this question because a recent Catholic friend told me about an event at a school where they hosted a Da’wali Day and my friend objected, and I think rightly so, because school children should not subjected to tales of Lord Ram if it’s not going to be countered with tales of Muhammed, Christ, and Moses. Like I said, I don’t feel threatened by it, but it did strike me as interesting that this sort of thing goes on under the public’s eye.

Given that Diwali just happened a few weeks ago, perhaps the hosting of Diwali day was chronologically appropriate.

 

[Integritus]

Even if we say ‘no,’ it definitely seems no measures will be taken to stop it simply because Hinduism is fairly harmless.

Yea, harmless when Hindus are in the minority; when Hindus are in the majority, Hindu fanaticism is prevalent, and Muslims and Christians suffer (as in India). Muslims and radical Hindus have been attacking and terrorizing each other in India for some time now. Not only that, but Hinduism in India is rapidly adopting elements of Nationalism as a counter-reaction to the proselytizing by Christians and Muslims. If I’m not mistaken, India recently passed a law that bans proselytizing Hindus. There’s been many news reports of the Hindu nationalist government putting Christians on trial or taking away their daily jobs for allegations (most of time false allegations perpetuated by Hindus) of proselytizing Indian and tribal Hindus.

Here’s one example: Catholic nuns have been forbidden to work in hospitals due to allegations they were “sharing their Christian faith with patients”. These nuns mainly helped Lepers and the sick. Ironically, the nuns were the only people (of any religion) who dare even approach the lepers, now the lepers are out of the hospital and back in the isolated world.

asianews.it/view_p.php?l=en&art=5674

 

[eleonardo]

I see your point. I only framed this question because a recent Catholic friend told me about an event at a school where they hosted a Da’wali Day and my friend objected, and I think rightly so, because school children should not subjected to tales of Lord Ram if it’s not going to be countered with tales of Muhammed, Christ, and Moses. Like I said, I don’t feel threatened by it, but it did strike me as interesting that this sort of thing goes on under the public’s eye.

Diwali was fun this year in my neighbourhood
They had all kinds of festivals and it was one big party!
I’ve never been subjected to tales of Lord Ram though, whoever that is.

 

[Ahimsa]

Yea, harmless when Hindus are in the minority; when Hindus are in the majority, Hindu fanaticism is prevalent, and Muslims and Christians suffer (as in India). Muslims and radical Hindus have been attacking and terrorizing each other in India for some time now. Not only that, but Hinduism in India is rapidly adopting elements of Nationalism as a counter-reaction to the proselytizing by Christians and Muslims. If I’m not mistaken, India recently passed a law that bans proselytizing Hindus. There’s been many news reports of the Hindu nationalist government putting Christians on trial or taking away their daily jobs for allegations (most of time false allegations perpetuated by Hindus) of proselytizing Indian and tribal Hindus.

Here’s one example: Catholic nuns have been forbidden to work in hospitals due to allegations they were “sharing their Christian faith with patients”. These nuns mainly helped Lepers and the sick. Ironically, the nuns were the only people (of any religion) who dare even approach the lepers, now the lepers are out of the hospital and back in the isolated world.

asianews.it/view_p.php?l=en&art=5674

Catholics have done great work among the lepers, but non-Catholics, as well as non-Christians in general, are also part of that work too.

 

[rossum]

I’ve never been subjected to tales of Lord Ram though, whoever that is.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama
Rama is Sanskrit, modern Hindi tends to drop the final ‘a’ in Sanskrit names so Rama → Ram, Shiva → Shiv and so forth.

rossum

 

[puzzleannie]

a convenience store is a private business, not a public tax-supported entity. The owner can call it anything he likes, sell anything he likes that is legal, operate it anyway he likes within the law, and use signs, advertising etc. saying anything he likes that does not violate the law. It is called Free Speech here in America.

Hosting a religious event in a public school is an entirely different matter when it becomes the school administration pushing a religious message, using taxpayer dollars. That by the way does not entitle administrators or teachers to infringe on the freedom of expression of religion of the students or faculty, which is protected by the constitution (something some educators seem to forget).

 

[eleonardo]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama
Rama is Sanskrit, modern Hindi tends to drop the final ‘a’ in Sanskrit names so Rama → Ram, Shiva → Shiv and so forth.

rossum

Thanks for that, very intersting.
I love your city btw!!

 

[undeserving]

Yea, harmless when Hindus are in the minority; when Hindus are in the majority, Hindu fanaticism is prevalent, and Muslims and Christians suffer (as in India). Muslims and radical Hindus have been attacking and terrorizing each other in India for some time now. Not only that, but Hinduism in India is rapidly adopting elements of Nationalism as a counter-reaction to the proselytizing by Christians and Muslims. If I’m not mistaken, India recently passed a law that bans proselytizing Hindus. There’s been many news reports of the Hindu nationalist government putting Christians on trial or taking away their daily jobs for allegations (most of time false allegations perpetuated by Hindus) of proselytizing Indian and tribal Hindus.

Here’s one example: Catholic nuns have been forbidden to work in hospitals due to allegations they were “sharing their Christian faith with patients”. These nuns mainly helped Lepers and the sick. Ironically, the nuns were the only people (of any religion) who dare even approach the lepers, now the lepers are out of the hospital and back in the isolated world.

asianews.it/view_p.php?l=en&art=5674

I live in India, and Im Catholic. Its not so bad, the city I live in now has 150 parishes, with statues of Our Lady and Jesus, right out facing the main road, if there is any haressment its not from main stream Hindus who are very laid back and worship quiet often at our churches. Regarding the nuns who were attacked at the hospitals, it was a one time thing, very bad I agree, but again by some fundamentalist types, who do not represent mainstream Hindus. The police arrested them I believe, (the attackers). As far as the naming of stores, Hindu like to put their Gods names everywhere, mainly for luck and blessings. Its not for prolytisising.

 

[RCCDefender]

Never heard of Diwali before. I think Hindus are just starting to gain in population in my area. I say let them call their privately owned stores whatever they want. Maybe we should start plugging our religion into the names of our stores more. Around here there are quite a few businesses that have Christian names, and not just religious bookstores either. Off the top of my head I can think of at least two coffeeshops, a landscaping business, and a lawncare business. Oh, and if I’m not mistaken, a pharmacy. I’m sure if I pulled out the yellow pages, I could find a bunch more. I guess it really depends on where you live. I live in the Bible Belt…