02/23/98 - 1636

Damage Control?

USA (VNN) - by Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das (see also VNN story# 1595, 1602, 1625)

Dear Umapati Swami

PAMHO AGTSP!

Some ethical journalism!

You guys are about as interested in impartial consideration of ideas as the Aryan nation, whose tactics yours increasingly resemble.

I do not mind.

It is clear to me why you think that it is right and good to pursue the issues in the way that you do.

.....DAMAGE CONTROL!

As far as Sura is concerned:

I personally think the whole thing is extremely funny.

Maharaja, do you actually KNOW Sura?

He is LIKE that. No one minds. He blasphemes EVERYONE with true democratic impartiality. He spares no one.

Those of us who actually LIKE Sura, are constantly entertained by his over-the top irreverent utterances.

I have heard him say far "worse" things than those posted. Of COURSE he said those things!

WHO CARES????.....I for one, do not.

I respect Sura for his great work in distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. I count him as a personal friend, with whom I share more philosophical similarities than differences.

Here is a typical Sura-ism:

Sometimes he calls me up and asks, "When Hansadutta wins the case against the BBTI can I have a job with you guys?"

Does he mean it?

Is it a joke?

WHO CARES!!!!!

This is classic Sura......and I advise everyone to accept him as he is.

I truly object to your editorial policy of laundering, sanitizing and bowdlerizing any questionable utterances by official Iskcon's "shining palladins".

Are you trying to establish a paradigm that everyone in the leadership of Iskcon is above reproach and every one who differs in view is beneath contempt?

We have already experienced such an Orwellian paradigm. More than three hundred of my immediate family from the Warsaw Ghetto perished in the ovens of Treblinka due to such a paradigm.

Now comes back "The same old lady with a pretty new face".

Your eternal servant,

Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das