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| EDITORIAL November 26, 1998 VNN2560 See Related VNN Stories Labeled A "Feminist" BY RADHA DEVI DASI EDITORIAL, Nov 26 (VNN) — A response to HH Bhakti Vikas Swami's "Bhakti Vikasa Swami Answers Conspiracy Charge" Dear Prabhus and Maharajas: Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am writing to make clear that the statement made recently by H.H. Bhakti Vikas Swami on numerous conferences and news services is a gross misrepresentation of the ideas contained in my article "Participation, Protection & Patriarchy: An International Model for Women's Roles in ISKCON" which was posted on Chakra and published in the Iskcon Communications Journal. In my article I explicitly state that I do not recommend that we replace our own shastra with principles of international law. However, the article creates a system by which we can measure whether "protection" of women in ISKCON is real or mere rhetoric. I invite anyone who has questions about my article to read it for themselves rather than relying on second hand information about what the article contains. I also strongly object to being labeled a "feminist" and to the insinuation that I would use legal means to attack ISKCON. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a feminist. My concern has always been to see that Srila Prabhupada's devotees are well cared for. Moreover, I am currently using my legal skills in the service of the temples in North America, under the direction of the North American GBC Executive Committee. The blanket labels being applied to the Women's Ministry and others involved in this debate are reminiscent of the McCarthyism prevalent in the U.S. in the 1950s. Then, as now, labels were used to silence people for political reasons. I beg that the assembled Vaisnavas will examine the issues and arguments of both sides with great care. Your servant, Radha devi dasi See Related VNN Stories This story URL: http://vnn.org/editorials/ET9811/ET26-2560.html NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
