Sir,
I really am an unfortunate over Sight that beef wellington was prepared for an official lunch for the Indian government’s foreign minister. However it is more unfortunate that no one at External took this opportunity to tell their guests that this is a cultural difference that we sometimes have Problems with. You see in India the cow may be considered sacred, but here in Canada we consider human rights and human dignity more sacred, We Canadians are very quick to apologize for our shortcomings, and that is as it should be. We would however, do Well to demand some changes in the Indian governments corrupt and immoral dealings with Minorities in India. Why are we lavishly entertaining gross violators of human rights? Surely, even the Prime Minister would agree that foreign aid, and foreign wade mast is linked to human rights records.
What is more sacred? Human rights or a holy cow?
Alice Basarke
Executive Assistant
World Sikh organization
Article extracted from this publication >> November 1, 1991
