Here are the Views from Different People who participated in the awareness campaign I moderated to demand apology from the Times of India Cartoon "The Lost Supper" on Page 18 of July 25. Hope it will be useful for you to go through.
Allwyn Fernandes: I received several messages today on last night's post on the Lost Supper. All except one felt we should not over-react, rather that we should be happy that the Common Man represented Christ in a world of politicians huffing and puffing and nothing nothing in whose name they claimed to speak. Noella Gama to Allwyn: How correctly the 'Table of Hope' that you have depicts Jesus and the Heart of God. We Catholics need to sure change our mindset from the religious attitude allows for 'hurt sentiments'. If Jesus had to be bothered about his sentiments when he went to the Cross you and I would not know or receive salvation. We just need to go about reaching out to the lost. Therese Almeida to Allwyn: Thank you for giving people the right perspective. In today's world everything gets distorted and sensible people react in a stupid way. Regards and continue saying it like it is, Virginia to Allwyn: One of my parishioners - similar in mindset to Ancy jumped up also to write to various leaders in Maharashtra and the TOI about the cartoon. I wanted to write to you, but since you were silent on the issue, I thought it best to keep quiet (I was travelling). He forwarded it to me and I berated him for taking up any and every thing he saw to be an "issue". I think there are legion of these men who are in retirement and do not know what to do with themselves and from their limited knowledge think they are doing a great service to the Church by taking up issues like these. I pointed out that the cartoon uses the scene of a Christian painting to depict an issue in the country, so it is not desecrating the faith. On the contrary, as you point out, Jesus is probably happy that they use a truth that he left us with to show that people are going without food in the country, while the so called leaders are looking on, blind to the problem. In fact I see that theological knowledge is so necessary for the lay person so that they can really shout about issues that Jesus would want us to shout about. Denzil Rego to Dolphy (BCS): why do we pick up the non-consequential issues? this is pure jingo-ism the pic was very apt to the political situation today by doing this we are only playing into the hands acolytes of the powers that be Albert DeSouza to Iona Saldanha: Iona, Mr.Allwyn Fernandes refuses to see the point that The Last Supper is not something to be trifled with or trivialised. It is a solemn and sacred event for the average Catholioc/Christian.The first impression that I got was that the artist was trying to have some fun at the expense of the Christian. He would not dare to do it with any other community particularly those who are aggressive and known for their militancy. Catholics are a peace loving people and so an easy target. But there are limits to our patience and this was something I least of all expected with a responsible newspaper like The Times of India. I have not seen the painting or picture that he has at home and can not comment on its correctness. Also if others endorse this sort of humour it does not mean that it is alright. The cartoon is certainly in bad taste and most Christians and even non Christians will agree. Of course Mr.Allwyn Fernandes is entitled to his views. I sent a letter to The TOI on Sunday itself protesting against the cartoon. Regards Albert Below are Some of the comments people sent to Ancy S DSouza, Paladka Sarita D'Souza: Cannot believe that TOI could stoop so low and publish this. Every christian should agitate and raise their voice against this. Don't expect them to sacrifice their lives like the Apostles instead they will expect you to sacrifice your life for them. and there is no need to give a rope to RK Laxman as it is he is suffering in the hospital and awaiting death. But I doubt if this is his cartoon ????? Every Catholic should ban TOI and stop buying this newspaper. Demand for Apology is right. Jessie Monteiro: Just because Christians are peace loving and keeping quiet the person has gone ahead to print this.. instead of this what if some one had to print something about Hindu's or Muslims they would hv kept quiet??? I feel every Christian should stop reading TOI. every drunkard in a movie is a Christian as if others dont drink... and every bad scene act to do they find only Christian names .. really sick minded people... Dolphy DSouza (BCS): The Bombay Catholic Sabha [BCS] were shocked to see the ridiculing of the Last Supper scene in article entitled "Lost Supper" on the rising food prices etc in the Times of India on Page 18 of July 25. This depiction is not in good taste as it hurts the sentiments of Christians for whom this scene is of much value, significance and respect, and hence cannot be used in satire as you have published. It would be pertinent to observe that you would not dare ever pick up an incident from any other religion for similar reasons. Edward D'Mello: Had Times of India done a similar thing on Muslims, the paper would've been in deep sh*t. Remember the Danish newspaper which dared to do so and received a fatwa. This is not R. K. Laxman's style of drawing. Unfortunately, the last I heard, Laxman was in a bad condition in the hospital battling diabetes and kidney stones. As a result, he is drawing very little. Also, R. K. Laxman hardly draws in colo...ur. Someone has used the Common Man caricature and juxtaposed on another drawing. It is a clever computer-generated graphic. Jovin Rodrigues: Ancy, here we can recall to our mind " Danish Cartoon". The whole muslim world protest against the cartoon and in Gulf countires upto the apology the Government cut ties with Danish government and even they pulled out All Danish products fo......r the shelves. Everyone has love for their own religion and its a grave sin to hurt the religious sentiments of any religion. The only reason to do all these is to spoil the religious Peace of mind and to make people fight with one another. The Government has to close down such newspapers, which publicly take oportunity to attack on religious sentiments. Atef Shaker: it is no good to abuse and misuse religions to express your failure plotics in your country - God will punish you for this . Don't make like this John Cardoza: This is ultimate abuse to our religion. This doesn't matter who has drawn, the only thing matters here is abuse to christian religion. There are many people behind approving any matter before it is finally printed. We should all protest against this news paper and the paper should apologize for the same. We should all stand unite and fight so that such nonsense will not happen again and no one dare to abuse any religion. Jovin Rodrigues: This is totally unacceptable Cartoon. We can clearly say that its a attack on Catholic faith and to hurt the religious sentiments. I wish our HINDU AND MUSLIM brothers and sisters also voice out with us in our protest against religious insults and attacks.. Today they attacking us and tomorrow they may dare to attack another religion. I can boldly say that, its not the... individuals, but the POLITICAL groups are behind this master plans in most cases and it will effect the religious peace among our neighbors. Our indian society is good and everyone has respect for other religions. But the politics will make clash among religious groups for their own benifit. So Lets all unite together regardless religion and fight against these groups. Lets show that we know how to unite for a valid reasons. Austin Prabhu, Chicago: Keeping humor apart, this is a huge blow to Christians who believes in Christ and Last Supper. TOI shouldn't have published this. May be they too have too many Bajarangis working for them. All true Christians should protest this cartoon which is hammering our religion. Jossie Moras 'Joseph', Vocal Coach, Dubai: I really can't understand what these individuals get by hurting the religious sentiments of people.... The actual reason behind this I think the cartoonist will get publicity at the cost of Christians tolerence. Jerry Rasquinha: Well..the Romans tried to subjugate Christianity and Rome was overtaken by Christianity. For Christianity has flourished most in places where it was targeted. This is history..and the history repeats! But since it was done by R.K. Laxman..i am a bit annoyed. I have great respect for him. I still have being a Christian. Fr. Joseph Vas SVD, Indore: surely there is some propriety. all cannot be used a joke. usually Laxman is a very gentle person how could he have made such mistake? as TOI has tendered an apology we must respect them not to do it again. just agitating is not sufficient we ha...ve to train ourselves and train the people with whom we interact to give a possitive picture of the whole Christian belife. Richard Reg: It's bull. respect for human sentiments is far away from Times of India as is East from West. Good that they realised the immense displeasure of the community (never mind the bogus apology). Avereliya D'souza Chauhan, Pune: It was very easy for TOI to apolozise... they claim that they respect communities..If that is the thing, why they print these kind of things for our religion alone? I wonder how editor doesn't use his brains before going ahead with printing... If TOI had to published this kind of cartoon hurting other religions, their office would have beenbroken by this time.. Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado: Dear Mr D'Souza, I congratulate you for your boldness and courage to stand up and call spade a spade! Thank you for sending me the copy of your protest letter to the Times of India. I fully endorse your letter and join with you to express my sentiments of indignation. I am also deeply hurt by seeing the mockery made of the religion of over a billion people in the world. It is a very poor taste and it only manifests ignorance of those who did it. I place on record my denunciation of such publication in a newspaper like Times of India. Yours sincerely, Archbishop Felix Machado Garry Anil Miranda : For Too Long we Catholics in India have been at the receiving end of too many in this country.....because we are meek....if this was portrayed for any other religion it could lead to riots.....but its Catholics at the receiving end...so its ok! think the majority....Its Time we raise our voices in Protest..... Claude Fernandes: The editor has stooped very low by doing this without giving it a serious thought. He must have thought that this is a very creative idea of attracting the attention of maximum no. of readers. It's a pity that India has some leaders with a similar mind frame whose creativity level is on the zero level. Goa Konklish: 1. Demand Apology from The Times of India for not being sensitive towards other minorities in India such as Christians; 2. This is a Blasphemy on the teaching of Christ 'Last Supper'; 3. Insult towards the Christian World; 4. Boycott The T...imes of India => Nobody reads, buy, advertize - just trash it; Share and make awar of this news to all over the FB; 5. The Times of India, Mr. Chowdury and Mr. DMelo are the enemies of Christ and Christians around the world. PRAYER: Father forgive them, they don't know what they do! We all are standing together for this fight! Discrimination, Racism and Insults by Ignorant Writers and Publishers such as Times of India - Our Constition dooes NOT condone thiese folks! There is no such orgainiztion in India who should penalize for such crimes against minorities. I need better glasses to see their apology with Big Headline! For the article please click http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=18&pagesize&edid&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=25-07-2010&pubname&edname&publabel=TOI -- Ancy S. 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