Amma the Hugging Saint, Refuses to Embrace Hotel Workers
|
|
| Also listed in: Courage Campaign Staff |
Known around the world as the "hugging saint of India," Amma arrived in Los Angeles Sunday, beginning her 10-city U.S. tour with a five-day stay at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport hotel. Workers at this same hotel called a boycott for poor pay and benefits, dozens of labor violations and refusing to recognize their efforts to form a union there.
According to her website, Amma does not teach anything that she herself does not practice. Living from moment to moment in a constant state of supreme happiness, Amma warmly embraces thousands of people day after day, wiping their tears, giving them her divine guidance and offering solace to all who come to her.
But she has flatly refused to embrace the wishes of hotel workers who are fighting for respect, fair pay and a voice in the workplace by crossing their picket lines and asking thousands of others to cross as well.
In an early morning rally held outside the Hilton LAX this morning, L.A.'s labor and religious leaders were hoping that Amma would give comfort to these workers.
Alluding to Amma's recognition for giving embraces, Rabbi Jason van Leeuwen of nearby Temple B'nai Tikvah, said there are "many ways to hug a person. She can hug everyone out here simply by moving her business elsewhere."
Hamid Kahn, executive director of the South Asian Network who also fights to improve the lives of L.A. taxi drivers, spoke at the rally, saying Amma has spread love around the world but "unfortunately her stay at the LAX Hilton is in stark contrast to her teachings."
In a letter addressed to Amma, copies were made available at the rally, Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun Magazine, who was to receive an award from Amma's supporters, said he would decline the award because of her decision to hold events at the Hilton LAX.
In the letter, Lerner writes, "Amma, there is no possibility of creating a more loving and caring world that I know you are so committed to so long as spiritual leaders like yourself fail to link spiritual ideals to concrete social justice for poor and working people."
A housekeeper at the Hilton LAX, Isabel Brentner, said she sent a letter to Amma informing her of the labor dispute at the hotel and asked her to reconsider her stay there.
Since the boycott was called last August, several groups, including the California Teachers Association have canceled their scheduled events at the hotel, but Rob Sidon, a spokesman for Amma, said the "hugging saint" was not informed of the ongoing labor dispute at the hotel until she arrived in the U.S. to begin her tour.
Representatives of the workers dispute this claim. They say they met with Amma's folks during her visit to the hotel last year. They made their intentions known, and the Amma Tour organizers chose to cross the picket lines once again this year.
As a result, the thousands expected to come from across Southern California for a spiritual embrace will be met with hundreds of local protestors who will be present for a reported length of 30 hours in which visitors will find it uncomfortable to receive a warm embrace.
Neither Sidon nor Amma have bothered to embrace the workers or even the hotel owner who could use a little love. Without it, the owner will continue to fight his employees' struggle for better pay and benefits and respect.
Boycott organizers urge you to visit their website for more information, at http://hugthiscause.wordpress.com.
According to her website, Amma does not teach anything that she herself does not practice. Living from moment to moment in a constant state of supreme happiness, Amma warmly embraces thousands of people day after day, wiping their tears, giving them her divine guidance and offering solace to all who come to her.
But she has flatly refused to embrace the wishes of hotel workers who are fighting for respect, fair pay and a voice in the workplace by crossing their picket lines and asking thousands of others to cross as well.
In an early morning rally held outside the Hilton LAX this morning, L.A.'s labor and religious leaders were hoping that Amma would give comfort to these workers.
Alluding to Amma's recognition for giving embraces, Rabbi Jason van Leeuwen of nearby Temple B'nai Tikvah, said there are "many ways to hug a person. She can hug everyone out here simply by moving her business elsewhere."
Hamid Kahn, executive director of the South Asian Network who also fights to improve the lives of L.A. taxi drivers, spoke at the rally, saying Amma has spread love around the world but "unfortunately her stay at the LAX Hilton is in stark contrast to her teachings."
In a letter addressed to Amma, copies were made available at the rally, Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun Magazine, who was to receive an award from Amma's supporters, said he would decline the award because of her decision to hold events at the Hilton LAX.
In the letter, Lerner writes, "Amma, there is no possibility of creating a more loving and caring world that I know you are so committed to so long as spiritual leaders like yourself fail to link spiritual ideals to concrete social justice for poor and working people."
A housekeeper at the Hilton LAX, Isabel Brentner, said she sent a letter to Amma informing her of the labor dispute at the hotel and asked her to reconsider her stay there.
Since the boycott was called last August, several groups, including the California Teachers Association have canceled their scheduled events at the hotel, but Rob Sidon, a spokesman for Amma, said the "hugging saint" was not informed of the ongoing labor dispute at the hotel until she arrived in the U.S. to begin her tour.
Representatives of the workers dispute this claim. They say they met with Amma's folks during her visit to the hotel last year. They made their intentions known, and the Amma Tour organizers chose to cross the picket lines once again this year.
As a result, the thousands expected to come from across Southern California for a spiritual embrace will be met with hundreds of local protestors who will be present for a reported length of 30 hours in which visitors will find it uncomfortable to receive a warm embrace.
Neither Sidon nor Amma have bothered to embrace the workers or even the hotel owner who could use a little love. Without it, the owner will continue to fight his employees' struggle for better pay and benefits and respect.
Boycott organizers urge you to visit their website for more information, at http://hugthiscause.wordpress.com.