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UNITED STATES, December 21, 2002: The following letter appeared in “Dear Abby,” a syndicated column published in hundreds of U.S. newspapers: “Dear Abby, I am a Hindu woman living in the ‘Bible Belt’ [southern USA]. Many of my friends and acquaintances are Christian, and they are all wonderful — except for one thing. Some try in small, subtle ways to convert me to their faith. With Christmas approaching, I know what’s coming — boxes of baked goodies with little brochures and pamphlets tucked inside all about Jesus and the Christian faith. I wish you would remind people that all of us in this diverse nation should respect the faiths of others. To try to convert someone to your faith implies that you consider your religious beliefs superior, and that is just plain wrong. I know these gestures are well meant, but I wouldn’t dream of sending Hindu brochures with my holiday goodies. Abby, what is a tactful, but firm, way of dealing with this?” signed, Happy Hindu In The Bible Belt. Abby’s response: Dear Happy Hindu, Much as you would like, you are not going to change people who feel it’s part of their religious commitment to “save” you. Ignore the brochures and enjoy the goodies.

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