Ian Price
Photo: Olde Salem Brewing Company Facebook page
A noted Hindu cleric says Salem brewery is apologizing after a Hindu protest over one of its beers. In a company statement, Olde Salem Brewing Company’s owner Sean Turk says “…When naming our Spanish milk stout “Hanuman” we were unaware of the Hindu deity” Lord Hanuman. He says the name was purely a musical reference and had no other intent. President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed in a statement yesterday, thanked Olde Salem Brewing Company and Turk for understanding the concerns of the Hindu community which thought to associate Lord Hanuman with such a product was highly insensitive. Our inquiries to Olde Salem Brewing have not yet been returned.
The full news release from Rajan Zed can be read below. It can also be found online here.
Salem (Virginia) based Olde Salem Brewing Company apologized after Hindu protest over its beer carrying the name of Hindu deity Lord Hanuman, calling it “highly inappropriate”.
Owner Sean Turk, in a Company statement emailed today to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the protest, wrote: “…When naming our Spanish milk stout “Hanuman” we were unaware of the Hindu deity referenced by Rajan Zed. This name was purely a musical reference and had no other intent. We are reviewing options to address the situation…We apologize if this inadvertent association has offended anyone in anyway”.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada today, thanked Olde Salem Brewing Company and Turk for understanding the concerns of Hindu community which thought associating Lord Hanuman with such a product was highly insensitive.
Rajan Zed suggested that companies should send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and communities when introducing new products or launching advertising campaigns.
Zed had said that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
Rajan Zed had indicated that Lord Hanuman was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer for mercantile intent. Moreover, linking Lord Hanuman with an alcoholic beverage was very disrespectful.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed had noted.
In Hinduism, Lord Hanuman is known for incredible strength and was perfect grammarian. Moksh (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
Goal of Olde Salem Brewing Company, “located at the very heart” of Salem’s “Historic Main Street District”, is “to make thoughtfully crafted beer worth sharing and enjoying with others”. It claims to craft “every beer in house with full-flavored and innovative tastes”. Kevin Campbell is the brewmaster.
“Hanuman” (6% ABV, 32 IBU), listed under “Dark Side (Dark and Dangerous)” category of its “beers on tap”, was priced from $2.50 (4oz) to $18.00 (Growler). It used a variety of roasted malts combined with lactose; and added vanilla, cinnamon, and dried peppers.
A new report finds that an Independent Presidential candidate on the ballot in 2020 would hurt Democrats a lot more than President Trump. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment plan to continue pushing for Virginia to ratify the legislation next year, after it failed by a single vote late last week in the General Assembly. WFIR’s Ian Price has more on the amendment that would establish gender equality as a principle in the US Constitution:
The release of phones with folding screens — like yesterday’s unveiling of the Samsung Fold — is considered by some to be the next step in the evolution of smart phones. It may too expensive for many people to consider one now, but a local IT expert believes it will become cheaper and very common in the future. WFIR’s Ian Price has the story:
Photo: Botetourt Fire & EMS
A long-term northbound closure is expected on US 220 near Fincastle after a truck carrying 8,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel wrecked and flipped onto the median before catching on fire. It’s expected to take a while because a culvert under all four lanes melted. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
From Virginia State Police: At 6:19 a.m. Route 220 just north of Fincastle was closed due to a tractor trailer crash. The truck was haul approximately 8000 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel traveling north on Route 220 toward Clifton Forge. According to driver of the tractor trailer, James Willard Yarbrough, Jr., of Stuart, Va. swerved to avoid striking a deer. The truck ran off the left side of the roadway, into the median and overturned. The driver was able to exit the truck before the vehicle caught fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the north side off the roadway and the culvert running under the northbound travel lanes. North and the southbound sides of the roadway currently closed at this time until the total damage can be assessed. VDOT believes once the truck is removed they will be able open the southbound side which will handle both north and southbound traffic. This will take several hours to prepare. VDOT is detouring traffic off of Route 220 around the incident at this time. The driver was charged with Reckless Driving.
Since Amazon is no longer placing part of its HQ2 in New York City, Virginia’s Governor when the Commonwealth entered its bid for the other half of that headquarters says bring more jobs here. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Utility filings in Virginia show that much of the need for a proposed natural gas pipeline in our region has disappeared and that could cost it’s stakeholders significantly. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Both the national headliner and host of a stand-up comedy show this weekend in downtown Roanoke have local roots but didn’t meet each other until they were performing in New York City. WFIR’s Ian Price has the story:
You can hear our full interview with local comedians Johnny Camacho and Alicia Hollingsworth below
A national comedian who’s headlining a show in Roanoke this weekend actually grew up not far down the road in Buena Vista. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
A link to more information about the show can be found by clicking here