The FDA rant (writing the draft, and preparing it for full orchestration)

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on August 18, 2001 at 22:13:42:

Over the next two weeks I'll draft a letter and make it available in
the rabbit hole that can be forwarded to the FDA, your congressman,
the local health department etc.

The letter will discuss in detail that:

1)Henna is a widely practiced custom for 9000 years and in over 60
countries, by Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and others. The
preservation of long-standing valuable social customs is important to
the life of a community. 100% PURE henna does no harm, brings joy
and beauty, and continues a millenia-long tradition. 100% pure henna
is used to celebrate life as Christmas Trees are used to celebrate
Christmas.

2) Henna is an important part of marriage customs for Jews, Muslims,
Hindus and other groups, and to preserve this long-standing beloved
celebration of life and love, therefore import of 100% PURE henna
should be available for this purpose and not restricted. The
celebration of marriage in these communities would be incomplete and
sad without henna.

3) Henna is an important part of the social practices of Ramadan,
pilgrimages, other Eids, sacrifice, Holi, Diwali, circumcision and
other important Religious, Cultural, and family celebrations.
Therefore import of 100% PURE henna should be kept available and not
restricted. Henna is as necessary to these celebrations as

4)Support of social custom surrounding religious activities is
important to the diverse cultural life of the USA (or enter your
country here). Muslim, Sephardic Jewish, Armenian Christian, African,
South Asian members of the American population VOTE, and if (enter
Beaurocratic Official's Name here) supports the availablilty of 100%
pure henna, these people will be inclined to vote for *BONH*.

5) Adulterants such as PPD have been introduced into pure by greedy,
ignorant and unscrupulous people and have harmed people. Adulterated
henna is illegal, and FDA regulations regarding use of PPD should be
upheld!

6) FDA regulations on 100% pure henna are vague, poorly reasoned and
not enforeceable. They should be re-written or dropped.

7) PPD used to make "Black Henna" temporary tattoos is a serious
health concern, and is the source of many serious injuries. Medical
tests have proven that PPD is the source of the injuries, NOT 100%
pure henna.

8) PPD should NEVER be used in, or in place of henna, as per FDA
regulation.

9) The FDA is correct to insist that henna NOT be adulterated with
unlisted and/or unsafe ingredients.

10) 100% pure henna should be freely available for those who wish to
use it in body ornamentation. To forbid such is an infringement on
the social celebrations of several religions. To forbid the import of
100% pure henna for social celebration is tantamount to forbidding
Christmas trees at Christmas.

I'm deliberatly skirting several issues that are moot ... and going
directly to things that will interest lawmakers: infringement of
rights to celebrate one's religious holidays, preserving ethic
traditions and cultural diversity, clarity of legal status, and
Getting Votes. There's probably NO way to argue safety here, and
honestly, most people have no interest in henna at all, but they DO
like to get re-elected and look important .... so ... go directly to
preserving culture and writing the law in a sensible way. Present this
to the lawmakers as a "win-win" discourse. The FDA gets to win by
defending their right to clamp down on PPD and dodgy pre-mixes. The
elected officials will get to "win" by protecting community health
from PPD slingers, and currying favor with ethnic groups. We'll get
to win by the sidelines simply preserving the unimpeded flow of
pure henna.
I'll need some help nailing down links, emails of congress etc, etc,
etc, and editing. Watch for posts ... and I'll put this lot together.
when its done and polished .... print it out and mail it in to the FDA
and your congressman. It just might work.

I just got back from Pennsic last night .... which was a 12,000 person
reinactment of the medieval period ..... minus the plague. Lotta fun
... lotta henna!

Follow Ups

Excellent wording Jeremy 12:12:56 8/19/2001 (1)
- Re: Excellent wording Catherine Cartwright Jones 14:23:44 8/19/2001 (0)
Re: Once more a Saint in my eyes, Catherine Sarah 05:48:05 8/19/2001 (0)
Thank You Natalie 00:10:26 8/19/2001 (4)
- tactics Catherine Cartwright Jones 01:53:42 8/19/2001 (3)
  - Re: tactics Monica Tittle 03:05:47 8/21/2001 (1)
    - Re: tactics Catherine Cartwright Jones 04:01:22 8/21/2001 (0)
  - Yes I do vote! Darlahood 03:56:04 8/20/2001 (0)

Post Followup

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Subject:
: Over the next two weeks I'll draft a letter and make it available in : the rabbit hole that can be forwarded to the FDA, your congressman, : the local health department etc. : : The letter will discuss in detail that: : : 1)Henna is a widely practiced custom for 9000 years and in over 60 : countries, by Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and others. The : preservation of long-standing valuable social customs is important to : the life of a community. 100% PURE henna does no harm, brings joy : and beauty, and continues a millenia-long tradition. 100% pure henna : is used to celebrate life as Christmas Trees are used to celebrate : Christmas. : : 2) Henna is an important part of marriage customs for Jews, Muslims, : Hindus and other groups, and to preserve this long-standing beloved : celebration of life and love, therefore import of 100% PURE henna : should be available for this purpose and not restricted. The : celebration of marriage in these communities would be incomplete and : sad without henna. : : 3) Henna is an important part of the social practices of Ramadan, : pilgrimages, other Eids, sacrifice, Holi, Diwali, circumcision and : other important Religious, Cultural, and family celebrations. : Therefore import of 100% PURE henna should be kept available and not : restricted. Henna is as necessary to these celebrations as : : 4)Support of social custom surrounding religious activities is : important to the diverse cultural life of the USA (or enter your : country here). Muslim, Sephardic Jewish, Armenian Christian, African, : South Asian members of the American population VOTE, and if (enter : Beaurocratic Official's Name here) supports the availablilty of 100% : pure henna, these people will be inclined to vote for BONH. : : 5) Adulterants such as PPD have been introduced into pure by greedy, : ignorant and unscrupulous people and have harmed people. Adulterated : henna is illegal, and FDA regulations regarding use of PPD should be : upheld! : : 6) FDA regulations on 100% pure henna are vague, poorly reasoned and : not enforeceable. They should be re-written or dropped. : : 7) PPD used to make "Black Henna" temporary tattoos is a serious : health concern, and is the source of many serious injuries. Medical : tests have proven that PPD is the source of the injuries, NOT 100% : pure henna. : : 8) PPD should NEVER be used in, or in place of henna, as per FDA : regulation. : : 9) The FDA is correct to insist that henna NOT be adulterated with : unlisted and/or unsafe ingredients. : : 10) 100% pure henna should be freely available for those who wish to : use it in body ornamentation. To forbid such is an infringement on : the social celebrations of several religions. To forbid the import of : 100% pure henna for social celebration is tantamount to forbidding : Christmas trees at Christmas. : : : : : : : : I'm deliberatly skirting several issues that are moot ... and going : directly to things that will interest lawmakers: infringement of : rights to celebrate one's religious holidays, preserving ethic : traditions and cultural diversity, clarity of legal status, and : Getting Votes. There's probably NO way to argue safety here, and : honestly, most people have no interest in henna at all, but they DO : like to get re-elected and look important .... so ... go directly to : preserving culture and writing the law in a sensible way. Present this : to the lawmakers as a "win-win" discourse. The FDA gets to win by : defending their right to clamp down on PPD and dodgy pre-mixes. The : elected officials will get to "win" by protecting community health : from PPD slingers, and currying favor with ethnic groups. We'll get : to win by the sidelines simply preserving the unimpeded flow of : pure henna. : I'll need some help nailing down links, emails of congress etc, etc, : etc, and editing. Watch for posts ... and I'll put this lot together. : when its done and polished .... print it out and mail it in to the FDA : and your congressman. It just might work. : : I just got back from Pennsic last night .... which was a 12,000 person : reinactment of the medieval period ..... minus the plague. Lotta fun : ... lotta henna!
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