In
the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
One of the most important issues in American everyday life is
cleanliness. Just watch TV for an evening and count how many
commercials run for things that clean: soap, shampoo, dental care,
hair care, toilet paper, sanitizers, and so on. Clean is big
business, and a big concern for a lot of people. Just think of the
old adage: cleanliness is next to godliness.
In fact, much of the world takes to be more than just a quaint
saying. In most of Asia, even in the dirtiest jungle, there is a
concern for the state of one's feet. It is customary to take off your
shoes when entering the home or temple of a Hindu or Buddhist,
because to bring in the dirt of your travels would be to contaminate
sacred space. The feet are considered perpetually unclean, and to
display your feet or touch someone or something with them is
considered insulting and offensive.
