NRI Corner 2

06-28-2007, 06:32 AM

Could not resist giving out one more, courtesy dailykos.com

<img src='http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f241/buhdydharma/cheney_emotional_chart.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

ramana · (This post was last modified: 07-06-2007, 01:03 AM by ramana.)

Interesting op-ed from Pioneer, 5 July 2007

QUOTESlavish about American desis

.....

All this happened five years ago. Memories of that dubious enterprise came flooding back when I saw the Indian media going gaga over the achievements of Sunita Williams, providing them with more than "appropriate coverage". For some strange reason, media insisted that we must celebrate Ms Williams's exploits in outer space as if she were an Indian and the glory was ours. She is a second generation American by birth (born of mixed parentage) and her decision to carry a copy of the Bagavad Gita and a statuette of Ganesh with her during her foray into space merely reflect her personal faith, not her Indian identity. But the Indian media's obsession with the feats of people of Indian origin who are now citizens of other countries is not limited to dramatic exploits like spending the longest time in space or taking more than one space walk. For instance, every time an 'Indian American' becomes the CEO of a multinational company, joins the league of millionaires after selling a start-up company, becomes the youngest med school graduate, writes a trashy pulp novel about the 'immigrant experience' of an American born confused desi and then is found to have plagiarised someone else's work, or is elevated to a district court as the "first woman judge of Indian origin", our newspaper journalists and news channel anchors start doing cartwheels. Not to be outdone, the Government of India honours some of them with medals from the Padma series that are now mass-minted.

Similarly, a big show is made of the annual jamboree known as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas where politicians trip over each other to woo potential investors who can trace their origin to this land of ours but are loath to return to the land of their ancestors. Usually the lot from the US are the most sought after at such events, as they are perceived to be the most loaded. And while our US-based desis (Oh how they hate this term and would love to be known as Americans!) hold forth on the wondrous things they could do for India provided numerous exemptions are made, we grovel at their feet and offer them the moon.

In all this, we lose sight of two simple facts. First, while the majority of accomplished Indians make a conscious decision to stay back because they believe their matribhoomi is also their karmabhoomi, only a minority travels abroad and, on the first available opportunity, swaps nationality and acquires a phoney accent. There's nothing wrong with exercising this choice just as there's nothing wrong about placing personal comfort over national interest; but having exercised the choice, there's everything wrong with being preachy to the people who chose not to migrate and tell them how to manage their country's affairs. Second, there's no reason to fall for the claptrap about desis abroad wanting to serve the country of their origin. A minuscule minority is possibly motivated by altruistic reasons and its contribution is praiseworthy. But the vast majority of 'do gooders', including those who have managed to establish themselves as lobbyists for American firms and the US Administration, as also those who have made enough money from selling chicken tikka to contribute to the election funds of presidential hopefuls, are motivated by reasons that are not altogether bereft of financial gains. That's fine, so long as they are upfront about it and we treat them as no different from Americans who can trace their ancestry to Anglo-Saxon roots.

The problem is we don't. We look at them in wide-eyed wonder and make them feel important enough to tell us how to run our lives.

07-11-2007, 08:33 PM

Indian green card seekers in flowery U.S. protest

07-12-2007, 11:29 PM

First Hindu prayer in US Senate disrupted; 3 heldQUOTECapitol Police Sgt Kimberly Schneider stated that two women and one man were arrested in the Senate visitorsâ gallery for disruption of Congress, a misdemeanor. The three were shouting slogans such as ''This is an abomination''.

"At this time, we donât know their religion," Schneider was quoted as saying by agencies.

Meanwhile, all throughout the week, a Mississippi-based organisation called the American Family Association has been running a criticism campaign on their website for allowing a Hindu clergyman to deliver prayers.

The organisation urged supporters to call Senators to ask the event be cancelled. However, as of now, there is no word of a connection between the disruption caused by the three people at the Senate and the American Family Association.

One of the protesters told reporters as he was arrested: "We are Christians and Patriots".

Police identified the protesters as Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn Pavkovic and Christan Renee Sugar. Their ages and hometowns were not available.

07-12-2007, 11:39 PM

Protesters arrested for disrupting first Hindu Senate prayerQUOTEâWe would not ever encourage shouting in the gallery like that, we asked people to contact their senators to show their disapproval,â he added.

Shortly after the incident, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the floor, âIf people have any misunderstanding about Indians and Hindus, all they have to do is think of Gandhiâ¦ who gave his life for peace.â

**Hauma Hamiddha** · (This post was last modified: 07-13-2007, 09:57 AM by Hauma Hamiddha.)

protesters-arrested-for-disrupting-first-hindu-senate-prayer

Must See

07-13-2007, 09:56 PM

Hindu-American Foundation Comments on Senate Prayer
2007-07-13 Published by Hinduism Today Gathered by Hindu Press International
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2007: (NOTE: following is a press release from Ishani Chowdhury, Executive Director, Hindu American Foundation.)

"The Hindu American Foundation is certainly pleased that the faith of nearly 1 billion of the world's population, and 2 million American Hindus, has been represented today at the Senate. As a strong, vibrant and deeply faithful community, we share the need to be represented as part of the fabric of the heterogeneous American society. It is quite disheartening to see that those misinformed about the Hindu faith, and its countless contributions, have taken the route of disrupting a significant and solemn occasion. Just as the Hindu community was troubled by intolerance of the the exclusivist view of the American Family Association that were reflected by few protesters that were removed from the gallery today, our community is heartened and grateful by the brave voices of Senator Harry Reid and other Senators who made this historic moment possible in the Halls of Congress today. We reach out everyone to join us in continuing to build a society based on the principles of tolerance, pluralism and understanding."

07-13-2007, 10:00 PM

Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid Refuse to Allow Chaplain Who Prays "in Jesus Name," but Welcome Hinduism to the Floor of the U.S. Senate QUOTEWASHINGTON, July 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- A Hindu chaplain will pray a Hindu prayer on the floor of the U.S. Senate for the first time in history. But yesterday, staffers from the offices of Senator Clinton (D-NY) and Harry Reid (D-NV) both denied a request for equal access to a chaplain who prays "in Jesus name."

Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt personally visited the Washington offices of both Senators on July 10th, but was turned away.

"Yes, we sponsored today's Hindu chaplain from Nevada to pray Hindu prayers on the Senate floor," admitted Reid's staff, "but we won't sponsor you because you're from New York ," they told Chaplain Klingenschmitt.

Senator Clinton's office also turned away her own constituent. "We won't sponsor you to pray 'in Jesus name' on the floor of the Senate," her staff told Klingenschmitt, "because Senate Chaplain Barry Black is a Seventh-Day Adventist who regularly prays on the Senate floor... so we don't need a Pentecostal chaplain who prays in Jesus name. You can ask Chaplain Black if he'll sponsor you, but Senator Clinton won't."

07-13-2007, 10:03 PM

Historian Barton says Hindu prayer before Senate raises concernsQUOTEWallBuilders president David Barton is questioning why the U.S. government is seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god. Barton points out that since Hindus worship multiple gods, the prayer will be completely outside the American paradigm, flying in the face of the American motto "One Nation Under God."

"In Hindu, you have not one God, but many, many, many, many, many gods," the Christian historian explains. "And certainly that was never in the minds of those who did the Constitution, did the Declaration [of Independence] when they talked about Creator -- that's not one that fits here because we don't know which creator we're talking about within the Hindu religion."

Barton says given the fact that Hindus are a tiny constituency of the American public, he questions the motivation of Senate leaders. "This is not a religion that has produced great things in the world," he observes. "You look at India, you look at Nepal -- there's persecution going in both of those countries that is gendered by the religious belief that is present there, and Hindu dominates in both of those countries."

And while Barton acknowledges there is not constitutional problem with a Hindu prayer in the Senate, he wonders about the political side of it. "One definitely wonders about the pragmatic side of it," he says. "What is the message, and why is the message needed? And will it actually communicate anything other than engender with folks like me a lot of questions?"

dhu · (This post was last modified: 07-14-2007, 10:30 AM by dhu.)

It's good to see that Panditji was unperturbed by the usual jeebuswala dhamaka. This type of visceral christist reaction can only be elicited by existential threats.

07-14-2007, 04:58 AM

<img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /> http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=6
Sanjay Puri, chairman of the US India Political Action Committee, sent a letter to the American Family Association, denouncing its stand on the issue. "Religious diversity is an important aspect of our constitution and our rights as citizens. Organisations certainly have a right to protest, but the disruption of these proceedings was unnecessary and, frankly, un-American," he said.

Husky · (This post was last modified: 07-14-2007, 06:01 PM by Husky.)

Going to say something unpopular yet again. Unlikely to coincide with other views expressed here.

There's no need for people to say Hindu prayers in the US senate - even if (as I understand) it is the politicians that requested it and not any Hindus, but still. People already know that the vocals in the US go into crazy hysteria if someone on the opposite side of the world believes in some other Gods than 'the one true gawd'. This whole incident might only make Hindus and Hinduism be more resented in the US. The babble belt has already convinced itself into imagining that 'Jews are controlling America' - their paranoia is such that they could well spin this incident in a similar fanciful way.
Besides, the event might merely incense US evangelicals to send more of their missionaries to India to terrorise Hindus - just so they can stop any such significant public display of Hinduism in the US ('stop it from spreading to America' - this is an important reason as to why many US missionaries go and missionize in Buddhist and Hindu countries).

Also, since there's guaranteed State-Church separation in the US, why should there be a need for any religion to be represented in the senate at all?
And why is Hilary Clinton - who otherwise seems a sensible person - antagonising her own countrymen (#208)? And she's a Baptist herself. Why go out of her way to do something that irks so many of her own people and that is actually unnecessary? She can show her tolerance in a different way: stick up for Hinduism during the media's constant slighting of it for instance, or stop her nation from funding subversive and missionary activities in non-christian countries. It's these things that matter to Hindus in the end, not some token show of tolerance in allowing Hindus or others to do some invocations in a public political gathering.
If I had any say in their country I wouldn't in any way meddle in that nation's religious affairs (I wouldn't set any money aside for faith-based funding either, but I wouldn't push my religion on christians). She should uphold her nation's constitution and allow freedom of religion but no state patronage of any.

(Perhaps in future, when more Americans become Deists, they can do something in the senate with that. Am not wholly averse to the US becoming more open to meaningful ceremony in politics. Also, when are America's atheists and agnostics going to be represented then; are they ever to be the last to get any recognition? Will they ever be officially recognised and accepted in their country?)

Of course I don't agree with that christian hysterian (#209) who's confused about American history. The 'One nation under gawd' thing was added much later as even I know. And the Creator that the Founding fathers spoke of was the Deist Creator, Nature's God. It has nothing to do with any christoislamic deity, so he can stop his whining. Certainly, the one real God of America is the Grand Spirit; why not invoke its/his/her blessings to guide America to peace and a positive future? Such an event would please all the Gods - Hindu and others, besides finally giving recognition to America's own religion.

In the US, as elsewhere, all people should have the right to follow whatever religion they do (as long as they don't bother/terrorise others with/because of it). However, I can't see this occasion of Hindu prayers in the senate doing anything but racking up more anger in the already-angry crowd possessed by their angry imaginary deity jehovallah. Hindus don't need any public confirmation of their religion (with or without recognition they follow their traditional beliefs) in non-Hindu US, though they need to be left in peace. I can't see that not having prayed in the senate would have affected US Hindus negatively in any away. But having done so is attracting all kinds of ill-will.

Sanjay Puri (#211) who said the protests were unamerican is wrong. It is not true to the spirit of the Founding fathers of their nation certainly, but it is very like the vocals of today's America. They're already a vindictive lot, no need for US Hindus to dangle themselves before them (even if upon others' asking) and exasperate them further.

dhu · 07-14-2007, 09:23 AM

Youtube comment:

QUOTE Yeah, the occasional abortion clinic....plus death threats, "powdered" envelopes, and a federal building which had more children in it than the twin towers did. Whenever the Democrats have the federal government again these right-wing nuts will come out again with their militias, etc.

07-14-2007, 10:18 AM

Hi,

USINPAC mail has a link to the American Family Association asking people to sign a petition against the Hindu prayers at the Senate.

I filled out two petitions. One, thanking the Senators for including the Hindu prayers and reiterating that there is NO place for religious bigotry, intolerance and prejudice in America. Second, I have formally asked the Senators to investigate the so-called American Family Association's stand on Hindus as a hate-crime.

We should put a stop to this NONSENSE here and now!

http://www.afa.net/Petitions/issuedetail.asp?id=257

Please forward this to your friends and relatives (in the USA and Canada) and request them to TAKE A STAND by signing the petition (change the draft letter) in support of the Hindu prayers in the Senate. THANK the SENATORS for not cowing down to these bigots.

07-14-2007, 02:35 PM

From a blog on the hindu prayer session at the senate ...pretty humorous.

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/07...hristian_he.php

QUOTEHindu Prayers and Christian Hegemony

by Ed Brayton

Yesterday, for the first time ever, a Hindu chaplain opened the Senate's daily session with a Hindu prayer. This seems to have bunched the panties of Christian Nation apologist David Barton.

WallBuilders president David Barton is questioning why the U.S. government is seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god. Barton points out that since Hindus worship multiple gods, the prayer will be completely outside the American paradigm, flying in the face of the American motto "One Nation Under God."

Mind you, when we criticize the fact that the Senate begins every other day with a Christian prayer, we are accused of trying to destroy religious freedom. When any other type of prayer is offered, this magically has nothing at all to do with religious freedom. Silly Hindus, don't you realize that only Christians get to have the official government imprimatur upon their religion? You just sit back and enjoy your cheeseburger and let the Christians pray.

But wait, it gets better. Three whackos from a religious right group called Operation Save America decided to disrupt the Hindu invocation and got hauled away by the police:

The three protesters, who all belong to the Christian Right anti-abortion group Operation Save America, and who apparently traveled to Washington all the way from North Carolina, interrupted by loudly asking for God's forgiveness for allowing the false prayer of a Hindu in the Senate chamber.
"Lord Jesus, forgive us father for allowing a prayer of the wicked, which is an abomination in your sight," the first protester began.

"This is an abomination," he continued. "We shall have no other gods before You."

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), serving as the presiding officer for the morning, immediately ordered them taken away -- though they continued to yell at the Hindu cleric as they were headed out the door, shouting out phrases such as, "No Lord but Jesus Christ!" and "There's only one true God!"

That blog has video of the disruption, but it's not posted yet. The whackos then put out a press release that reads:

Ante Pavkovic, Kathy Pavkovic, and Kristen Sugar were all arrested in the chambers of the United States Senate as that chamber was violated by a false Hindu god. The Senate was opened with a Hindu prayer placing the false god of Hinduism on a level playing field with the One True God, Jesus Christ. This would never have been allowed by our Founding Fathers.

"Not one Senator had the backbone to stand as our Founding Fathers stood. They stood on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! There were three in the audience with the courage to stand and proclaim, 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' They were immediately removed from the chambers, arrested, and are in jail now. God bless those who stand for Jesus as we know that He stands for them." Rev. Flip Benham, Director, Operation Save America/Operation Rescue.

I'm popping some popcorn. Can't wait to see the rest of this show.

07-14-2007, 06:08 PM

I particularly find the American Family News network below very amusing

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/07/historia...ys_hindu_pr.php,

especially for the comments from all the rightwing christian nuts. I can just picture them, wearing some kind of bright orange jumpsuits (don't ask me why), jumping up and down like some agitated monkeys, spewing out threats about 'false gods' 'damnation' and 'eternal doom' because the 'idol worshippers' are allowed to speak up.

Here's one that lays down the christian philosophy plainly:

QUOTEOur God is a Jealous God and this won't go unnoticed by Him. I don't know how much more He will take as we continue to let these kinds of things go on by our "elected officials" and our ungodly judges. I am afraid a day of judgement is coming. We citizens are going to have to make more of an effort to make our voices heard. A good start would be to vote these guys out of office.
Most of them are in there so long they think they don't have to answer to us anymore.They think anything they do won't keep us from voting for them.

And another one...

QUOTEThere is only one true God and that is the God of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is truly a sad day for America. What will happen to this country as it turns to idols and forsakes the living God. Is not judgment on its way unless America repents?

Here's one from someone with a Phd. Says he likes his non-christian friends very much, but still can't accept the fact that they are not christians. Can picture him kneeling down at bedtime every night praying fervently - ''dear jesus, please turn them into christians before sundown, with your magic wand.''

QUOTEConstitutionally, Hindu have the same right to pray in the Senate as we Christians do. So, until our Constitution is changed, it looks as if we will have to live with it. Personally, I have some very personal friends who are Hindus. I wish they would convert, but they see it differently. However, they are still my very best friends. 

Another nutter gets the US history wrong as usual:

QUOTEI have been agonizing over this country for over 30 years. We are based on Christianity, not anything else. This is our foundation. What in the Devil is wrong with the true citizens of this country. Why are we letting foreign philosophies take over OUR heritage. Are we nuts? Why are we not marching on Washington and throwing out the idiots that think they are smarter than our forefathers? That's what our ancesters would do, and most of them were christians.

And so it goes on...

07-14-2007, 08:50 PM

sankara,

This is nothing, commies sitting in Calcutta,India are worst, who are pulling their hair and juming in rotten eggs.
Here is to enjoy -
I have removed links, not to give free publicity to sick b*****d commies of India

______________________________________

Risk of Terror Strike and Vedic Mantras in US Senate Post Modern Manusmriti is the sperit og New global

Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto
Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone:
91-033-25659551
Email: palashchandrabiswas@...
PUBLIC FORUM

Dear all
##Send this information to as many people as possible in USA and elsewhere, People from India should also write to senators in USA.##
Concern:
On 12th July US senate is planing to be opened with vedic mantras. Vedic religious scriptures regulates the caste and race in India. The chanting of mantras will support such vedic rituals for 'untouchability' and 'racial injustice' , US senate being strong defender against racial injustice, should not allow this injustice against race and untouchability.
Reference:
Hindu Prayer Will Open Senate
http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What you can do
Please Sign this petition and send it across. So that maximum people sign it.
http://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

07-14-2007, 09:48 PM

QUOTE(Mudy @ Jul 14 2007, 08:50 PM)
This is nothing, commies sitting in Calcutta,India are worst, who are pulling their hair and juming in rotten eggs.
Here is to enjoy -
-------------
On 12th July US senate is planing to be opened with vedic mantras. Vedic religious scriptures regulates the caste and race in India. The chanting of mantras will support such vedic rituals for 'untouchability' and 'racial injustice' , US senate being strong defender against racial injustice, should not allow this injustice against race and untouchability...


The Indian commies do crack everyone up.

I'm just surprised that the MK Dravida & Co. hasn't jumped into the bandwagon.

Even as we speak, there he is... sprawled out luxuriously in an easy chair, feeding on coconut water held out by his numerous mistresses (most underaged, a few over the hill but still hoping he'd make an honest women of them, and yet others ready to pop out a few kids at his behest), all sitting at his feet in respectful silence, while he proclaims: All (Hindu) Gods are nonexistent... only jesus is real. All (hindu) saints and sages are bogus...only the pope and his faithful band (of paedophiles) are enlightened.

It is not surprising though that while many newspapers gave some details on the attempted sabotaging of the christian right during the senate prayer session, The Hindu newspaper from the heart of the MK land carefully omitted the details, lest it might offend the local christian-commie population.

07-18-2007, 04:59 AM

The Gandhi Protests Pay OffQUOTEAfter two weeks of protests by high-skilled immigrants over a broken promise to expedite the processing of green cards, the White House has approached immigration advocacy groups to work out a compromise. While the talks are ongoing and could still break down, the government is likely to reverse a July 2 decision to refuse more permanent residency applications, and will likely begin accepting them in the next few days. "I think they are determined to fix the situation," says Charles Kuck, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn.

Also under discussion is whether green cards that have gone unused in previous years could be used this year. As a result, one possible scenario is that the number of high-skilled workers who gain permanent residency in the U.S. this year could swell to more than twice the historical level. "They've got to do something," says one congressional staffer close to the discussions
.........................

07-18-2007, 11:13 AM

QUOTEHINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION
ACTION ALERT

BACKGROUND TO SENATE HINDU PRAYER:

The U.S. Senate has traditionally opened its daily proceedings with a Christian prayer recited by the Senate Chaplain. On July 12, 2007, for the first time in U.S. history, the U.S. Senate opened its daily proceedings with a Hindu priest reciting a universal Hindu prayer. Unfortunately, Christian extremists vocally disrupted the prayer and had to be removed forcefully by Capitol police.Â The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) promptly issued a statement on the event and the protest (www.HAFsite.org), which was also carried by prominent American and international media. HAF is continuing to voice strong objections with the intolerant groups organizing the protest. HAF also delivered to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who supported the prayer, a thank you letter the next day.

YOUR ACTION NEEDED: 
Contact Senate Majority Leader Reid (202-224-3542) thanking him for standing up to the extremists and for his support for Hindu Americans.

Contact your Senators and congressional leaders asking for a statement indicating their support for the Hindu prayer as an example of the tolerance and pluralism of America, and condemning the miscreants who disrupted the otherwise momentous event and extremist organizations that protested the event. You may find contact information for your Senators and congressional leaders at www.Congress.org

Please contact Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (202-224-4451), Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama (202-224-2854), Senator and Republican Presidential candidate John McCain (202-224-2235), Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate Joseph Biden (202-224-5042), Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal (202-225-3015),Â Senator Sherrod BrownÂ (202-224-2315), Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani (212-835-9449), Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (857-288-6400), and Republican Presidential candidate Tommy Thompson (515-422-5100) asking why each leader has not issued a statement on this matter, given the significant fund-raising their respective election campaigns have are doing within the greater Indian community. Hold candidates accountable for their stand on this issue. 

NEWS FROM THE HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION:

In addition, the past few weeks have been extremely busy for all the volunteers and staff and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). We would like to highlight some of the recent major HAF successes:

Today was another momentous occasion for Hindu Americans. HAFâs Executive Director, Ishani Chowdhury, spoke on behalf of Hindu minorities in South Asia - the 1st time in U.S. history that a Hindu American represented the human rights of Hindus throughout South Asia in a Congressional briefing.

HAFâs letter to the editor responding to a slanderous Boston Herald report headline "Hindus lament divine case of erectile dysfunction" was printed in the newspaper and can be viewed at www.HAFsite.org

HAF, last week, released its Third Annual report on the status of Hindu human rights where they are minorities. For the first time, this report was covered by multiple prominent mainstream American media including the Chicago Tribune and the ANG media group which publishes The Argus, in addition to Indian and Canadian media.

HINDU EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS:

Finally, HAF continues to organize and plan Hindu Education and Awareness Campaign Fundraisers. We have upcoming programs in Dallas, Houston, Long Island and Northern California. We are planning events for the Washington DC area, Detroit suburbs, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Tampa, and Orlando. If you would like to help organize such an outreach, membership drive, and fundraising event in your area, please contact the HAF Office at 301-770-7835 or email office at HAFsite.org

This work is not possible without your support. We hope you will renew your membership or support HAF with a generous contribution.

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