Christian Bigots Attack Hindu Priest in U.S. Senate - Press Release

[Guest guest]

Dr. Frank Morales, Ph.D.

President – International Sanatana Dharma Society

Press Release

July 12, 2007

 

Religious Bigots Attack Hindu Priest in U.S. Senate

 

History was made on Thursday, July 12th when a Hindu priest delivered

the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate for the first time ever. Mr.

Rajan Zed, a journalist and Hindu priest, delivered a minute and a

half prayer in which he offered God thanks and prayed for peace.

 

However, before Mr. Zed could offer his short prayer to God, three

Christian activists disrupted the ceremony with angry shouts and

denunciations of Hinduism to the shock of on-lookers. " This is an

abomination! " the Washington Post reports one of the disruptors as

screaming. " We are Christians and patriots! " yelled another before

being led away by police.

 

Shockingly, far from being an isolated and spontaneous incident of

hatred, it is reported that a large number of well-organized

fundamentalist Christian groups throughout the nation had been

clamoring against allowing a Hindu priest to lead a prayer in our

nation's capital. The American Family Association has been on the

forefront of urging Christians to take direct action against

religious tolerance and asked their followers to contact the Senate

to ban a Hindu from leading prayer.

 

For further information on this dark and disturbing incident, please

review the following sites:

 

USA Today:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/07/christian-prote.html

 

YouTube:

 

America has been celebrated throughout the world as a society that

cherishes religious tolerance, freedom of faith, and respect for

different cultures. Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) is the most ancient

continuously practiced spiritual tradition on earth. Hinduism is a

dignified and highly respected religion that has always fostered

peace, respect of cultural diversity, and freedom of thought.

 

As an American Hindu leader, and the President of the International

Sanatana Dharma Society, I would urge all freedom loving Americans to

openly reject such disturbing instances of hatred, bigotry, and

prejudice as we sadly witnessed at this event.

 

I also urge all Hindus to become actively involved in vocally

denouncing this incident of bigotry, and insisting that mainstream

American society extend the same respect and tolerance toward

Hinduism as it commonly gives to the Abrahamic minority religions in

our great nation. Together, let us create a nation of mutual

respect, and tolerance of diverse cultures and religions.

 

Om Shanti (May Peace Prevail),

 

Dr. Frank Morales, Ph.D.

(Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya)

 

President – Spiritual Director

International Sanatana Dharma Society

 

http://www.dharmacentral.com

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