Florida Newspaper's Front Page Account of Aghora Hindus and India Shocks Asian Comm

[Guest guest]

Florida Newspaper's Front Page Account of Aghora Hindus and India

Shocks Asian Community

http://tampatrib.com/nationworldnews/MGAXM6OXFGD.html

 

TAMPA, U.S.A., June 2, 2003: A rather astounding article appeared in

the Florida Tampa Tribune of June 2 supposedly on the Aghoris, a

radical group of sadhus living beyond the norms of society, but really

about one crazy American, Gary Stevenson, claiming to their reporter

(George Coryell) that he was an Aghori. The reporter considered the

American insane, and indeed the fellow is now in a psychiatric

institute in India. You'll have to go to "source" to read the article,

as it is too disgusting to quote at any length. For example,

"Cannibalism, Yon said, was taken as a part of Indian culture." Among

its assertions is that tourists in India may be kidnapped, sacrificed

and eaten by Aghoris.

 

The Hindu and Asian community in Tampa were shocked at the newspaper's

gross misrepresentation and opprobrious information regarding Hinduism

and India. Over 50 Hindu, Jain and professional organizations with

members from Asia signed the following response: "We the Hindu and

Indian-American community of Tampa Bay numbering well over 10,000 and

represented by the undersigned organizations is deeply hurt and

offended by the subject article and its portrayal of Hinduism and

India. The article has done gross injustice to the Hindus, India and

offended their sensibilities. Hinduism, the world's third largest but

oldest practiced religion by well over 850 million, and with history

well over 5,000 year old, is known for nonviolence, vegetarianism,

love, compassion and peace. To portray and defame Hindu Gods and

Goddesses and the entire religion with cannibalism because of stories

collected by a writer in search of a book of sensational stories to

write, with selfish motive for personal gain, displays personal biases

and lack of quality journalism."

 

The response goes on to make these points about the article:

 

" [it is] Attempted defamation of Hinduism by portraying Hindus and

their gods with acts of certain deviant individuals. The Aghoris do not

constitute even a measurable fraction of the main stream Hindus 850

million worldwide. This is akin to equating Catholicism and

Christianity with child molestation, suicidal acts, violence, and such,

due to the acts of certain deviant individuals such as Charles Mansion,

Jim Jones, David Kuresh and a few Catholic priests.

 

"Attempt to malign India and her people as a place where foreigners

disappear. Thus attempt to cause financial harm to India by reducing

tourism to India. In our numerous travels to India we have not

encountered posters showing pictures of lost foreigners, if any. There

are no advisories by any governmental agency against travel to India

due to any loss of foreigners.

 

"Did not consider the sensibilities of the Hindu and Indian-American

population or show a modicum of respect that Tampa Tribune shows for

other religions and communities."

[Guest guest]

Gary Stevenson??????

[gHari]

Busted! Yes, I am posting from the looney bin now. I just ate my neighbour with a nice Chianti.

[Guest guest]

kidding??

[livingentity]

For one thing the last name is not the same and also I do not think gHari is in Florida - unless he flew down there for dinner. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[theist]

that was close. Yeah the spelling is different. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[gHari]

Now that's quite a vote of confidence!

 

Luckily they spelled my name incorrectly.

 

Hannibal Hari

[theist]

Don't take it wrong gHari, but I'm still going to check with the paper to make sure it wasn't a typo. I'm sure there is no problem but better safe than sorry ya' know.

 

Bon Appetite

[Guest guest]

All glories to the one and only gHari!!!

[livingentity]

Just don't invite him to dinner. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif