American evangelist attacks Hinduism and Islam , USA

Source http://news.rediff.com
Wednesday,May 19,2010

Activists of the Indian-American community and the Hindu American Foundation have denounced Reverend Franklin Graham, the son and heir apparent of celebrated evangelist Reverend Billy Graham, for maligning Hinduism during an interview where he largely continued his attacks on Islam.

In an interview to the USA Today newspaper on May 4, Graham -- whose father is affectionately known as 'America's Pastor' -- renewed his attacks on Islam, which he had done a day earlier with the conservative media outlet Newsmax, saying, 'Muslims do not worship the same "God the Father" I worship,' and then took a nasty swipe at Hinduism's many manifestations of God.

Suhag Shukla, managing director and legal counsel, Hindu American Foundation, told rediff.com, "Graham's hate-filled stab at Hindus represents the worst of Christian bigotry and thankfully the fastest-waning segment of Christian-Americans."

She noted that "surveys have shown that Americans, a majority of whom are Christian, are increasingly subscribing to a more Hindu-like worldview. Well-regarded surveys like Pew and Harris have found that 65 percent of Americans, 37 percent of whom are white evangelicals, believe that many religions can lead to Eternal Life and 24 percent believe in reincarnation."

"These findings combined with the continued exponential rise in popularity of Hindu spirituality and yoga, I believe, shed better light on the true nature of Graham's statement," Shukla said, adding, "that they are more desperate cries of a shepherd trying to recapture a fleeing flock than a representative voice of Christians in America."

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Holi festival finds mention in US Congress

Source http://www.ddinews.gov.in
Friday,March19,2010

 Holi, the festival of colours, has found mention in the US Congress with an American lawmaker from New York terming it as a "visually stunning" event.

Holi is a time when communities come together after a long winter to welcome the spring harvest, Congressman Steve Israel said in the House of Representatives.

"It is a visually stunning event with thousands of people tossing coloured powders in the air and using dyed water in an atmosphere where culture, camaraderie and oneness are celebrated.

"In the evening, community bonfires are lit to signify triumph over divisiveness and negativity," Israel said.

It is one of the largest festivals in the world, with over one billion Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists participating throughout India, Nepal, the US and many other nations, he said.

As a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Israel also commended the Hindu American Foundation for educating Americans about Holi and the Hindu faith and join them in recognising this year's Festival of Colours.

Three years ago, the Foundation worked to ensure passage of a resolution recognising another Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist festival, Diwali, in both the Senate and the HoR.

This latest focus on Holi was a continuation of those efforts, the foundation said in a statement.

  "Congressman Israel has been a longtime member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and supporter of our community," said Nikhil Joshi, cofounder and member of the Board of Directors for the Hindu American Foundation.

"We're grateful for his leadership in giving recognition to the importance of Holi to more than one billion people around the world," he said. (HS-19/03)