Source: Tolerance.org

http://www.tolerance.org/news/article_hate.jsp?id=685

On January 23, 2003 Tolerance.org reported that "the latest edition of Maxim magazine, in an alleged 'humor' article headlined 'Maxim’s Kick-Ass Workout,' depicts a strapping man in a 'Muscle' T-shirt beating up an image of Mahatma Gandhi... 'My first reaction is, ‘How stupid.’ My next reaction is, ‘How sad,' said Michelle Naef, administrator of the M.K. Gandhi...

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/jan/01182003/saturday/saturday.asp

On January 18, 2003 The Salt Lake Tribune reported that "Utah's Hindus are celebrating a plentiful harvest... This is the time of Pongal, a kind of Indian Thanksgiving, and many families on Wednesday cooked new rice, sugar cane, dry fruits and milk in a new clay pot, purposely letting the frothy mixture boil over to symbolize their good fortune... Most celebrated in...

Source: Deseret News

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C450026948%2C00.html

On January 18, 2003 the Deseret News reported that "little more than a stone's throw from the comparative behemoth that Latter-day Saints know as the Jordan River Temple, the Sri Ganesha Temple will serve a growing Hindu population along the Wasatch Front, not only as a place of worship, but as a community gathering place. While the two temples are worlds apart in the mode and...

Source: The Boston Globe

On January 15, 2003 The Boston Globe reported that "although both Sejal and Mahendra Sagar remained practicing Hindus [after their divorce], they disagreed on one religious ceremony performed on young children: Chudakarana, a ritual where the child's head is shaved and locks of hair are offered as a sacrifice... The father, Mahendra Sagar, asked a judge for permission to perform the ritual. Middlesex Probate and Family Court Judge Spencer Kagan ruled that the ceremony should wait, and the young girl should eventually decide whether...

Source: The Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/business/cst-fin-mac14.html

On January 13, 2003 The Chicago Sun-Times reported that "a scientist.. urged a Cook County [IL] judge Monday to reject McDonald's Corp.'s proposed list of 26 groups scheduled to share in a $10 million settlement by the fast-food chain... 'It will set back vegetarianism as a class for 10 to 20 years' because the groups McDonald's favors are hostile to the values the settlement...

Source: Oakland Tribune

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82%257E1726%257E1083992,00.html

On January 1, 2003 the Oakland Tribune reported that "like many Americans, Sher Ahmad spent Tuesday night celebrating with friends... But like many immigrants, Ahmad says, 'it's kind of a fake celebration"... 'Since we are here in the U.S., we celebrate,' the Fremont resident said. 'But it's not really the new year'... For many residents born...

Source: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/102361_medidate01.shtml

On January 1, 2003 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that "hundreds of men, women and children gathered at Green Lake to take time out for peace... Before taking to the 2.7-mile path around the lake, the walkers gathered in a circle near the Green Lake Community Center to hear prayers, songs and chants from representatives of a variety of religious and...

Source: The Flint Journal

http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news-9/1041436261225710.xml

On January 1, 2003 The Flint Journal reported that "C. K. Venkateswaran, a Sunday school teacher at the local Hindu Temple and Chinmaya Mission, began the readings with a peace prayer in Hindu... The Rev. Deborah Kohler, pastor of Woodside Church of Flint, read a Christian...

Source: The Plain Dealer

On December 31, 2002 The Plain Dealer reported that "the Plain Dealer asked Northeast Ohioans representing different faiths to share their thoughts and prayers for the new year. If there is one theme that runs through these reflections, it is a sense of hope amid despair. Religious leaders seek faith to not only be peacemakers and serve the poor and the homeless and others in need next year, but to do what they believe is God's work with a spirit of joy and peace... Ven. Shih Ying-Fa, Abbot, CloudWater Zendo, Zen Center of...

Source: The Plain Dealer

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/104133784640550.xml

On December 31, 2002 The Plain Dealer reported that "evangelist Leroy Jenkins plans to move to Columbus as part of a real-estate deal in which a Hindu temple would be placed at the site of his current church in Delaware... Jenkins said Monday he wants to operate his church in a former hotel on Columbus' east side, but that he...

Source: Chicago Daily Herald

On December 27, 2002 the Chicago Daily Herald reported that "Hitendra Patel, a Hindu from India, [explained the significance of Diwij.] Patel [said]. 'I go to the Swaminarayan Temple in Bartlett every Sunday. We have just finished Diwij. That is what we call the new year in Gujurat, a state in the middle of India where I come from. We have just finished the Celebration of the Lights with fireworks. And we have just finished the Ankrot - which means the feasting on mountains of food - all prepared by the Hindu women of the...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On December 25, 2002 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "last night, a group of Hindu children arrived at the Belani family's home in Brookfield for a party complete with gifts and a visit from Santa Claus. 'It's not something that we do for religious reasons,' said Belani, who has two daughters, ages 9 and 10. 'I just want the kids to feel like a part of it just because everyone else is doing it. I feel like kids are growing up here and it's hard for them.' With carols playing on every radio station,...

Source: The Commercial Appeal

On December 25, 2002 The Commercial Appeal reported that "Tennessee's Republican chairwoman has sent letters of apology to Buddhists  and Hindus for a party brochure intended as an attack on Democrat Phil Bredesen  during the fall election campaign. Republicans mailed a brochure to rural voters contending the curriculum that  Bredesen implemented as Nashville's mayor mandated the teaching of Buddhism and  Hinduism to second-graders. The one-page, fold-over brochure featured a picture of a cow on the front and  a quote: 'Teaches...