Civic

Controversial TV Show, "Faith Under Fire" Explores Faith and Ethics

October 1, 2004

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-fals01.html

On October 1, 2004 the Chicago Sun Times reported, "Lee Strobel, a former teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and author of the best-selling book The Case for Christ, chronicling his 1981 conversion from atheism to Christianity, is seated behind the wood-toned 'Faith Under Fire' anchor desk perusing his notes and practicing his introductory lines...

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Interfaith Dialogue Dinner in Atlanta Area

October 1, 2004

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/1004/02turk.html

On October 1, 2004 Atlanta Journal Constitution reported, "officials at the Istanbul Cultural Center in Norcross are sponsoring their second Interfaith Dialogue Dinner on October 21. The annual event will be an opportunity for clergy and lay people of all faiths to talk about their differences — and hopefully find new areas of common ground. The event comes...

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Department of Justice Filing Suit Against NYC Transit Authority for Religious Discrimination

September 30, 2004

Source: Newsday

Wire Service: AP

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--turbandiscrminati0930sep30,0,3374834.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

On September 30, 2004 the Associated Press reported, "the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday charging New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the nation's largest transit agency, with discriminating...

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Rowland Heights Temple Approved

September 29, 2004

Source: Pasadena Star

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2435680,00.html

On September 29, 2004 the Pasadena Star reported, "the county Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of a proposed Buddhist temple in Rowland Heights, despite pleas from opponents concerned about construction and traffic. Officials at the California Yuan Yung Buddhist Temple and Retreat Center want to move from Los Angeles and construct...

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Four Kirpan Cases Dropped Following Advocacy Efforts of Sikh Coalition

September 29, 2004

Source: Sikhnet

http://sikhnet.com/s/4kirpans

On September 29, 2004 Sikhnet reported, "prosecutors have been persuaded to drop criminal charges against Sikhs for carrying the kirpan four separate times over the past weeks. Two of the cases were initiated in Washington state. The other two were in California and Michigan. The Sikh Coalition has now successfully defended sixteen Sikhs from criminal prosecution for carrying the kirpan."

Proposal for Partnerships Between Schools and Houses of Worship in PA

September 28, 2004

Source: Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0928/p11s02-legn.html

On September 28, 2004 the Christian Science Monitor reported, "Paul Vallas has been spending Sunday mornings in the pulpit recently, but he's no preacher. As CEO of the 210,000- student School District of Philadelphia, he's been speaking at weekend services in houses of worship across Philadelphia, extolling the potential of the school-faith partnership, and asking congregants for help...

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A Campaign of Compassion Highlights Post-9/11 Hate Crimes

September 28, 2004

Source: The Daily Northwesterner

http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/09/28/415913d036305

On September 28, 2004 The Daily Northwesterner reported, "Evanston [Illinois] resident Anya Cordell is trying hard to convince people that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks killed people beyond New York City and Washington, D.C. She wants the history books of the future to 'tell the whole story,' including those of the victims of...

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Cat Stevens: "I Am a Victim of an Unjust and Arbitrary System"

September 28, 2004

Source: Beliefnet.com/Los Angeles Times

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/153/story_15359.html

On September 28, 2004 the Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed piece by Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) on the subject of his denial of entry into the U.S. After describing his detention and questioning by U.S. FBI agents, Islam writes, "God almighty! Is this the same planet I'd taken off from? I was devastated. The unbelievable thing is that only two months earlier, I had...

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Hindu Student Organization Coordinates "Gandhi Day" at Columbia University

September 27, 2004

Source: Columbia Spectator

http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/09/27/4157b128d88f5

On September 27, 2004 Columbia Spectator reported, "Columbia University students arose early on Saturday morning, inspired by the words of Mahatma Gandhi: 'You must be the change you wish to see in the world.' South Asian campus groups organized service projects in memory of Gandhi's social activism as part of the National Gandhi Day of...

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Cat Stevens Taking Legal Action After Refused Entry to U.S.

September 24, 2004

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3686992.stm

On September 24, 2004 the BBC News reported, "Yusuf Islam, the British singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, is taking legal action after he was refused entry into the US. Mr. Islam said the decision to deny him entry on grounds of national security was 'very serious and wholly unfounded' and he wants an explanation. His Washington-bound flight was diverted to Maine on Tuesday and...

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Fundraising Event for New Hindu Temple in Indianapolis

September 24, 2004

Source: The Indianapolis Star

http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/181097-2549-014.html

On September 24, 2004 The Indianapolis Star reported, "a year after the groundbreaking for Indiana's first Hindu temple, followers are organizing their second SummerFest to raise funds for the effort... There are about 3,000 Hindu families in the Indianapolis area... This year's fund-raising goal is $250,000. Phase 2 will add 13,000 square feet. Phase 3 will add exterior ornamental...

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British Foreign Secretary Criticizes U.S. For Denying Cat Stevens Entry

September 24, 2004

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1311786,00.html

On September 24, 2004 The Guardian reported, "US officials last night defended the deportation of Yusuf Islam, previously known as Cat Stevens, as it emerged that the former pop star met White House officials earlier this year. Jack Straw, the foreign secretary earlier intervened in the row by telling Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, that the decision to...

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Students Gather to Support Student Asked to Remove Kirpan in Dining Hall

September 24, 2004

Source: The Daily Californian

http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=16228

On September 24, 2004 The Daily Californian reported, "fifty students flocked to Crossroads Dining Commons [at the UNiversity of California, Berkeley,] last night to protest dining staff who tried to kick out a Sikh student for carrying his ceremonial dagger while eating his lunch last week. Dozens of students donned the daggers to rebuff the dining staff’s actions, which they called...

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Gov't to Allow Sikhs to Wear Discreet "Patka" Rather Than Turban in Schools

September 22, 2004

Source: The Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040923/main4.htm

On September 22, 2004 The Tribune reported, "Taking serious note of the resistance of the Sikh community to the ban on wearing ostentatious religious symbols in public primary and high schools in France, the French government has decided to allow Sikh boys enrolled in these schools to wear discreet ‘patka.’ Ambassador of France to India dominique Girard told TNS here on Wednesday that...

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