Civic

H. Res 234 Condemning Bigotry against Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh Americans

May 15, 2003

Source: House.gov

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh09_kaptur/bigotry.html

On May 15, 2003 House.gov reported that "Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur today joined Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives condemning violence and bigotry against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans and Sikh Americans. Kaptur’s bill also calls upon law enforcement authorities to aid on the prevention and...

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Mistrust Hinders FBI and CIA Recruitment of Arab-Americans

May 14, 2003

Source: Newhouse News Service

http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/mccutcheon051403.html

On May 14, 2003 Newhouse News Service reported that "the FBI is intensely recruiting Arab-Americans and Arabic speakers to demonstrate the bureau's commitment to diversity and to help target surveillance on terrorist activities without spying on innocent citizens... The CIA, which also has been looking for linguists and other Arab-American professionals, has launched its own...

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Challenging the Notion of an Evangelical Christian America

May 14, 2003

Source: Orlando Sentinel

http://www.OrlandoSentinel.com/

On May 14, 2003 the Orlando Sentinel reported that "a Unitarian minister Tuesday challenged the notion that America is an evangelical Christian nation, calling on local religious leaders to revive a group to promote tolerance and civility... 'We are not basically an evangelical Christian country,' said the Rev. John Higgins, president of the Florida chapter of The Interfaith Alliance. Higgins was among five speakers at the University...

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Debate over Proposed Muslim Meat-Processing Plant

May 13, 2003

Source: Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3879444.html

On May 13, 2003 the Star Tribune reported that "a proposal to build Minnesota's first Muslim meat-processing plant is drawing protest from Rice County residents who fear it could damage the environment, lower property values and increase traffic to their rural area... But those may not be the only issues that will bring opponents to a County Board meeting tonight in Faribault, according to the...

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Schools Declare Allowances for Prayer as Federally Mandated

May 13, 2003

Source: Plain Dealer

On May 13, 2003 the Plain Dealer reported that "threatened with the loss of federal money, the vast majority of the nation's schools have declared that they allow prayer wherever and however the Constitution permits... For the first time, federal law requires school districts to prove that they have no policy stifling court-protected prayer by students or teachers. Those that don't comply risk losing a share of elementary and secondary school money totaling $23 billion... Initial responses, due April 15, showed some states had dozens of...

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Nation's Largest Sikh Temple to Open in San Jose, CA

May 12, 2003

Source: Mercury News

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/5841336.htm

On May 12, 2003 the Mercury News reported that "the nation's largest Sikh temple soon will open atop a San Jose [CA] hillside, a 94,000 square-foot complex that will proclaim the local community's ties to India and its commitment to Silicon Valley... After a decade of navigating city politics, fending off a lawsuit and working with angry neighborhood groups to win approval for the $20...

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Buddhist Tradition of Releasing Animals Concern Naturalists.

May 11, 2003

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-thureachq3278122may11,0,5992717.story

On May 11, 2003 Newsday reported that a "phenomenon that has begun to concern naturalists is a Buddhist tradition of releasing animals (often turtles) which might otherwise end up sold for food or in captivity. Releasing or freeing the animal is done out of compassion, said Gen Kelsang Sangkyong, a Buddhist monk and teacher at the temple New...

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Interfaith Ohio Group Continues to Pray for Peace

May 11, 2003

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 11, 2003 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "about 150 adults and children of different faiths gathered in the basement of Trinity Episcopal Church yesterday afternoon to pray, enjoy music and affirm their commitment to peace... 'Peace is more than just an end to war,' said Joe Keehner of the Grassroots Congress, speaking during the Ohio Peace Rally... One of the most troubling issues, they said, is the continued U.S. presence in Iraq... Gilly Running, a Lakota-Sioux medicine man who led a native prayer yesterday...

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Utah Schools Debate over Public Prayer During High School Graduation

May 10, 2003

Source: Deseret News

On May 10, 2003 Deseret News reported that "for the record, the student's... public prayer at a high school graduation... could be legal... But only within a slim set of legal standards... And that has some Utah school bosses, faced with balancing freedom of and freedom from religion, wishing graduation prayers would simply disappear. That's even though the U.S. Department of Education is offering specific guidance on how to allow such speech under the No Child Left Behind Act... The Supreme Court has struck down school-sponsored...

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Update: Debates Continue over The Workplace Religious Freedom Act

May 10, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/la-me-religwork10may10,0,2377419.story

On May 10, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "a broad coalition of religious groups is pushing a bill that would protect religious expression in the workplace, but civil liberties groups are concerned that the bill could be used to advance on-the-job proselytizing... The Workplace Religious Freedom Act, introduced recently by Sens. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and John...

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Buddhism's Growing Popularity

May 10, 2003

Source: The Charlotte Observer

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/living/religion/5829292.htm

On May 10, 2003 The Charlotte Observer reported that "Buddhism.. has attracted attention through the testimony of rock and soul diva Tina Turner. Turner's endorsement appears to be having its biggest impact in the African American community... For example, it was Turner who influenced Cheryl McIntosh to turn to Buddhism. A few years ago, McIntosh, a black...

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Hawaiian Buddhists Celebrate Buddha's Birthday

May 10, 2003

Source: Honolulu Advertiser

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/May/10/il/il41a.html

On May 10, 2003 the Honolulu Advertiser reported that "about a thousand Buddhists of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Samoan and Taiwanese ancestry are expected to turn out today to watch a parade from 'A'ala Park through Chinatown [in Hawai]... At the end of the parade, people come to a statue of the baby Buddha to pour water or tea over it. That, Lui explains,...

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Zoroastrian Temple to Open in North Virginia

May 10, 2003

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33351-2003May9.html

On May 10, 2003 The Washington Post reported that "Washington's small but growing Zoroastrian community will add to the area's array of international religious buildings with a Persian-style temple... At long last, more than 150 Zoroastrian families will have a permanent place for worship, religious education, initiation ceremonies, funerals and weddings, [...

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