SrI : Dear AasthikAs : For your Information and appropraiate follow up by US Citizens . Thanks very much . V.Sadagopan ----- Original Message ----- From: Mandayam Kumar Krishnaswamy To: sgopan Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 9:08 AM Subject: Corrections to Textbooks in California regarding Hinduism Dear Shriman Sadagopan, You may consider requesting members who are US citizens to send similar appeals urgently. Dasan krishnaswamy m k ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mandayam Kumar Krishnaswamy <mkrishnaswamy@xxxxxxxxx> Date: Dec 15, 2005 6:00 AM Subject: Corrections to Textbooks in California regarding Hinduism To: "Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg" <Assemblymember.Goldberg@xxxxxxxxxx>, "Secretary Alan Bersin, CA Secretary of Education" < kheinrich@xxxxxxxxxx>, "Sue Stickel, Deputy Superintendent of Schools" <sstickel@xxxxxxxxxx>, "Karen Steentofte, Chief Counsel, State Board of Education" < ksteento@xxxxxxxxxx> Urgent Appeal to the Curriculum Commission: I understand that attempts are being made to OVERTURN the Curriculum Commission's decision of December 2, 2005 to accept the edits and corrections of the Vedic Foundation and Hindu Education Foundation. The final decision is now in the hands of the California State Board of Education members. If overturned the State of California would allow the degrogatory and inaccurate information found in all 8 textbooks on the topics of Hinduism and Aryan invasion/migration to go unchecked until 2012. While the textbooks describe the Bible, the Torah or the Koran as 'historical accounts' and Jesus, Moses and Muhammad as 'historical figures,' they irreverently describe Lord Rama and Sita as 'characters' of the 'fictional story' Ramayana, Goddess Durga and Kali as 'extremely terrible and bloodthirsty,' the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures as songs, poems, myths, and legends. While the textbooks consistently use 'God' with the capital letter G in the discussion of other religions, they use 'god or goddess' with the small letter 'g' to describe the forms of God in Hinduism and perpetuate the misconception that Hindus believe in 'many gods.' The Curriculum Commission's decision to approve the corrections of the foundations strives to remove such derogatory and prejudiced statements that are made in relation to Hinduism and its practices, and aims to achieve a balanced and respectful presentation of Hinduism similar to that which is given to other religions. Ignoring modern scholarship, the textbooks continue to teach the Aryan invasion or migration as an 'established fact' and not as a 'theory.' They fail to inform the students about the more recent research that indicates that the Aryans were the original people of India. The foundations' corrections as approved by the Curriculum Commission present both sides of the issue and remove references that teach the 'theory' as an 'established fact.' It is a matter of great concern to me and fellow members of the Hindu community that such last minute attempts are being made to denigrate Hinduism and I appeal to the Commission to accept the edits and corrections of the Vedic Foundation and Hindu Education Foundation. Thanks. Sincerely, Krishnaswamy Mandayamkumar TO Secretary Alan Bersin, CA Secretary of Education Karen Steentofte, Chief Counsel, State Board of Education Ruth Green, President, State Board of Education Sue Stickel, Deputy Superintendent of Schools Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/XUWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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