In a 73-to-25 vote Thursday, the state’s House of Representatives passed a bill that will lift a quarter-century ban in public schools that some believe is unique to Alabama. Yoga was forbidden by the Alabama Board of Education in 1993 after opposition by conservative groups over its Hindu roots.
Amid reports of racism and violence against Asian Americans and other minorities, the measure is a positive step, said Nikunj Trivedi, president of the Coalition of Hindus of North America. He said practicing yoga, which many non-Hindus use for health benefits, is cultural appreciation, not cultural appropriation.
“Yes, it has roots in Hinduism, and it’s a Hindu practice, but it’s a gift Hindus have shared with the world,” Trivedi said.
However, the Alabama bill, Trivedi said, does not go far enough. Chanting and teaching Sanskrit phrases such as the greeting “namaste,” which means “I bow to you,” remains prohibited.
OMG!
ReplyDeleteAll this is so ridiculous.
Again a misunderstanding of another religion and people with minds shut.
Namaste in Japanese means «I salute you» and namaskar in Hindu means «I salute the Divine in you».
Maybe some Christians should learn more of these habits.
For the Yoga for us it's just another way to relaxe and meditate and we don't ever put a religious stuff on it.
JiEL - Evangelicals don't know their asses from a hole in the ground.
ReplyDeleteCertain things in the world make me smile (not to cry!)
ReplyDeleteDah-Dah-Dah DUMB! I can't believe this is the sort of crap anyone thinks is important. So, stupid. Thanks for sharing, Rick. No wonder the south sucks.
ReplyDelete28 years of such an idiotic legal ban? For a second I wondered if it was 1st of April. Sadly not.
ReplyDeleteOf course I am happy for Alabama students, but a slight bitterness remains as there was still more than a quarter of voters who went against the amendment of that law. No wonder you had to end your post with a very telling fact.
uptonking - Dumb is the definitive word.
ReplyDeleteBatRedneck - Thank you for noticing that bit of info I added at the end.
The ignorance there knows no bounds.
ReplyDeleteRad - That might work.
ReplyDelete