Upset Hindus ask for public apology from Canada’s ‘Winnipeg Sun’ newspaper

Ashadh Shuddha Chaturdashi

• Upset Hindus ask for public apology from Canada’s ‘Winnipeg Sun’ newspaper (6 July 09)
• FHA protests Sun Media’s denigration of Hinduism (5 July 09)

---

New York: An article “America: Hell yeah!” in July four edition of Winnipeg Sun newspaper of Canada has upset Hindus worldwide and they are asking for immediate apology by its publisher and president of its parent Quebecor.  

Objecting to the sentence “Although Bollywood makes more movies, Hollywood is still the No.1 producer of non-Vishnu related cinema”, acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Vishnu was highly revered deity and Hindus worship him. Use of word ‘Vishnu’ in this case was completely unwarranted.  Careless use of this highly sacred term hurt the Hindu sentiments.

Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that Hindus were for free speech as much as anybody else if not more. Hindu tradition encouraged peaceful debates, won on their intellectual merit. But faith was something sacred and attempts at belittling it hurt the devotees.

Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening said that it was clearly a case of irresponsible journalism, which was totally uncalled for and can be construed as a deliberate attempt to offend Hindu feelings.

Other organizations/leaders that joined Zed in this protest include Hindu Alliance of India; Shri Ramayan Pracharini Sabha; India Heritage Panel; and Dharam Loonaa, Executive Director of Universal Society of Hinduism.

Vishnu, regarded as Preserver, forms the triad of major gods of Hindu pantheon with Brahma and Shiva. Called muktidata (savior god), he is Narayana, the ever-present and all pervading. His avatars (incarnations) include Rama, Krishna, Buddha, etc. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

The Winnipeg Sun, published from Manitoba since 1980 with Kevin Klein as Publisher, is a division of the Sun Media Corporation, a Quebecor company. Canada’s largest newspaper publisher Sun Media Corporation’s over 243 publications, including The Toronto Sun, reach over 10.5 million readers weekly. Quebecor, with Pierre Karl Péladeau as President and Jean Neveu as Board Chairman, is one of Canada’s largest media companies.

---

FHA protests Sun Media’s denigration of Hinduism

July 5, 2009

Ashadh Shuddha Trayodashi

New York: In 4th of July 09 Winnipeg Sun’s online edition’s article “America, hell Yeah!”

(http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/world/2009/07/04/10022491-sun.html),

there is a denigrating reference to us Hindus’ revered Lord Vishnu, "Although Bollywood makes more movies, Hollywood is still the No.1 producer of non-Vishnu related cinema."
 
The article uses irresponsible terminology in a vague attempt to convey sense. The word ‘Vishnu’ connotes a sacred meaning for millions of Hindus across the world and its use in this case is completely unwarranted. Careless use of such terms can in fact be construed as a deliberate attempt to offend Hindu sentiments.
 
What is the purpose of such a statement? It is unclear whether the author’s remark is intended to insult Hindus or Americans, or simply provide a sense of comparison between film industries.
 
We urge Sun Media to apologize to the worldwide Hindu community for this denigrating reference to Lord Vishnu.
 
Sincerely,
On behalf of Forum for Hindu Awakening
www.ForumforHinduAwakening.org 

Below is the detail article

America: Hell yeah!
By SUN MEDIA

Last Updated: 4th July 2009, 5:18am Happy 233rd birthday, America! Sorry we didn’t get you anything, but thanks to that global economic crisis you started, we’re a little strapped for cash lately.

While today is a day south of the border for eating hotdogs, shooting off fireworks (and fingers) and chanting "U.S.A, U.S.A!", perhaps the rest of us should also

consider celebrating. After all, without all of America’s gifts to the world — many of which we have listed on this page — our way of life just wouldn’t be the same.

—

American export Also known as … Pros Cons Rating

Coca-Cola

Coke; Yum Yum; Pemberton’s French Wine Coca; the Black Death

It’s sweet, fizzy and it’s made with Peruvian coca leaves; Diet Coke and Mentos go great together.

Diabetes, hyperactivity, tooth decay, obesity … and worst of all, New Coke.

U.S. dollars

Bucks; greenbacks; Washingtons; Benjamins

World’s dominant currency; adopted as legal tender in several countries and pegged to the currency of several others.

It all looks the same! How about a little colour?

McDonald’s

Mickey D’s; Maccy D’s (in Scotland); muc dong dong (in Hong Kong); Rotten Ronnie’s

It’s cheap, it’s fast and it tastes (and smells) good … especially the fries; 47 million customers a day can’t be wrong.

Too much makes you fat, gives you zits and makes you sick (if you believe Super Size Me); Ronald McDonald is creepy.

Hollywood

Tinsel Town; Dream Factory; Crap Factory

Although Bollywood makes more movies, Hollywood is still the No.1 producer of non-Vishnu related cinema.

Director Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, Transformers) is somehow still allowed to work in Hollywood.

Blue jeans

Denims, dungarees; cowboy pants (Denmark); farmer trousers (Hungary)

Once they gained worldwide popularity in the 1970s, U.S. jeans were treated like currency in Russia.

Their roots can be traced to France (denim = de Nimes), Italy (jeans = Genoa) and India (Dhunga = dungarees).

War

Afghanistan, Grenada, Iraq, Vietnam, Banana Wars, War of 1812 …

Morally ambiguous conflicts make for great films and TV shows: Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, In the Valley of Elah, Generation Kill, Delta Farce …

Heartbreak Ridge wasn’t very good; hundreds of thousands of slain soldiers and civilians also not good.

Mormons

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

With more than 13 million adherents it’s one of the world’s fastest-growing faiths; they keep excellent genealogical records; HBO’s Big Love is a good TV show.

Glen Beck; Ted Bundy; that dork from Napoleon Dynamite.

Source: www.ForumforHinduAwakening.org 

Also See

1. Protest against defamation of Hindu Deities & Icons
2. Protest against NCERT Textbooks