“One who sees the Dhamma sees me. One who sees
me sees the Dhamma.” Buddha
Budh is Wisdom
Buddha
is a Title Like a President or Prime Minister of a Country-meaning- Any
One with an Exalted, Blessed, Noble and an Awakened Mighty Great Mind
with full Awareness
Dhamma is the Practice of His Teachings
There are five nikayas (collections) of suttas:
The Vinaya Pitaka, the first division of the Tipitaka,
is the textual framework upon which the monastic community (Sangha) is
built. It includes not only the rules governing the life of every
Theravada bhikkhu (monk) and bhikkhuni (nun), but also a
host of procedures and conventions of etiquette that support harmonious
relations, both among the monastics themselves, and between the
monastics and their lay supporters, upon whom they depend for all their
material needs.
When the Buddha first established the Sangha, the community
initially lived in harmony without any codified rules of conduct. As
the Sangha gradually grew in number and evolved into a more complex
society, occasions inevitably arose when a member would act in an
unskillful way. Whenever one of these cases was brought to the Buddha’s
attention, he would lay down a rule establishing a suitable punishment
for the offense, as a deterrent to future misconduct. The Buddha’s
standard reprimand was itself a powerful corrective:
It is not fit, foolish man, it is not becoming, it is not proper, it
is unworthy of a recluse, it is not lawful, it ought not to be done.
How could you, foolish man, having gone forth under this Dhamma and
Discipline which are well-taught, [commit such and such offense]?… It
is not, foolish man, for the benefit of un-believers, nor for the
increase in the number of believers, but, foolish man, it is to the
detriment of both unbelievers and believers, and it causes wavering in
some.
— The Book of the Discipline, Part I, by I.B. Horner (London: Pali Text Society, 1982), pp. 36-37.
The monastic tradition and the rules upon which it is built are
sometimes naïvely criticized — particularly here in the West — as
irrelevant to the “modern” practice of Buddhism. Some see the Vinaya as
a throwback to an archaic patriarchy, based on a hodge-podge of ancient
rules and customs — quaint cultural relics that only obscure the
essence of “true” Buddhist practice. This misguided view overlooks one
crucial fact: it is thanks to the unbroken lineage of monastics who
have consistently upheld and protected the rules of the Vinaya for
almost 2,600 years that we find ourselves today with the luxury of
receiving the priceless teachings of Dhamma. Were it not for the
Vinaya, and for those who continue to keep it alive to this day, there
would be no Buddhism.
It helps to keep in mind that the name the Buddha gave to the spiritual path he taught was “Dhamma-vinaya” — the Doctrine (Dhamma) and Discipline (Vinaya)
— suggesting an integrated body of wisdom and ethical training. The
Vinaya is thus an indispensable facet and foundation of all the
Buddha’s teachings, inseparable from the Dhamma, and worthy of study by
all followers — lay and ordained, alike. Lay practitioners will find in
the Vinaya Pitaka many valuable lessons concerning human nature,
guidance on how to establish and maintain a harmonious community or
organization, and many profound teachings of the Dhamma itself. But its
greatest value, perhaps, lies in its power to inspire the layperson to
consider the extraordinary possibilities presented by a life of true
renunciation, a life lived fully in tune with the Dhamma.
Contents ![[go up]](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/icon/scrollup.gif)
- I. Suttavibhanga — the basic rules of conduct (Patimokkha) for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, along with the “origin story” for each one.
- II. Khandhaka
- A. Mahavagga
— in addition to rules of conduct and etiquette for the Sangha, this
section contains several important sutta-like texts, including an
account of the period immediately following the Buddha’s Awakening, his
first sermons to the group of five monks, and stories of how some of
his great disciples joined the Sangha and themselves attained Awakening. - B. Cullavagga
— an elaboration of the bhikkhus’ etiquette and duties, as well as the
rules and procedures for addressing offences that may be committed
within the Sangha.
- A. Mahavagga
- III. Parivara — A
recapitulation of the previous sections, with summaries of the rules
classified and re-classified in various ways for instructional purposes.
The Suttavibhanga contains the basic training rules for bhikkhus and
bhikkhunis, along with the “origin story” for each one. These rules are
summarized in the Patimokkha, and amount to 227 rules for the bhikkhus, 311 for the bhikkhunis. The Patimokkkha rules are grouped as follows:
- Parajika: rules entailing expulsion from the Sangha (Defeat) (4 for bhikkhus, 8 for bhikkhunis)
- Sanghadisesa: rules entailing an initial and subsequent meeting of the Sangha (13, 17)
- Aniyata (indefinite) rules (2, 0)
- Nissaggiya pacittiya: rules entailing forfeiture and confession (30, 30)
- Pacittiya: rules entailing confession (92, 166)
- Patidesaniya: rules entailing acknowledgement (4, 8)
- Sekhiya: rules of training (75, 75)
- Adhikarana samatha: rules for settling disputes (7, 7)
Summaries and anthologies based on the Suttavibhanga:
- The Bhikkhus’ Rules — A Guide for Laypeople: The Theravadin Buddhist Monk’s Rules Compiled and Explained, by Bhikkhu Ariyesako.
- The Bhikkhuni Patimokkha: The Bhikkhunis’ Code of Discipline, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans. A concise summary of the bhikkhuni Patimokkha rules.
- The Buddhist Monastic Code, Volume I: The Patimokkha Training Rules Translated and Explained, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. This book provides an in-depth examination of each of the rules.
- Introduction to the Patimokkha Training Rules, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- The Patimokkha: The Bhikkhus’ Code of Discipline, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans. A concise summary of the bhikkhu Patimokkha rules.
|
Sunday, November 04, 2008
Americans White!
DIXVILLE NOTCH, New Hampshire (AP):
Obama defeated Republican John McCain 15-6. Independent Ralph Nader was also on the ballot, but received no votes.
The first voter, following a tradition
Town Clerk Rick Erwin says the northern President George W. Bush won the vote in Dixville Notch in 2004 on the way to his re-election.
AP – Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a rally Obama, promise change on election eveBarack Obama radiated confidence. Monday as the presidential rivals reached for the finish line of atwo-year marathon with a burst of campaigning across battlegrounds from the Atlantic Coast to Arizona. “We are one day away from change in America,” said Obama, a Democrat Obama led in virtually all the pre-election polls in a race where economic concerns dominated. While the overall number of early votes was unknown, statistics showed Democrats also anticipated gains in the House and in the Senate. Obama and McCain acknowledged the Democrats’ advantage in the presidential race. The two rivals both began their days in Florida, a traditionally Republican state with 27 electoral votes where polls make it close. Obama The “She died peacefully in her sleep with my sister at her side,” he McCain and his wife issued a statement of condolence. One day before the election, no battleground state was left unattended. But Virginia, where no Democrat has won in 40 years, and Ohio, Democratic volunteers in Unwilling to concede anything, McCain’s campaign filed a lawsuit in Richmond seeking to force election officials to count late-arriving ballots from members of the armed forces overseas. No hearing was immediately scheduled. Several Lori Huffman, 38, a supervisor at UPS Inc., took the day off to “This is happening all over the state, from Cleveland to Dayton,” said Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat trying to deliver his state to Obama. Obama hoped so, after more than a year building an elaborate The Democrat flew from Florida to North Carolina to Virginia, Twenty-one months after he launched his campaign, he allowed, “You know. I feel pretty peaceful … I gotta say.”
On a syndicated radio program, If wanting it were all that mattered, the race would be a toss-up. McCain, behind in the polls, set out on a grueling run through
The surrogate campaigners included Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democrats and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Not so, President Bush. Deeply unpopular, the man who won the White House twice was out of public view, an effort to help McCain. Palin was racing through five Bush states Monday — Ohio, Joe Biden, Obama’s running mate, campaigned in Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. “We are on the cusp of a new brand of leadership,” he assured supporters. Biden didn’t say so, but he was as close to guaranteed a victory
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said her aim is to make Uttar Pradesh an Uttam and Khushhal Pradesh. Make me PM Mayawati Can do a Barack Obama since Obama is doing a Kanshiram by asking for a Vote and a Note
 AIMING HIGH: Mayawati has been building a coalition that can break the ceiling. By late evening today, the world will know that next President of In about six months, the Jambudvipa, that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath electorate will be asked to give its Mr. Obama has faced a series of challenges over the last two years. Mr. Obama assiduously built his image as a politician who has a grip When Mr. Obama was engaged in a bruising battle for candidacy with Countering, the Illinois Senator and his campaign managers brought In Jambudvipa, that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath, besides the caste issue, Ms Mayawati has been trying to BSP supremo does not brook any And, if one looks back at the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the BSP Ms Mayawati has begun articulating the party’s standpoint Second phase that
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New Delhi (PTI): With security during
the upcoming Assembly polls to six states becoming a major worry, Chief
Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami on Sunday said muscle and money
power were becoming a hindrance for free and fair electoral process.
Referring to the huge number of
security forces being deployed in poll-bound states ahead of voting,
Gopalaswami said that India, being a large and an old democracy, should
be in a position to hold elections in a peaceful manner without the
need for any security arrangements.
“Today muscle and money power are a big
concern for free and fair elections. To deal with the muscle, we have
to deploy more police and security forces, so that voters can use their
(right to) franchise in peaceful manner,” the CEC said, while speaking
at a function organised by International Goodwill Society of India
here.
Recalling Uttar Pradesh assembly polls
last year, Gopalaswami said the election commission had to mobilise a
whopping 4.55 lakh security personnel to ensure peaceful and fair
polls.
The CEC, however, noted that compulsion
of holding elections under excessive security arrangements was not a
good sign for a democratic country like India.
“Conducting an election at gun point
does not really give credit to our democracy, but it has happened,” he
said, adding that things were improving gradually.
He, meanwhile, said that the elaborate
force deployment has also helped in controlling the election-related
crimes and infused a sense of security among the voters.
For instance, in Uttar Pradesh 180
election-related murders were reported in 1991. The figure came down to
18 during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections in the State, while no such
crime was reported during the run up to the assembly elections last
year, Gopalaswami said.
Expressing anguish over the declining
polling percentages, which weakened people’s authority to choose a
representative in a constituency, he suggested that 50 per cent of
votes should be compulsory for a candidate to be declared the winner in
an election to the legislatures.
“The voting percentage in several
states is as low as 50 per cent. That too is being divided among the
candidates leading to a situation, where only 15 to 20 per cent of
votes are needed by a candidate to win the election,” he pointed out.
“How does one claim to represent the
voters, after bagging only 15 per cent of votes to win in a
constituency,” the CEC quipped.
He also underlined the growing
disinterest of the urban voters in using their right to franchise. “The
statistics have indicated a trend that the more educated you are, the
less you are tend to vote…more and more urbanites, who talk much
about democracy, are staying away from polling booths,” Gopalaswami
said.
Citing the example of urban voter
turn-out in Lucknow during 2007 assembly polls, he said, “Only 47 per
cent polling was recorded in Lucknow, of which four constituencies
witnessed less than 30 per cent polling.”
Besides, the CEC said, the increasing
use of money power to influence voters was posing a greater challenge
before the Election Commission in its objective to conduct a free and
fair elections.
In Karnataka, which went into polls
this year, Rs 45 crore was spent on various campaigning means to woo
the voters. The poll spending involved distributing liquor, freebies,
and even cash to the voters, he added.
The CEC said the commission was
determined to organise a peaceful and fair elections in the Madhya
Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Mizoram.
“To check bogus voting, the commission
has decided to issue electors photo identity cards, which are being
distributed in all these states and will be distributed to all voters
of the country before 2009 Lok Shabha elections,” he said.
Three Baskets Study Circle suggests the following:
As
per the Constitution of India all the citizens above 18 years must have
voting rights. As on today more than 40% voters names are not included
in the voter’s list. Till such time all eligible voters’ names find
their names in the voter’s list, the CEC must postpone all the
elections. In other words before any election are conducted all the
citizens must and should have voting rights. The statics of number of
eligible voters must be published in the media and the CEC’s portal.
Candidate’s
Income tax returns and their source of income must be published before
filing their names and during the scrutinity of papers, concerned area
IT officers included in the Election Committee.
Tehsildars
and Social Welfare officers must be include in the Election Committee
during scrutiny to ensure that bougus caste certificates are not
produced in Resered Constituencies for .SC/STs
There
must be total transparency with respect to the Electronic Voting
Machines and the source code of the Chips used in them. Only polling
agents with such knowledge must be permitted inside the polling booths
during elections.
U.P. countdown for RS polls begins
Atiq Khan
BSP meet on Tuesday may finalise candidates
LUCKNOW: The countdown for the biennial polls to the 10 Rajya Sabha
seats from Uttar Pradesh began on Monday, with the Election Commission
of India issuing a notification. The polls will be held on November 25.
The State’s ruling Bahujan Samaj Party is set to win the highest
number of seats considering that it has 200-plus MLAs in the Assembly.
As 36-37 first preference votes are required for a candidate to be
declared winner, the ruling party is likely to win five seats.
Chief Minister and BSP president Mayawati convened a meeting of the
party MLAs for Tuesday to finalise the strategy for the elections. The
names of the candidates are expected to be finalised at the meeting.
Those whose six-year term in the Rajya Sabha expires on November 25,
2008 are: BJP president Rajnath Singh; BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas
Naqvi; Samajwadi Party national general secretary Amar Singh; Shahid
Siddiqui, who has joined the BSP; Abu Aasim Azmi (SP); Uday Pratap
Singh (SP); Isam Singh, Gandhi Azad and Vir Singh (all BSP); and the
former Union Minister, Akhilesh Chandra Das, who was elected on the
Congress ticket in 2002. Dr. Das, who now calls himself Akhilesh Das
Gupta, joined the BSP in May this year and has been declared the
party’s candidate from Lucknow for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Mr. Siddiqui, who was elected on the SP ticket in 2002, has been
declared the BSP candidate from Bijnor for the 2009 Lok Sabha poll
http://ghulammuhammed.wordpress.com/
GhulamMuhammed.Mumbai
COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF INDIAN MUSLIMS, representing all major
Indian Muslim organizations organized a PEOPLES’ CONVENTION today,
Monday, 3rd November, 2008 on “Restore the Constitution; Make a
communalism- and terror-free India at Delhi
COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF INDIAN MUSLIMS,
representing all major Indian Muslim organizations organized a PEOPLES’
CONVENTION today, Monday, 3rd November, 2008 on “Restore the Constitution; Make a communalism- and terror-free India at Delhi.
Speakers included Shri Deve Gowda,
former Prime Minister of India, Shri AB Bardhan, General Secretary,
Communist Party of India, Shri D Raja and Shri Atul Anjan, secretaries
of the Communist Party of India, Shri Sita Ram Yachuri,
MP and leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Shri Shahid
Siddiqui, MP and General Secretary, Bahujan Samaj Party, Ms Seema
Mustafa, senior journalist, Shri Tej Singh, President, Ambedkar Samaj
Party, Shri Arshad Azmi, President, National Loktantrik Party, Shri
Muhammad Sulaiman, President, Indian National League, Maulana Abdul
Hameed Nomani, Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-e Hind and Shri BishiruddinSharqi,
President, Students Islamic Organisation. The conference was presided
over by Maulana Jalaluddin Ansar Umari, President, Jamaat-e Islami Hind
and started with a keynote address by Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President,
All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat.
Following are the resolutions passed by the conference:
PEOPLES’ CONVENTION
On “Restore the Constitution;
Make a communalism- and terror-free India
Monday, 3rd November, 2008
Held by the
COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF INDIAN MUSLIMS
At Aiwan-e Ghalib, Mata Sundri Lane, Near ITO, New Delhi
RESOLUTIONS
1. This People’s Convention, representing all
major Indian Muslim organizations and secular forces in the country,
resolves to work for the restoration of the rule of law in our country
and to make it free from the scourge of terrorism and communalism which
threaten our secular and constitutional framework.
2. The Convention reiterates that Islam and
Muslims are fundamentally opposed to terrorism as Islam and its holy
book, The Qur’an, categorically forbid killing anyone unjustly and by
unjust means. The Indian Muslim community through umpteen conferences
and religious scholars and institutions has issued clear fatwas denouncing
terrorism as an act totally forbidden in Islam. The Muslim community is
opposed to terrorism whatever its source and shape.
3. We declare that the Indian Muslim community
and all secular forces are contributing to usher in a terror-free India
where all communities and segments of society may flourish and
contribute to the progress and welfare of the country. We believe that
existing laws are sufficient to deal with the scourge of terrorism.
4. We clearly reject giving unlimited authority
to the police. We, in particular, reject the legal sanctity to
“confessions” given to the police and making bail applications more
difficult for those accused of terrorism. No other law in India makes
“confessions” to the police admissible in courts and the anti-terror
law too must not be an exception. The Indian police is highly
discredited in the eyes of the public because it normally resorts to
third degree torture which along with fake encounters, kidnappings and
illegal detention amounts to State Terrorism. In all terrorism cases,
where the police fails to file charge-sheets within a reasonable
time-frame like six months, the accused should automatically get an
automatic bail.
5. We make it clear that the style of provocative
searches and encounters is unacceptable in a democratic society. It
always smacks of a preplanned conspiracy and betrays the police’s
inability or unwillingness to face courts of law. More specifically, we
reject the Batla-house style of encounter killings. Since
there is widespread skepticism about the police story we demand a
high-level judicial enquiry into the Batla House encounter so that all
facts may come out.
6. This convention registers its displeasure at
the print and electronic media which blindly reproduces leaks
attributed to unknown security agencies and starts media trial by
blaming the Muslim community minutes after any terrorist incident. This
leads to instability in the country and ill-will towards the whole
Muslim community.
7. This convention is relieved to note that at
last our fears have been vindicated that a large number of terrorist
blasts were conducted by Hindutva terrorist organizations like VHP,
Bajrang Dal, Shri Ram Sena, Hindu Munnani, Hindu Jagran Manch, Yuva
Hindu Vahini, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, ABVP and
Durga Vahini etc, which are targeting Muslim and Christian communities
in a number of states. There should not be double standards when
dealing with terrorists.
8. Registering our strong displeasure at the
utter disinterest shown by the security agencies towards umpteen cases
of Hindutva terrorism unearthed during the last few years at places
like Nanded, Tenkasi, Kanpur, Thane, Panvel etc., we demand that no
partiality should be shown in the investigations to uncover the tip of
the iceberg which has come out as a result recent investigations and
blasts in which these criminal elements were involved. Any laxity or
politicization of this issue will only prolong the agony of the country
and make the fight against terrorism that much more difficult.
9. This convention registers its deep concern
that senior retired as well as serving army officers are involved in
Hindutva terrorism. The Union Government should take serious note of
this issue and form a committee to purge the army of such dangerous
elements who are a threat to national security.
10. This convention realizes that Hindutva
elements through their acts of terrorism and communal riots aim at
polarizing the Indian society on communal lines in order to reap
political benefit which is reprehensible and condemnable. We ask all
sections of society to oppose this threat to our communal harmony.
11. This convention appeals to the people of all
faiths and beliefs to unite and strengthen the secular and
constitutional framework of the country.
Mujtaba Farooq, Convenor, Coordination Committee & Secretary, Jamaat-e Islami Hind
Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat
Ml. Abdul Hameed Nomani, Acting General Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-e Hind
Ml. Abdul Wahab Khilji, Asstt General Secretary, All India Milli Council
Ml. Mahmoodul Hasan, President, Jamiat Ahl-e Hadees, Delhi Pradesh
Dr Taslim Rahmani, President, Muslim Political Council
Ml. Zeeshan Hidayati, Chairman, Majlis-e Fikr-o Amal
Irfanullah Khan, Chairman Jamia Nagar Coordination Committee
Ml. Jalal Haidar Naqvi, Secretary, Majlis-e Ulama-e Islam
Tags: AB Bardhan - General Secretary - Communist Party of Ind, Aiwan-e Ghalib, All India Milli Council, ALL INDIA MUSLIM MAJLIS-E-MUSHAWARAT, Arshad Azmi - President - National Loktantrik Party, Bashiruddin Sharqi - President - Student Islamic Organi, Co-ordination Committee of Indian Muslims, D. Raja - secretary - Communist Party of India, Deve Gowda - Former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan - President, Irfanullah Khan - Chairman Jamia Nagar Coordination Com, Make a communalism and terror free India, Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani - Secretary - Jamiat Ulama-, Maulana Abdul Wahab Khilji - Asstt General Secretary, Maulana Jalal Haider Naqvi - Secretary- Majlis-e Ulama-, Maulana Jalaluddin Ansar Umari - President - Jamate-e I, Maulana Mahmoodul Hasan - President- Jamiat Ahle- Hadee, Mohammed Sulaiman - President - Indian National League, Ms. Seema Mustafa - Senior Journalist, Mujtaba Farooq -Convenor - Coordination Committee and S, People’s Covention, Restore Indian Constitution, Shahid Siddiqui - MP and General Secretary - Bahujan Sa, Sitaram Yachuri -MP and leader of the Communist Pary of, Tej Singh - President - Ambedkar Samaj Party, Zeeshan Hidayati- Chairman - Majlis-e Fikr-o Amal
Basically it is very important to shed fear. To shed fear one has to
practice loving kindness and compassion towards all living beings, learn the
art of giving, be honest and treat all human beings as ones own brothers and
sisters and always be calm, quiet, alert, attentive and have equanimity of mind
with a clear understanding that nothing is permanent and that is wisdom. After
all more than 98 percent of the population are the Original Inhabitants of
Jambudvipa, that is, the Great Prabuddha bharath. 80 percent of the rest 2
percent Central Asian Invaders are living below the poverty line even after 60
years of
This is because the ruling castes did not bother to provide free education as
enshrined in the constitution. Hurdles were put in the name of merit to all
those who with great odds and difficulties wished to pursue higher studies. The
ruling castes believed in first, second, third, fourth and human beings with no
souls. They believe that it is the prerogative of the first rate soul to be
educated and corner all the wealth of the nation. Equal distribution of wealth
was not done. Lands were not distributed to the actual tillers and healthy
seeds were not given. Loans were not distributed to all those who wanted to do
business. The Government Employees are corrupt and did not do their work
properly. They believe that they could do anything with the human beings whom
they declared had no souls. They are the majority of this great land. They call
them the SC/STs, OBCs and Religious Minorities, though they are the Original
Inhabitants. Hence, large number of terrorist blasts were conducted by Hindutva
terrorist organizations like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shri Ram Sena, Hindu Munnani,
Hindu Jagran Manch, Yuva Hindu Vahini, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti,
ABVP and Durga Vahini etc, which are targeting Muslim and Christian
communities in a number of states. And disinterest shown by the security
agencies towards umpteen cases of Hindutva terrorism unearthed during the last
few years at places like Nanded, Tenkasi, Kanpur, Thane, Panvel etc.,
partiality were shown in the investigations to uncover the tip of the iceberg
which has come out as a result recent investigations and blasts in which these
criminal elements were involved. Any laxity or politicization of this issue is
prolonging the agony of the country.
Hindutva elements through their acts of terrorism and communal riots aim
at polarizing the Indian society on communal lines in order to reap political
benefit which is reprehensible and condemnable. All sections of society must
oppose this threat to our communal harmony.
People of all faiths and beliefs to unite and strengthen
the secular and constitutional framework of the country and strive to bring the
change through ballet in a most peaceful way. Bahujan Samaj Party could be the
answer.
US elections, projections favor Obama
City (Missouri): With less than 75 hours left before the United States
votes to choose its next president, Americans are on the edge of their
seats. “I wish this election was over already. The
tension is killing me,” said Missouri businessman Emmet Pierson, who
like many African Americans still can’t quite believe one of his own is
the front runner.
White suburban mother Laura Ziegler admitted,
“In the past, no one paid too much attention to an election. This is
one everyone’s talking about.”
Election administrators,
expecting a history-breaking turnout, have been urging Americans to
take advantage of early voting. Left wing and right wing radio talk show
hosts were exhorting their flock on how to avoid “four-hour booth
waits”.
Even in the relatively relaxed US heartland, the
adrenaline is rising. In immaculate suburbs, one can see Obama yard
signs defaced with communist hammer-and-sickles and McCain buntings
covered over with swastikas.
Everything points to a Barack Obama
victory. Totting up just the deep blue states — the colour used to
indicate strong Democratic support — gives him the 270 electoral
college votes he needs to secure the election.
But his chief
strategist, David Axelrod, warned the faithful against complacency.
Obama ends virtually every speech with an exhortation: “Make sure you
vote.” Democratic strategy depends a lot on high turnout, especially
among minorities and the young. Both groups are wildly pro-Obama but
fickle about turning up at the booths.
Republicans are pinning
hopes on the roughly 7 per cent undecided voters. Democratic pollster
Craig Charney pointed out that the eight social segments, like elderly
women, with the highest uncertainty factors are all Republican-leaning.
They are also prone to pay attention to Obama’s skin colour.
Even
the total defection of these groups would not be enough to save John
McCain. But it would make Obama’s margin razor-thin. That would open
the door for small factors tipping the scales.
These could be a sudden downward tick in a sub-trend — like increasing Joe the Plumber-inspired fears about Obama’s tax plans.
It
seems unlikely. McCain’s campaign is running on empty. It is denying
its own workers airplane tickets and hotel compensation. Both
candidates are confining their travels to about a dozen swing states
and buying all the local TV time they can. The difference is that Obama
is outspending McCain 10 to 1 in some places. The presidency is now
Obama’s to lose.
Multi-millionaires also back Obama ahead of election
By Liliana Martinez-Scarpellini Los Angeles | November 03, 2008 11:09:23 AM IST
Barack Obama has promised to increase taxes if he becomes president
of the United States. But the really rich want change and many of them
have said they are voting for the senator from Illinois.
Despite
the tradition that says the country’s wealthy tend to favour the
Republican Party, there has been an unexpected swing ahead of Tuesday’s
election that favours the black Democratic candidate.
For starters, the country’s two richest men, Warren Buffett
and Bill Gates, have already said they will vote for Obama. According
to Forbes magazine, Gates - worth an estimated $55.5 billion -
contributed $2,300 to the Democrat’s campaign in the primaries.
Like the founder of software giant Microsoft,
Buffett - the richest man in the world, worth some $58 billion and who
is also an advisor to the Democratic candidate - donated $4,600 to
Obama’s campaign, the maximum amount allowed by law.
In an
interview with financial news channel CNBC, the investor and CEO of the
holding Berkshire Hathaway, confirmed he prefers Obama to McCain
because he can identify himself better with the Democrat’s proposed
economic policies.
“(McCain) has too many ideas that are
different than I do, particular in terms of what I would call social
justice,” Buffett noted.
He supports Obama despite the Democrat’s
intention, should he become president, to increase taxes on five
percent of the richest US citizens. Obama has jokingly referred to his “friend Warren” as someone who can pay a little more tax without it changing his life.
However, the wealthy are not unanimous in their support for Obama.
Almost half of those who appear on Forbes’ list - among the 10 richest people in the US - are supporting his Republican rival.
Oracle
CEO Larry Ellison, three members of the Walton family who own Wal-Mart,
and the Koch brothers who are manufacturing and energy tycoons have
made donations to McCain.
There are also special cases such as
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who gave money to Republican Rudolf
Giuliani - his predecessor as mayor - in the primaries, but has later
shown support for both candidates finally running for the White House.
This
independent politician, who has favoured both the Democratic and the
Republican parties at various times in the past, seems to prefer
Obama’s economic plan to McCain’s.
Bloomberg has said he is
looking for someone who is beyond party lines, who can solve complex
matters and has thought ahead to the legislative process and how to
finance specific programmes. However, he gave no names.
Like Bloomberg, many multi-millionaires prefer to keep their political preferences to themselves.
According
to the Huffington Post, only three other people in the list of the 50
wealthiest US citizens have openly revealed their political choice.
Two of them were Republicans and one was a Democrat.
Other sources, however, indicate that wealthy neighbourhoods show a preference for Obama.
According
to campaign finance details, it was Obama who raised the most funds on
Wall Street. Before the current financial crisis broke out, investment
bankers had already made their contributions to the senator from
Illinois, who beat both Hillary Clinton and Giuliani in this
fundraising effort.
In Silicon Valley there is a similar dynamic:
Big players support Obama. Apple and Google want to see him as
president. Apple founder Steve Jobs
appears to be honouring a political tradition, while Google CEO Eric
Schmidt announced his support for the Democrat just recently, and even
planned to go on the campaign trail for him.
In the San Francisco
Bay area, Obama visited the mansions of several multi-millionaires -
Sara and Sohaib Abbasi, Nancy and Bob Farese, and Ann and Gordon Getty
- in April.
The wealthy organized fundraisers for $2,300 per person.
–DPAdkg
“All this violence is in Congress-ruled state. Our party condemns this,” said Mayawati, Chief Minister, UP.
Why Prof Barack Obama as the US President on 5th Nov 08 and Ms Mayawati as the Prime Minister of Jambudvipa, that is, the Graet Prabuddha Bharath in 2009?
Ms. Mayawati and Prof. Obama is saying about changing not only America but the whole world.
All Social Sciences are bound to reduce to neurosocial-human engineering.
From: Milap Choraria
Subject: Why Indian Parliamentarians are not honest to accept their important responsibility ?
To: rti-times@lists.. riseup.net
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 9:12 PM
Why Indian Parliamentarians are not honest to accept their important responsibility ?
A full page advertisement was published on 6th October, 2007, in the New York Times, interalia with the very serious allegation that Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the husband
of most powerful lady of Indian Politics, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, is alleged
to have received payments from KGB. According to Schweizer,
Illustrierte, Rajiv has a secret Swiss Bank account of 2 billion
dollars.. Her son Shri Rahul Gandhi, who is projected (by Congress
Party) as next Prime Minister of India , was detained by FBI with large
unaccounted cash at Boston Airport in 2001. (Swiss magazine Schweizer,
Illustrierte 11/1991, Indo Asian News Service.
The
matter is very serious and concerns a situation of compromise with the
prestige of the Country in public esteem, the World Over. Once, the
then Congress President Late Mr. Barua, said Indira is India . Whereas,
India has never been Indira, hence, we have seen the result. Now,
people are busy to establish that Sonia Gandhi is Congress Party, as
appears from the action taken by Indian National Overseas Congress
(INOC), a surrogate arm of the Indian National Congress in USA, by
filing a $100 million libel lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court
against two Indian Americans, Narain Kataria and Arish Sahani for
allegedly defaming the Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi through
the aforesaid advertisement against her in The New York Times. Mr. Surinder
Malhotra, who as president of INOC had moved the court, had to withdraw
the same and now he claims that withdrawal of the Suit is not the
defeat, and is now consulting the Indian National Congress Party, for
re-filling of the Suit, as if Sonia Gandhi is Indian National Congress
Party, while he himself admitted that Court felt INOC or he himself
were not the aggrieved party. Now the BIG QUESTION
is that if through the aforesaid advertisement Smt Sonia Gandhi and
Shri Rahul Gandhi feel that they are defamed, then why they themselves
in their individual capacity are not filing the said defamation case in
the USA Court ?
The
following extracts from the aforesaid advertisement published in the
“NewYork Times” dated 6th October, 2007, reflects that the advertisement
casts a very serious and personal allegation of corruption, against the
family of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, thereby lowering her esteem in public
image:-
“Her
husband Rajiv Gandhi is alleged to have received payments from KGB.
According to Schweizer, Illustrierte, Rajiv has a secret Swiss Bank
account of 2 billion dollars. Her son Rahul projected as next Prime
Minister of India, was detained by FBI with large unaccounted cash at
Boston Airport in 2001. (Swiss magazine Schweizer, Illustrierte
11/1991, Indo Asian News Service).” “Her party was involved in the UN
Oil for Food Scam that helped Saddam Hussain. (From
this language it is amply clear that charges were made against her in
her personal capacity for misusing her position as President of
Congress Party. The allegation nowhere puts the blame on the Indian
National Congress Party).
She was involved in numerous scams, scandals and controversies. Before
entering India , she was an au-pair with modest means. Since then, she
and her family members have amassed millions through questionable
means. (Know Your Sonia by India First Foundation).”
Charges
mentioned in the advertisement are of a very serious nature since it
paints Shri Rajiv Gandhi as one of the most corrupt politicians of the
Country, contrary to his image in India as Mr. Clean. Therefore, truth
must come out before the Indian Citizenry. In this respect it is an
incumbent responsibility upon each Indian Parliamentarian, including
from the Congress Party, to stand for the truth, by ensuring a free,
fair and transparent enquiry in the matter. If charges leveled through
the aforesaid advertisement would be proved as malicious and false,
this will enhance the goodwill of Smt. Sonia Gandhi manifolds, as
against the claim of the alleged defamation. Otherwise, scars of doubts
and blemishes would cast a permanent mark on the integrity and honesty
by leaving an impression that she is misusing her position to control
the Office of the Prime Minister and the Central Government, to put the
matter under an un-pregnable covert. Whereas, under the changed Swiss
Banking Law, which mandated the Swiss Banks to know their clients, the
Government of India, can trace out the actual position about alleged
Secret Bank Account, if earlier held by Shri Rajiv Gandhi, since Banks
must know also his beneficiaries, which might be Smt. Sonia Gandhi, and
/ or Shri Rahul Gandhi and / or Ms. Priyanka Gandhi, if any such
account really ever existed. Similarly in the present scenario, USSR ,
Power of Communist Party and KGB are nowhere. Under the changed system
of the Governance in Russia , if the Central Government makes free,
fair and transparent and a serious and honest effort, it can get all
the true facts about the factual payments, if any were ever made by the
KGB to Shri Rajiv Gandhi. This is just not necessary for the political
health and strong democracy of India , but also for the sake of the
prestige and honor of the heavenly soul of our late Prime Minister,
Shri Rajiv Gandhi too.
As regards to the matter, concerning whether Shri Rahul
Gandhi, was detained by FBI with large unaccounted cash at Boston
Airport in 2001 or not, this can be easily enquired by the Central
Government.
Milap Choraria
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LUCKNOW:
Maharashtrians in Uttar Pradesh have come out against the violent MNS campaign against north Indians.Warning taht it will backfire and harm Maharashtrians |
“People who go out for livelihood do value addition both to their
native state as well as their place of work and this is true in case of north
Indians living in Maharashtra, ” president of Maharashtra Samaj, Lucknow, G V
Vaishampayan, said.
Referring to the killing of Dharamdev Rai, who
hailed from UP, by Maharashtra police, he said that the Maharashtra Samaj
condemns such incidents in the strongest possible terms.
“Such acts
were a blot on a civilised society and should be opposed by all possible means,”
Vaishampayan said adding that he would demand strong action against MNS by the
Maharashtra government.
When asked about the reasons behind the
“hate campaign”, Vaishampayan, who is also the Head of the Applied economics
Department in Lucknow University said “all this is being done simply to gain
some political space.”
“Many Marathi families were living in parts
of Uttar Pradesh and other states for generations but were never subjected to
the kind of hatred campaign as is going on in Maharashtra,” he said.
The concentration of Marathi population in Uttar Pradesh is mainly
in Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Jhansi and Lucknow.
The Maharashtra Samaj
in Lucknow was established in 1921, Vaishampayan said.
In Lucknow
there are nearly 250 Marathi households and the population is around 1,500. As
far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned, the population stands at about 8,000, he
said.
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