Hindus are protesting against the Fox News channel for reported remarks hinting that Hinduism was a fringe group. Channel’s Gretchen Carlson, Fox & Friends co-host, in September 7, 2011, segment, reportedly apparently labeled Hindus and others as “sort of fringe groups”.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Hinduism was oldest and third largest religion of the world with a rich philosophical thought and about one billion adherents. How such a religion, which gave the world its oldest existing scripture Rig-Veda and yoga (practiced by about 16 million Americans), could be classified as a fringe group, Zed asked.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that such remarks were very hurtful to the devotees. Besides apparently denigrating the religion, it was belittling the entire community. No faith, larger or smaller, should be taken lightly and ridiculed at.
Rajan Zed urged Fox and its owner News Corporation to be more sensitive when handling faith related subjects, as television was a forceful medium. He asked News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch, Fox News Channel Chairman Roger Ailes and Gretchen Carlson to immediately issue a statement on this matter.
In December 2009 also, Glenn Beck remarked on Fox News channel that river Ganges (whom Hindus consider holy) “sounds like a disease” and later reportedly apologized after Hindus protested.
News Corporation, reportedly with assets of about US$62 billion, is a diversified global media company with operations in cable, film, television, satellite broadcast, publishing; and activities principally in USA, Continental Europe, United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Latin America.Fox News claims to reach over 90 million homes. Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson, 45, joined Fox News Channel in June 2005 and Fox & Friends is claimed to be “the No. 1 cable morning program”.
It is quite awesome that news channels claiming one of the best news channel can comment on such sorts issues on Hinduism. Either the management running channel like fox news are short of knowledge about Hinduism or they are mad. These sorts of comments on Hinduism are neither tolerable nor pardonable.Before it may too late, the miscreant staff of said channel must wake up which appears to be in deep slumber and consult Hindu literature.Our religion does not allow to spread hateredness as you people play with the sentiments of world’s most sacred religion. If you can not understand Hinduism better understand your own religion well and then only you can imagine about HINDUISM.