Exercise in National Hypocrisy

Christians Laud Historic U.S. Bill Tackling India's Caste Problem

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a historic resolution that calls caste discrimination illegal and prohibited and that is likely to have an outcome on organizations in India that do business with or receive funding from the U.S. government.

Mon, Jul. 30, 2007 Posted: 19:46:18 PM EST

It is interesting how the Congress of the United States can pass these non-binding resolutions that either send messages to nations that have no political clout or reward those that do have political clout…

On June 23, 2004, the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 407 x 9, HCR 460, a ratification of the Israeli wall through the West Bank and East Jerusalem…Thus, the Congress of the United States put its imprimatur on apartheid in the Middle East…This is a caste system that has rendered the original inhabitants of the Holy Land virtually homeless…This was done with under pressure from the Jewish lobby (AIPAC) and the Christian Right (McChurch)…

It depends, I would guess, on whose camel is being gored!

Stan Moody is the author of "Crisis in Evangelical Scholarship" and "McChurched: 300 Million Served and Still Hungry

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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a historic resolution that calls caste discrimination illegal and prohibited and that is likely to have an outcome on organizations in India that do business with or receive funding from the U.S. government.

The House Concurrent Resolution 139 (HCR 139), which passed last week, highlights the fact that caste discrimination affects over 200 million people categorized as Dalits (untouchables) and Tribals (indigenous peoples) and that although Article 17 of the Indian Constitution outlaws untouchability, in reality the practice still exists and is widespread.

The resolution further states that organizations receiving U.S. funding through the Indian government must not engage in caste discrimination or discourage Dalits from working in their organizations.

“It is in the interests of the United States to address the problem of the treatment of the Dalits and Tribals in India in order to better meet mutual social development and human rights goals…,” stated the resolution.

Congressman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), who introduced the bill, said that "untouchability is an unacceptable practice in America’s largest trading partner and close ally. This resolution will ensure that we as a government and as a people in no way encourage or enforce untouchability through our policies with India or through our foreign direct aid."

Franks declared that the adoption of the resolution "marks a victory for the cause of human freedom, and sheds a new light of hope on the 250 million souls who continue to suffer the abuses of caste discrimination in India."

Nanci Ricks, executive director of the Dalit Freedom Network, an evangelical Christian missionary organization, said, “We have seen history made in this resolution. This resolution should encourage all Dalits suffering under caste discrimination in India.”

“The United State Congress has heard of the atrocities of caste and has responded. We hope that the United States Government and U.S. businesses working in India will heed this statement by the House and will join with the Dalit Freedom Network in fighting the effects of caste across India.”

Dr. Joseph D’souza, president of the Dalit Freedom Network, praised the leadership of Congressman Franks and the many others whose active support of the Dalit cause made HCR 139 possible.

“[W]ithout the leadership of Members of Congress like Congressmen Franks, Wolf, Smith, Sali, Tancredo, Pitts, and Congresswoman Kilpatrick in sponsoring Dalit events, film screenings, and hearings and directing their staff to advocate on this issue with vigilance, this historic moment would have never happened,” D’souza stated. “They and the many others who have worked to make this resolution a reality have earned the gratitude of millions of Dalits across India.”

Christians in India too have welcomed the resolution. Fr. Cosmon Arokiaraj, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in India (CBCI) said "the Indian Church whole heartedly welcomes this resolution and the church is pleased that the resolution has been passed.”

The resolution now goes to the U.S. Senate for a concurring vote.

Bei Chatlai Beita
Christian Post Correspondent

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