First Buddhist Senator First Hindu Congresswoman elected

[Ichingcarpenter]

Tuesday's elections brought two historic firsts for religion in American politics: A Buddhist senator and a Hindu representative -- both from Hawaii -- will join Congress.

Democrat Mazie Hirono beat former Gov. Linda Lingle (R), making Hirono the first Buddhist in the Senate. In Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Tulsi Gabbard defeated Republican opponent Kawika Crowley, making Gabbard the first Hindu in Congress.

Both elections were cheered by Hindu and Buddhist Americans, members of two faiths that share a common history that traces back to ancient India.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/buddhist-hindu-congress-mazie-hirono-tulsi-gabbard_n_2088939.html

[queentonic]

1. shaanti priy

As a practicing kriya yogi, I find this a real vote for diversity in the US of A. Thanks for the post. There's hope yet.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. "I bring quadruple diversity to the Senate

"I bring quadruple diversity to the Senate," Hirono said at a rally earlier in the campaign. "I'm a woman. I'll be the first Asian woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate. I am an immigrant. I am a Buddhist. When I said this at one of my gatherings, they said, 'Yes, but are you gay?' and I said, 'Nobody's perfect.'"


http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_21947729

[TrueMarine]

3. Wrong on first Hindu

First Hindu was Dalip Saund in 1955 after becoming a US citizen in 1953

[DURHAM D]

4. Welcome to DU.

Looks like you are quite correct.

I found this -

http://www.la-indiacenter.com/page10.htm

What an interesting story/man.