[Buddha-l] Subject: the poignancy of Donald Lopez

[JKirkpatrick]

Gang,

...... Nothing guarantees a religion a greater chance at living
up to its ideals than a total or near total lack of access to
power. And here it is Asian-American Buddhists who embody this
truth best. They have the least power and money and social
status; thus they are perfectly situated to follow narrow paths
of Buddhism manifestly superior to wide and easy road of those
unfortunate Christians who must walk the corridors of power.

Franz Metcalf

Sorry but I have to disagree on a sociological basis about
Asian-American Buddhists having the "least power and money and
social status," because the same can be said about women in
general in the Americas (North and South). 
Aside from that, there are plenty of Asian-Americans of various
Buddhist affiliations in this country who are rolling in dough
either imported when the migrated here,  earned from the many
businesses they started, or from the high salaries they earn in
silicon industries, and the professions.  Some of them are very
active behind the scenes in significant financial support to
political organisations and politicians. Unfortunately, these are
so rich that they only support Republicans.

Joanna