Buddhist dignitary awarded Ho Chi Minh Order

[rug]

QĐND - Monday, October 24, 2011, 20:30 (GMT+7)

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council has received the Ho Chi Minh Order bestowed by the State.

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan presented the noble reward to the Most Venerable, in recognition of his great contributions to the religion, the nation and the cause of national great unity, at a ceremony in Hanoi on Oct. 23.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu (real name Tran Van Long) was born in 1927 in a poor farmer family in Song Mai commune, Kim Dong district, the Red river province of Hung Yen.

While congratulating the Most Venerable, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Vu Trong Kim said, with his capacity and prestige, Tu, together with other VBS leaders, has actively mobilised Buddhist monks, nuns and followers nationwide to practice their religious belief under the Party’s policies and the State’s law as well as enthusiastically participate in patriotic emulation movements and social activities, helping build solidarity between religions in Vietnam and the national great unity.

http://www.qdnd.vn/qdndsite/en-US/75/72/182/155/160/164610/Default.aspx

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly religion is lashed to the purposes of a state or a politicsl movement.

[Silent3]

1. Never ceases to amaze you?

It never ceases to disappoint me, but I'm hardly amazed that it happens.