Krishnas

This was one of the coolest sights during Wednesday's Fourth of July parade. Pictured are the Hare Krishnas, members of a sect of Hinduism that earned the label of "wacky" and "off-in-left-field" from many an outsider during the 70s. These are the kinds of people my mom tells me were spawned by the hippie era.

I don't believe in the stuff the Hare Krishnas were chanting... Nope, nope. But I was so happy to see that they could do their thing in plain view, in public, and not be jailed, silenced, blasted with rotten tomatoes.

A few weeks ago I reported on Krishnas in Kazakhstan. Their government considers them a nuisance, and one day simply bulldozed a dozen of their homes, no questions asked.

They may be a bit new-agey, home to some balding, graying professor-type characters. But seeing Krishnas in the parade was inspiring because I know I'll only have my robust and wonderful freedom to worship if they do, too.