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Sikhs: A Distant Thunder From Wisconsin
Ras H. Siddiqui
On August 10th this scribe took the opportunity to attend a vigil in Sacramento at the footsteps of the California State Capitol building to remember the Sikh victims of a recent shooting in Wisconsin. Only the brave had ventured out that day as the mercury had already touched 105 Degrees a few hours earlier than the 7:30 start time. But several hundred were not deterred. Sikhs in their traditional attire, many with long beards and turbans, along with the colorful clothes of the women and children congregated to pay their respects to the victims gunned down at a Gurdwara (Sikh Temple/Place of worship) in Oak Creek near Milwaukee.
From the oldest members of the community to young children, they were there to both ask questions and to seek answers since this is not the first time that Sikhs have been targeted in post 9/11 America. And the question always remains on everyone’s mind each time something happens to Sikhs: Was this a case of mistaken identity? Or in other words was the person or persons doing the shooting actually wanting to target Muslims and made a mistake? And if the answer to that is “Yes”, is that still any excuse?
Like the rest of America, Sikh-Americans, many with origins in the state of Punjab in India were horrified at what they saw on their TV screens on 9/11/2001. Soon after, a tall individual with brown skin and wearing something resembling a turban on his head was identified as the man behind the worst attack that the US has had to face since Pearl Harbor. Understandably, Americans of all colors, races, ethnicities and origins were mad as hell and they vented their anger at anyone that remotely resembled their new enemy. And the Sikhs unfortunately fit that description because they are brown skinned, often tall and are required by their religious tradition to wear a turban, to conceal their long uncut hair within it.
It has now been over a decade since 9/11 and Osama is dead. So why are the Sikhs still suffering for something they had no part in? That was one question amongst others that was on the minds of the people who attended this vigil in Sacramento and many others like it all over North America. And they were not just the people wearing turbans and the traditional Punjabi Shalwar Kameez. Many were in T-shirts, shorts and baseball caps and people of many races and religions.
South-Asians (Indians, Pakistanis along with others) especially Sikhs who have now made the whole world their home were in majority here. Sikhs have been in California for over a century now. Their history has been one of struggle and success here. Their Diaspora expanded everywhere since the partition of British India in the year 1947 during which the Punjab was divided and suffered the most violence. They are often in a minority wherever they live outside Indian Punjab. They look different and stand out as instructed by their Gurus due to their turbans. Otherwise like over 1/3rds of the over 6 billion people on this planet they have brown skin!
Local attorney and activist Amar Shergill from the Sikh American Political Action Committee was addressing the audience when this scribe arrived. He reminded everyone that this kind of violence can happen to any religious group. It could be a deranged, evil unbalanced person in our own community. He said that some of his own relatives lived in Wisconsin and were late that day to the temple where the shooting occurred. He said that they were turned back by law enforcement from entering the Gurdwara so they asked some in the neighborhood what was going on. The neighbor said that “There was a shooting at the Mosque.” “Imagine. That is a neighbor from the community who thinks that they live next to a Mosque! ” He said that the problem is not unique to Temples, Mosques, Mandirs or Churches and it highlights the challenges for the community. “We know that ignorance leads to violence, and we have to do a better job at battling that ignorance.” He said that last year we had gathered here to highlight the murder of two Sikh Grandfathers in nearby Elk Grove and that attack still remains unsolved. He said that in the Sacramento area, the Sikh community has done a lot of outreach work since then, but it is still not enough. “As long as children are being bullied, it is not enough. As long as elders are being attacked, it is not enough. As lives are being lost, it is not enough.” He said that we all still need to do a better job representing ourselves and not just Sikhs but South-Asians. “Do your neighbors know who you are?”
He said that the solution is within our reach and starting tomorrow you should introduce yourselves to your neighbors to dispel ignorance about our community. He also stressed the need for participation in the American political process. “Do something!” “Make a difference. Stop ignorance. Stop violence.” He ended his speech with: “May God bless us all and may God Bless the United States of America.”
The next speaker Harjit Kaur Grewal from the Sikh Coalition spoke her heart out and brought some to tears. She said that she has already attended too many vigils like this one, including one for her own brother who was shot to death while delivering a pizza in the town of Vallejo. She spoke out against the hate and violence which is consuming the lives of our brothers and sisters. She added that we continue to pray that their souls rest in peace and that for her this comes with added responsibility. “I was reminded of this responsibility earlier this week.” She said that she was praying at the local Gurdwara and a little Sikh girl came up to her and said the she has seen her (Harjit) do her work (mourning) and that when she grows up will she have to do the same kind of work? She added that the work we need is to create awareness of religious tolerance so that our brothers and sisters aren’t shot. And she hoped that little girl that came up to her would not have to do this when she grew up. She said that if the truth be told we have failed that little girl. She added that we cannot afford to be inactive. We can write articles and talk to our neighbors (amongst other things) to spread awareness and counter hate. We can explain what we are all about. “You can be the next person who stops discrimination,” she said. “At school you can stand up to those who are bullies.” “The next time a Mosque is burned down, a Synagogue is vandalized or a Sikh is attacked, we should stand together.”
A number of other speakers used the opportunity to speak their minds but space constraints limit this report. Muslim civil rights activist Basim Elkarra said since 9/11 the Sikh community has borne the brunt of hate crimes. Parabhjeet Kaur Dhanda thanked everyone for taking the time out to come here today. She said that it was important that we show unity in times of distress. “Sikhism is a humanitarian religion which believes in one God and peace for all,” she added. “It is important that we take a stand against hate and violence together. Not as a separate community but as one strong community. She said that we all call America our home and want the best for this country.
Linda Ng of the OCA organization also made a strong speech against hate crimes. “Any attack on the Sikh community is an attack on America,” she said. She asked for a fund to be established to help the families of this hate crime in Wisconsin. Darshan Mundy from the Sacramento Sikh Temple also added his words of wisdom on this solemn occasion.
In conclusion there is plenty of blame that can go around for this sad incident and we can start with Osama Bin Laden as the main culprit. But we now need to look further and deeper. Nobody can really always protect us from a person with mental problems and a gun. But the targeting and victimization of the Sikh community in particular should be a matter of concern for all Americans. We all need to help to stop violence or the distant thunder like this one from Wisconsin will put more lives in jeopardy.
Filed under: Uncategorized · Tags: hate, Sikh, Sikhs, violence
63 Responses to "Sikhs: A Distant Thunder From Wisconsin"
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@romain
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I issue pucca visas …do visit me for one.
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Only the unfit need visas to go to greener pastures for ‘grazing’ like sheep!
Rex Minor: It is quite natural that a muslim is of the opinion that his religion is the most reformed and superior to that of others, otherwise he would abondon it in favour of the better one.
I hope you don’t live in a Muslim country. A Muslim can’t change his religion, if he does other Muslims will kill him, for being an apostate, just to go to heaven.
ahem: Some gurudwaras still adore the khalistani violence-doers (who killed many sikhs also).
Sikhs and Hindus get along very well every where. There is very little support for Khalistanis in USA. Pakistanis did try to cause some problems between Sikhs and Hindus but they failed.
Abu Jundal, a LeT terrorist caught by Saudi Arabia and handed over to India recently has confirmed 35 Sikhs were killed in Kashmir by LeT terrorists wearing Indian Army uniform before President Bill Clinton’s visit to India.
I hope you don’t live in a Muslim country. A Muslim can’t change his religion,VIKRAM…………………………………………………………
when i enter in the house of my hindu friend i feel i am walking in jurrasic park.the only atheist country in the world is ALBANIA a, muslim coutry.aii muslim countries run on reason,not on religion.
To AKB:
I came across your comment by chance, someone drew my attention. TUMC.
As a denizen and primary citizen of Pakistan, my concern is that laws be equitably followed. So The JAIN MANDIR shall have to be repaired, frehabbed and restored. In that Petition I am alsio asking that the Suprenme Court , post-New National Judicial Policy, cut no corners and L L Bs (lawyers and liars both) marrow no jhak, and comprehenbsively declare the rights and responsibilities of the minorities of all faiths and schools of jurisprudence.
There is one point that probably you paid no attention todate .. Muslims can offer their prayers and namaz ANYWHERE public (but if someone is visiting my house, s/he must obtain my per mission before using my space , albeit God bestowed/given, for formally offering prayers) … but Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists,Jains, Christians,Parsees, Jews must, by dictates of their respective faiths, offer their formal obligatory [prayers in their formal Prayer Houses (temples, churches, synagogues, etc). So by letting goons and Land Mafia usurp/criminally convert these places and spaces MY fundamental rights are being interferred with and impinged. I wont appease nor will throw throw towell. Actually I filed Writs re Religous Spaces Santity etc. over 3 decades ago. Not yet registered by the High Courts todate.
I am glad that YLHamdani (who introduced himself very graciously to me last month in the Aiwane Addl) has taken the worthy clue and is filing PIL. It is an uphill drive that derives little or no encouragement in Pakistan (ever apt at wordsmithing, I say it is being turned into Pack-a-Satan by our zardaris and sharrREEFS and choud-hurrys. I am interested to learn wghat progress his Wriut has made which was being heard by Lord Chief Justice Omer Atta Bandial. I wish him the best.
AKB you should ask youtrself, ask not what Pakistan has done for you, ask what you can do for the people of Pakistan who have suffered immerasurably in the hidden-hands of officialDOOM busy in plots, privileges, progeny-projection, perks, piccadilloes, protocol and more plots. Must sign off, little battery in my laptop. CHDEETRS. E&Typos&OE.
Gundawallah,
Muslims could also become a bit discreet and civilised and offer their prayers in mosques or private houses. Exhibition is not allowed for muslims as well.
Rex Minor
Vikram,
It matters not for me where I live, but if I were to live in a muslim majority country, which I would very much like to live, the neighbours will have to behave my way.
Rex Minor
96% Muslim prisoners do not have terror or criminal connections
The 141-page report says that in spite of chargesheets filed against 47.4% of the undertrial Muslim prisoners, only 3.8% have reached the judgement stage.
MAMTA SEN Mumbai | 17th Jun
Mumbai has the highest number of Muslims prisoners (55.1%) in Maharashtra, followed by Pune and Aurangabad (9.1% each), says a study assigned to Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) by the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission. Titled “Socio Economic Profile and Rehabilitation Needs of Muslim Community in Prisons in Maharashtra”, the study was conducted by Professor
Vijay Raghavan and Professor Roshni Nair of the Criminology and Justice Department of TISS.
Around 339 Muslim prisoners (both male and female) across 15 prisons in Maharashtra were interviewed for the year-long research, which has thrown up alarming statistics on the condition of Muslim prisoners and the state of their legal representation.
The 141-page report highlights that in spite of chargesheets filed against 47.4% of the undertrial prisoners, only 3.8% have reached the judgement stage. Of the 70% undertrial Muslim prisoners, 64.5% are male and 5.2% are female. The report says that Byculla jail in Mumbai has the highest number of female prisoners from Bangladesh.
The report also brings to light the poor treatment received by women prisoners compared to their male counterparts and calls for immediate measures to stop this.
The majority of Muslim prisoners are aged between 18-30 years and account for 65.5% of the total Muslim population in prisons across Maharashtra. Around 58.2% of them are educated up to the primary level, while the remaining 31.4% are illiterate.
The study says that 96% of Muslims detained in jails do not appear to have any connections with criminal gangs or terrorist groups; 25% of them did not have any lawyers representing them. It says that corruption in the legal system and a biased police force are the key reasons why Muslim prisoners languish in prisons across Maharashtra. It further says that while 44% of those arrested were allowed to meet their families immediately, 38% were not allowed to do so, a clear violation of D.K. Basu guidelines.
The study adds that over 61% of prisoners did not have any contacts with NGOs and 23% were not even aware of their existence. The study also says that even though over 50% of the convicted prisoners completing their term of imprisonment in 2013, the Maharashtra State Minority Commission does not have any rehabilitation plans in place for them.
Professor Vijay Raghavan says that the research was a herculean task as they experienced several delays in acquiring permission to interview the prisoners. He says that many prisoners said that they had been falsely implicated in cases where they were either witness to a certain crime or complained against the police. “There have been cases when family members too ended up getting arrested and tortured by the police if someone from the family has committed a crime and is absconding to evade arrest, mainly due to the bias against their community,” he says, adding that 42% of prisoners on short-term sentences are Muslims and that Acts like TADA, MCOCA and Official Secrets Act are slapped on them without any evidence.
Among the undertrials interviewed, charge sheets have been filed in only 47.4% cases and only 3.8% cases have reached the judgement stage. “Majority of these incidents, however are related to conflicts in family relationships, disputes over money or property matters, love affairs, conflicts arising out of peer relations, feelings of revenge,” Raghavan says. He adds that all 15 case-studies of men and women prisoners presented in the report show some examples of police atrocities.
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/96-muslim-prisoners-do-not-have-terror-or-criminal-connections
@@ Rus H Siddiqui
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How come this didn’t shake your scruples??
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SYsu4Qvm8c
Hina Qidwai speaks at an interfaith gathering the “Neighbors Rally” in Joplin, Missouri, organised by 20 year old
Ashley Carter, from Ozark Christian College who brought people together to support and stand by the Muslims of
Joplin, after their mosque burnt to the ground close to the end of Ramadan.
@ Gundawallah
Muslims must go to a mosque for worship. If there is none or they are not able to go there for some reason they can offer namaz at any clean place. They also needn’t observe the rules if come contingency befalls them.
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As for Jain mandir, I am not for demolishing places of worship. however, If you go around filing petitions for an abandoned place of worship you are certainly going to lose the case. Even the stylish and ostensible arguments of your sweet YLH won’t offer you any help.
I can point out some mandirs and temples in at least 2 or 3 cities of Pakistan which have been long abandoned and converted into shops or residence. I alos know many places which were once meant for people to pee and poop whizzed off and turned into buildings etc. I also know several shades and water holes reserved for horses to drink water and rest and the same been converted into other uses. I also know many footpaths which have been encroached upon by the politicians and leaders of this country and their foreign masters and been shut for the public. i know some Christian and other graveyards where I used to play cricket in my younger days and which have now been converted into huge plaza’s and shopping centres. I know many nullahs which have been converted into markets. I know some parks and playgrounds which have now been reserved by the politicians and their chamcha’s for holding massive gatherings and rallies. I know……..so many other places which have been screwed up by the greedy.
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My point is that you will only waste your time and energy (and perhaps you will save on the money side by having the free services of smart alec YLH and you too being a capable lyer ) Instead indulge in something better….something that serves to uplift some institution or the lives of deserving people without delving in unnecessary debate and proselytisation of your religious ideas, ambitions, notions, ideosyncracies and grievances.
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there is more in life than quareling over personalities. Inventing new gods may be easier for YLH and his types, but to be fair enough one like me is content with the God he has.
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I hope you will take heed and live to serve a better purpose, a purpose which is neither Muslim nor Hindu, Jain, Buddhist Xtian or any of their human or imaginary derivations.
Good luck!
How secular democracies work
.
Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered In US War And Occupation Of Iraq “1,455,590″
Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In U.S. War And Occupation Of Iraq 4,801
Number Of International Occupation Force Troops Slaughtered In Afghanistan
.
Cost of War in Iraq & Afghanistan
$806,469,613,803
For more details, click here.
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“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” – H. L. Mencken
http://costofwar.com/
GANDHI KA BHAJAN
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgADN-ooJDk&src_vid=FeiZRR4zhPs&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_844683
to AKB
Allahu akbar is shouted when killing innocent human beings. That is the muslims’ “bhajan”.