Re: [xml-dev] Hate crimes against Sikh Community......

[Bob Kerstetter <bkerstetter@mac.com>]

under the circumstances this is okay. we need to stop the fear and hate 
of ethnic americans and recent (past 30-years) immigrants. i am a white 
guy evangelical christian.

On Friday, September 14, 2001, at 01:08  PM, Satwinder Mangat wrote:

>
> Sorry for using this bandwidth to educate ourselves about Sikh 
> religion. The
> followers of Sikhism are called Sikhs (people with beard and turban) 
> and now
> have become target of hate crime since last few days. Sikhs are neither
> Muslims nor Hindus and have nothing to do Osama bin Laden.
>
> For slides on Sikhism and its history: check out
>
> 	http://www.maboli.com/seva/sikhi/index.htm
>
> Please forgive me if you think I shouldn't have this e-mail to this 
> mailing
> group. We are a global society and learning about each other will make 
> this
> world a peaceful place to live. If you agree, please share information 
> about
> Sikhism with family and friends so that innocent Sikhs don't become 
> target
> of hate crimes because of their visible identity.
>
> Thanks
> Satwinder Mangat
>
> =========================================================================
> ===
> =================
>
> SIKH COMMUNITY DENOUNCE THE TERRORIST ATTACK, HELD PRAYERS....
>
> Sikh community in America would like to join their fellow Americans in
> condemning the horrific acts that took place on the morning of 
> September 11,
> 2001. Sikhs are saddened by the tremendous loss of life from these 
> actions,
> and their thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims. 
> Sikhs
> pray that the United States Government is able to swiftly bring those
> responsible for these atrocities to justice.
>
> Since many Americans commonly mistake Sikhs for followers of Islam, or
> associated with Osama Bin Laden because of turban, there are reports of
> violent attacks directed against members of the Sikh community. Sikh
> community request Amercian fellow citizens to educate themselves about
> Sikhism so that innocent Sikhs don't become soft target of hate because 
> of
> their visibile identity. Sikhs are neither Muslims nor Hindus and has
> nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden.
>
> The Sikhism originated in Punjab state of India about 500 years ago. The
> brief introduction to Sikhism is given below. Check www.sikhs.org,
> www.maboli.com
> www.sikhnet.com, www.sikhmediawatch.com for more details on Sikhism.
>
> All Sikh Americans extend their prayers and solidarity to those who have
> been affected by this devastating act of terrorism, and hope that the
> diverse members of our nation can come together as one in this time of
> national crisis.
>
> =========================================================================
> ===
> ==================
>
> Introduction to Sikhism
> =======================
>
> A way of life and philosophy well ahead of its time when it was founded 
> over
> 500 years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 
> million
> people worldwide. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and 
> remembrance of
> God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice 
> and
> denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all 
> through
> the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living
> Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
>
> Who and What is a Sikh?
> ========================
>
> The word 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple', Sikhs are the
> disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh
> Gurus. The wisdom of these teachings in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (holy 
> book)
> are practical and universal in their appeal to all mankind.
>
> "I observe neither Hindu fasting nor the ritual of the Muslim Ramadan 
> month;
> Him I serve who at the last shall save. The Lord of universe of the 
> Hindus,
> Gosain and Allah to me are one; From Hindus and Muslims have I broken 
> free.
> I perform neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One 
> sole
> Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the Hindu worship nor the
> Muslim prayer; To the Sole Formless Lord in my heart I bow. We neither 
> are
> Hindus nor Muslims; Our body and life belong to the One Supreme Being 
> who
> alone is both Ram and Allah for us." (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib,
> Raga Bhairon pg. 1136)
>
> "Any human being who faithfully believes in: (i) One Immortal Being, 
> (ii)
> Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, (iii) The Guru 
> Granth
> Sahib, (iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and, (v) the
> baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance 
> to any
> other religion is a Sikh." (Reht Maryada, Sikh Code of Conduct)
>
> Philosophy and Beliefs
> =======================
>
>  - There is only One God. He is the same God for all people of all
> religions. The Sikhs will worship only God. They will not set up any 
> idols,
> gods, goddesses or statues for worship nor shall they worship any human
> being.
>
> - Basic tenents of Sikhism are:
> 	a) Honest labour and work (Kirat Karna) are the approved way of 
> living ones
> life. It is considered honourable to earn ones daily bread through 
> honest
> work and not by begging or dishonest means.
>
> 	b) Sharing with others (Vand Chhakna) is also a social 
> responsibility. The
> individual is expected to help others in need through charity.
>
> 	c) Community service (Seva)is also an intergral part of Sikhism. 
> The free
> community kitchen (langar) found at every gurdwara (Religious place of
> Sikhs) and open to people of all religions is one expression of this
> community service.
>
>  - The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before it reaches 
> the
> human form. The goal of our life is to lead an exemplary existence so 
> that
> one may merge with God. Sikhs should remember God at all times and 
> practice
> living a virtuous and truthful life while maintaining a balance between
> their spiritual obligations and temporal obligations.
>
>  - The true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not
> require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a
> householder, earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations 
> and
> sins.
>
>  - Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of
> pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.
>
>  - Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex 
> are
> all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and 
> women.
> Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh 
> ceremony
> or lead the congregation in prayer.
>
>  - Sikhism stressed the full equality of women, rejecting female
> infanticide, permitting widow remarriage and rejects purdah (women 
> wearing
> veils).
>
>  - Normal Family life (Grasth) is encouraged, celibacy or renunciation 
> of
> the world is not necessary to achieve salvation. The devotee must live 
> in
> the world yet keep his mind pure. He must be a soldier, a scholar, a 
> saint.
>
>
> History and Practices
> =====================
>
> The founder of the Sikh religion was Guru Nanak who was born in 1469. He
> preached a message of love and understanding and criticized the blind
> rituals of the Hindus and Muslims. Guru Nanak passed on his enlightened
> leadership of this new religion to nine successive Gurus. The final 
> living
> Guru, Guru Gobind Singh died in 1708.
>
> During his lifetime Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa order 
> (meaning
> 'The Pure'), soldier-saints. The Khalsa uphold the highest Sikh virtues 
> of
> commitment, dedication and a social conscious. The Khalsa are men and 
> women
> who have undergone the Sikh baptism ceremony and who strictly follow the
> Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions and wear the prescribed physical
> articles of the faith. One of the more noticeable being the uncut hair
> (required to be covered with a turban for men) and the Kirpan 
> (ceremonial
> sword).
>
> Before his death in 1708 Guru Gobind Singh declared that the Sikhs no 
> longer
> needed a living and appointed his spiritual successor as Sri Guru Granth
> Sahib, his physical successor as the Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh felt 
> that all
> the wisdom needed by Sikhs for spiritual guidance in their daily lives 
> could
> be found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs. Sri 
> Guru
> Granth Sahib is unique in the world of religious scriptures because not 
> only
> is it accorded the status of being the spiritual head of the Sikh 
> religion,
> but besides the poetry of the Gurus, it also contains the writings of 
> saints
> of other faiths whose thoughts were consistent with those of the Sikh 
> Gurus.
>
> Sikhism does not have priests, which were abolished by Guru Gobind 
> Singh.
> The Guru felt that they had become corrupt and full of ego. Sikhs only 
> have
> custodians of the Guru Granth Sahib (granthi), and any Sikh is free to 
> read
> the Guru Granth Sahib in the Gurdwara (a Sikh temple) or in their home. 
> All
> people of all religions are welcome to the Gurdwara. A free community
> kitchen can be found at every Gurdwara which serves meals to all people 
> of
> all faiths. Guru Nanak first started this institution which outline the
> basic Sikh principles of service, humility and equality.
>
> The most significant historical religious center for the Sikhs is 
> Harmiandir
> Sahib (The Golden Temple) at Amritsar in the state of Punjab in northern
> India. It is the inspirational and historical center of Sikhism but is 
> not a
> mandatory place of pilgrimage or worship. All places where Sri Guru 
> Granth
> Sahib are installed are considered equally holy for Sikhs.
>
>
>
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