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

[Francis Norton <francis@redrice.com>]

As one of Chris' fellow Brits, please may I suggest that while
commiserations with the victims of terrorism and support for the targets
of lynch mobs may well be totaly appropriate at this moment, the very
real issues mentioned in the last paragraph below might best be pursued
off-list?

Francis.

Chris Bayes wrote:
> 
> Salaam Alekum Satwinder,
> Thanks for the links. They took me back a few years to when I was
> traveling through the Middle East and Asia to the night we spent in the
> golden temple at Amritsar and were made to feel *very* welcome, as I was
> made to feel everywhere from Jordan to Nepal. Wherever and whenever I
> had a problem with my motorbike I would search out the local Sikh
> mechanic to be sure of an excellent and honest repair job. I owe you
> guys a lot.
> 
> Unfortunately since Tuesday it has been reported on the BBC that 2
> Pakistani taxi drivers have been shot in NYC and that yet another 16
> Palestinians have been murdered in Palestine (that is on top of the 800
> so far this year).
> 
> I just hope that all of this hatred stops and that all people of
> whatever race, creed or religion can get past this bloodlust unscathed.
> Unfortunately I think we might be on the eve of more deaths of innocent
> women and children again at the hands of Americans (who is right and who
> is wrong?). Let's hope I am wrong.
> 
> Ciao Chris
> 
> XML/XSL Portal
> http://www.bayes.co.uk/xml
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Satwinder Mangat [mailto:smangat@adobe.com]
> > Sent: 14 September 2001 19:08
> > To: xml-dev@lists.xml.org
> > Subject: [xml-dev] Hate crimes against Sikh Community......
> >
> >
> >
> > 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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