01 May 2008

May Day of Action This Saturday!




Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa! Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh!


This is a reminder for the May Day Of Action, Community Rally for Immigrant Rights, This SATURDAY, MAY 3rd.


For those attending or interested in attending there is a FREE BUS leaving form Dixie Gurdwara (Dixie and Derry) at 10:30am. Prior to departure we will be meeting in the Langar Hall.


The Rally will be starting off at Christie Pitts Park (750 Bloor Street West) and end with a community fair, musical performances, food, and much more.


We would like to remind everyone that if there is enough interest shown from those attending Kaurs United Camp, the FREE BUS will also do pick-ups from Jot Parkash Gurdwara.

After the rally is done, we will be joining the Maahan Youth Keertan Darbar @ Jot Parkash Gurughar.

For More Information Please View The Attached Flyer.

Or watch one of two videos, from last years demonstration!

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rwQ-FMR9ic&feature=related
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3rnfmSDjgA&feature=related

Hope to see you all out!


Sikh Activist Network
SikhActivist.Net



Panth Kee Jee!!





Millions across North America have taken to the streets in the last two years, demanding STATUS FOR ALL. In Toronto, workers, students, trade unionists, activists, and community members have led passionate demonstrations calling for justice and dignity for immigrants and refugees.

We continue to fight against the Conservative government's ongoing attacks on migrant communities. The last year has seen unprecedented targeting of refugees in Sanctuary. Asylum seekers have been arrested from schools, workplaces and even hospital beds. Families have been torn apart. Over 12,000 friends, family, and community members have been deported.

In the face of intimidation and fear, our communities have refused to be silenced. Together, we have forced immigration enforcement out of Toronto District schools. Inspired frontline community workers have taken up the struggle for Access Without Fear. We have fought and won a full Don't Ask Don't Tell policy at many community agencies.

But the fight is not over. There are over 500,000 undocumented people living and working across Canada, over 80,000 in Toronto alone. They are forced to live in daily fear of jailing and deportation. At the same time, new categories of "temporary foreign workers" without full status and without rights are being created by federal and provincial governments. These workers are exploited as cheap labour, based on fear of deportation

On May 3rd, we will take to the streets. We will demand an end to detentions and deportations. We will demand access without fear to essential services. We will demand an end to security certificates and secret trials. We will demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We will demand justice, dignity and respect!

trials. We will demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We will demand justice, dignity and respect!
--
WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

29 April 2008

RALLY TOMORROW 29 APRIL FOR MOHAWKS OF TYENDINAGA!!




OPP back off!
Free all First Nations Political Prisoners Now!
Hands off Stolen Land: Return the Culbertson Tract to the Mohawks of Tyendinaga!

THE RALLY:

TOMORROW: Tuesday, April 29th12 noon
Ministry of the Attorney General720 Bay Street(Bay, just north of Gerrard, eastside)


O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.






For those who may not know, those are the words of the English version of O Canada, the national anthem of Canada.

(It may be interesting to note that there are three official versions of O Canada, in French, English and Inuktitut; and the meaning of the French version is quite different from the English and really not too acceptable to me as a Sikh. Ah, nothing is simple, eh?)

Today, I am looking at one particular line,

God keep our land glorious and free!


A simple line with a clear meaning. But look closely.

God - To me as a Sikh, this is called by the name of Vaheguru, by Muslims Allah, by Christians Jehovah or Yahweh or Jesus Christ, by Jews a name too sacred to be spoken, by Hindus, millions of names, and on and on. I think we can all agree, however, that this refers to our creator, who loves us and whose children we are.

Keep - To keep our land glorious and free implies that our land is already glorious and free. Is it?






Our - And who, pray tell are 'we'? Does this refer only to the settlers, the colonists, those of us from elsewhere? The English, the French, the Punjabis, the Chinese and on and on? Or does it also include those we call by the proud name of First Nations?




Land - The stuff under our feet. The surface of our mother planet from which we have sprung and on which we live. That which is held sacred by many. In the context of this song, I suppose it simply refers to the politoco-geographic mass we call 'Canada.'
Glorious - I had to look this up in the dictionary just to be sure. I first got this:




1. Having or deserving glory; famous.
2. Conferring or advancing glory: a glorious achievement.
3. Characterized by great beauty and splendor; magnificent: a glorious sunset.
4. Delightful; wonderful: had a glorious visit with old friends.


So then to go to glory:

1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your wit is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
7. A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity: ancient Rome in its greatest glory.
8. A halo, nimbus, or aureole. Also called gloriole .
So I think we can say that in this case, we want the first definition of glorious, leading to the first definition of glory, which, at the very least, must imply a positive sort of morality and honour.



Moving on




And - That is 'in addition to.




Free - Here I stop. What does free mean? Are we talking about political freedom, things guaranteed by the Charter of Rights My dear Canadian sisters and brothers especially, if you have never read it, follow that link; it is not as concise and elegant as the American Bill of Rights, but it is much more specific and clear.




What I am getting to here is that to many of our fellow citizens, Canada has become neither glorious nor free. I am talking about the the Mohawk community in Tyendinaga. Please read the information below and follow the suggestions below in green.





I received this message to the members of The Sikh Activist Network.

--------------------
Subject: URGENT: Call of Support for Tyendinaga Mohawk Nations

Sadh Sangat Ji,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.



I am writing to you today with a heavy heart and a humble request. Over
the course of the weekend, while we have been enjoying our Vaisakhi
celebrations, the Mohawk community in Tyendinaga have been facing armed
invasions by the OPP, in their struggle for sovereignty.

Confronted by threats from construction firm, Nibourg Developments to
begin clearing land for construction along the Culbertson Tract, a
disputed tract of native land, protestors set up a blockade on Monday to
send a message to any would-be developers that there will be "not
another shovel in the ground". The land that is being contested was
signed to Mohawk nations in 1793. The original deed was for 92,000
acres; however, the actual size of Mohawk territory today is 18,000
acres
(http://www.ocap/. ca/files/ fsb-rgb-final. pdf
&l
t;http://www.ocap/. ca/files/ fsb-rgb-final. pdf> ).

Despite engaging in negotiations with OPP, tension has increased and
police have made 12 arrests, including the arrest of Mohawk leader,
Shawn Brant. The OPP has swarmed Mohawk protestors, with guns pointing
at them from every direction in an attempt to remove them from their
land through intimidation. The Mohawk community is NOT leaving their
land. However, this morning, they are facing armed invasions by the OPP
who are attempting now to physically remove them from their land. As a
result, the Mohawk nation has issued an Emergency call-out to all Allies
to respond in solidarity with their struggle.

This is why I am writing to you today, Sadh Sangat Ji. As a community
who is all too familiar with the colonial struggles that our families
and ancesotrs have faced, I am pleading with you to see the links
between these battles and our own so we can stand in solidarity with
Indigenous communities whose land we reside on. Land is a fundamental
aspect for Aboriginal spirituality. Through the continual loss of their
land, Aboriginal nations will not be able to perform sacred ceremonies
and traditions and will not be able to pass on their spiritual knowledge
to coming generations. As Sikhs, our Gurus have demonstrated the
responsibility we have to protect and defend the freedom of worship for
all peoples, as we would our own.

What you can do:

1. CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE
PREMIER!

Please call the premier's office immediately and urge them to:

-Honour Mohawk land, call off the OPP: Do not risk people's lives
for a gravel pit the government has already acknowledged is on Mohawk
land!

-Release all First Nations political prisoners!

Premier Dalton McGuinty: 416-325-1941 (phone)
416-325-3745 (fax)
dalton.mcguinty@
premier.gov. on.ca
<mailto:
dalton.mcguinty@ premier.gov. on.ca>

2. Call your political allies - please reach out to your MPs and other
political representatives in parliament

3. Attend the Rally:

TOMORROW: Tuesday, April 29th
12 noon

Ministry of the Attorney General
720 Bay Street
(Bay, just north of Gerrard, eastside)

OPP back off!
Free all First Nations Political Prisoners Now!
Hands off Stolen Land: Return the Culbertson Tract to the Mohawks of
Tyendinaga!

I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this message.





Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ****

**URGENT** Tyendinaga 9:30 am Monday morning, April 28th

We have just been informed by the Tyendinaga Mohawk community
spokespeople that SWAT teams are amassing now on the Deseronto
and Slash Roads, bordering the Tyendinaga quarry reclamation site.

Community spokesperson Jason Maracle has just been told by the OPP to
pull people out of the quarry because they are going in.

Tyendinaga Support Committee
support.tmt@
gmail.com <mailto:support.tmt@ gmail.com>

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
Yesterday's Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FROM TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY:

Ontario Jails Five More First Nations People Involved in Land Struggles

(Sunday, April 27, 2008 -Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory) Five men from
Tyendinaga are in jail today bringing the total number of First Nations
people in Ontario jails for defending their land to 12.

Ontario, it appears, has opted for the incarceration of First Nations
people over the resolution of outstanding land issues as their status
quo.

As for the Ontario Provincial Police, it appears the adoption of Justice
Linden's Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations is experiencing some delay.
While in custody at the Napanee Detachment several different officers
repeatedly informed Shawn Brant that they were going to "slit his
throat"
and that he was a "dead man."

This followed a similarly disturbing incident that occurred on Monday,
April 22nd during the road closures in Deseronto when an officer on the
scene clearly and audibly commented to her colleagues "we should just
shoot them (Mohawks) all."

Meanwhile, road closures continue in Tyendinaga and Six Nations until,
as
one man said, "We finish the job."

Spokesperson: Jay Maracle: 613-243-4993

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* *******

"Of any religion, caste or race, All I see is God's shining face, His
smiling face, His Gracious face"

- Guru Arjan Dev ji

The flags are those of the Mohawk Nation and of Canada.

Flags: If such things interest you - they do me - you might like to see many tribal flags at Growing Crazy Horse Memorial Flag Collection

--
WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

26 April 2008

A Letter To A Friend




Dear Bhai Laibar Singh Ji,

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa! Vaheguru ji ki fateh!!

Today is a very special day for me, the perfect occasion for me to write you this letter. Our mutual friend, Bibi Ninder Kaur, has promised me she'll see that you get it.

I am a few years older than you; I hope you won't mind if I talk to you as a slightly older sister. You know, older sisters are a little bossy, tease a little and are filled with love. So I will imagine you are sitting next to me in a big, comfy L-Z-Boy chair, your dastaar neatly tied and a big smile on your face.

When I first heard of your case, I paid little attention. A quadriplegic? Canada is a country with a big heart, filled with human compassion. They won't really try to deport this man. When I was proved to be wrong, I took up your case in this blog and also in my personal blog. (You can check out the 'Laibar Singh' labels in the right-hand column.) I have, through these months never wavered in my support of you. In a way not many can, I understand at least part of what you are going through.


Maybe knowing a little bit about me might clarify things. I am not going to write about my experiences in India in 1984 now; they are irrelevant to my point here. Let me just say that my life has had its share of tragedy.

Instead, I go back two years ago tonight. I died two times and was twice revived. I had a big stroke - major or massive, depending on who is talking. After the second revival, I was breathing and my heart was beating, but I was in a coma.


My husband was told to prepare for my funeral. He was further told that on the chance that I survived, I would be in a 'persistent vegetative state,' a human vegetable.


The doctors were willing to just let me die; they didn't even put me in intensive care. But thanks to excellent, loving care from a group of nurses named Kaur and a determined stubborn husband I survived.


When I woke up and grabbed for my hair, which my lovely nurses had kindly tied on top of my head, and it was clear I was conscious, my husband was told that my intelligence would be very little, in other words, I would be retarded.

When it slowly became clear that I did have both my wits and intelligence about me, we were both told I would never walk or talk again.

Don't believe these negative things you are told. Today I walk, a little wobbly, as I've lost some of my balance. I talk pretty well, although I've lost a couple of languages, French and Punjabi, which I used to know. I have never been able to pronounce the letter 'j,' however, and it still comes out as the French 'zh.' (Growing up, my brothers loved to coerce me into saying things like: Jumping Jiminy, James and John, jam and juicy jelly just jumped.' )

I am still recovering. My left side has little feeling except nerve pain (OUCH!!!). My left hand still clenches into a fist and hurts when I use it. I use it anyway. I have a goal that by the beginning of 2009, I'll be typing with both hands again. My languages remain locked away somewhere out of my reach - for now. And I trip over my own feet every time I try to Bhangra.

Enough about me! Let's talk about you.

Remain in chardi kala, Brother Laibar. Nothing can substitute for that. Nothing. I know sometimes it seems that everything is dark and horrible and you just can't take another second. I know in these past months there must have been times when you've been bored, unable to do what you are used to doing, frightened both of your physical condition and of what the Canadian government might pull next. Let me tell you what my Dad, a grand old Khalsa and a very wise man used to tell us:


When your enemy has his knife at your throat, his gun at your temple and his boot on your face, you laugh at him. 'Ha! You can kill me, but you can never defeat me!' That's chardi kala. That's what it means to be a Sikh.



This is your birthright, please claim it. Never give up and you'll never be defeated. Laugh a little - or a lot! I know I'd get a giggle if I ever saw a blogpost with a ribbon that said 'Save Mai Harinder Kaur!' or even just 'Save Mai.'

I am enjoying writing this, but I suppose it should end. I know many in the Saadh Sangat feel as I do about you; you are our brother and we will not let you down. I have no idea what will happen in your case, only this: Whatever happens will be the Hukam of Vaheguru! There is no way around that. Remembering that has gotten me through many difficult twists and turns in life's path.

I hope some readers will leave you some good wishes in the comments here (hint, hint), but my readers usually say very little, so I can just hope.


Oh, something personal and just friendly. Unless you have some emotional attachment to that black and white blanket, would you please get your friends at the gurdwara to get you something cheerful, maybe bright flowers or butterflies or even a lion? Tell them that Mai asks for that for you. If I could, I would send you the lion from my own bed. Unfortunately, that is my own husband's security blanket and I can't stand to see him cry.


So, my dear friend and brother, I close with the words my friends, I fear, get tired of hearing from me.


Be strong! Be brave! Have courage! Remember who you are and what you are and what you're about! Never give up! Never give in!


Gurfateh!


Chardi kala!


and


Love!


Your friend and sister,

Mai Harinder Kaur


P. S. - Suni and Vini also send their love!

Note: The photo is from earlier this month, given to me by Ninder Kaur. What a gorgeous beard and dastaar!

--
WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

20 April 2008

Desecration of the Guru by Our Own Institutions

Desecration of the Guru by Our Own Institutions
Thursday 17th April, 2008
Panthic Weekly News Bureau


Holy Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji stacked in a filthy corner of the complex

Click to View Photograph Galllery of Desecration

Sri Rakabganj Sahib, Delhi (KP) - Thirty years ago, thirteen GurSikhs laid down their lives in the city of Amritsar Sahib when the psuedo-Nirankari heretics began desecrating and insulting Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Sikh Nation considers Guru Granth Sahib Ji the living embodiment of the ten Gurus. Utmost respect and reverence is given to the sacred Saroops that contain the Holy Bani of our Gurus and Bhagats (saints). Three decades later, our very own institutions, are now the ones who are desecrating the Holy Saroops.

"Interestingly, the Prof. Darshan Singh & Missionary lobby is totally silent about the ongoing disrespect by Sarna and Company. Instead, they are busy criticising the Bani of Dasam Patshah, and internally promoting the likes of Chaman Lal and Hari Ratan Yukta."

Panthic Weekly was given photographic and video evidence by Sewadars of Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee (India) and the Shahbaaz Khalsa organization on the reckless beadbi that is occurring at the premises of "Gur Updesh Printers", the official printing establishment of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) under Paramjit Sarna and company.

When the DSGMC found out this evidence was being collected, they quickly confiscated the equipment of the sevadars—but fortunately, other equipment was still in their possession with which they collected this evidence of violations.


Uncovered Guru Granth Sahib Ji stacked like bricks on the ground

Ironically, the DSGMC has a budget of over 1 Billion (100 crore) rupees to manage Delhi based Gurdwaras, Sikh schools, and colleges. The massive complex at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, besides the historic Gurdwara Sahib, contains the well known Lakhi Shah Vanjara Hall, DSGMC offices, and the publishing center known as Gur Updesh Printers.

Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is the sacred site where Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji's body was cremated by Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara in 1675.


As Guru Ji's Saroops are being desecrated, the Siyaasi-masands of the DSGMC enjoy thier luxurious air-conditioned offices in the Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib complex

Due to mis-management and carelessness, this once serene and sparkling complex is now under the virtual control of the "siyaasi-masands' of the DSGMC.

For the last several years, the committee has been outsourcing Gurdwara seva to non-Sikhs and migrant Biharis. Their presence is known from the never ending line of discarded tobacco-bettle nut packs littering the complex.


Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib complex littered with discarded tobacco pouches

[GVID#]-3855856829121965984[/GVID#]
Click to video of littered tobacco pouches at Gurdwara Complex

In 2005, PW published an article "Bihari migrants desecrate premises of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib" http://www.panthic.org/news/125/ARTICLE/2097/2005-12-18.html which was an expose done by Shahbaaz Khalsa that illustrated how the Gurdwara Sahib premises was being misused and desecrated by these Bihari migrants (often referred to as 'Bhaeeyas'). These migrants continue to carry and chew tobacco on the premises of the sacred complex.

Per Sikh Maryada (Code of Conduct), alcohol, tobacco, and similar paraphernalia are not to be brought in or consumed on any Gurdwara premises. These same migrants are also in charge of the Langar Halls and other key duties throughout the complex.

Disrespect of Saroops

When visitors at the complex come to get Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, they are taken to a well kept hall with dozens and dozens of Saroops placed on Sukhasan platforms. Yet undercover footage of the same complex revealed that Bhayeeays strolled through the Sukhasan room without covering their heads. This is a major violation of Sikh Maryada.


Employees walk around with their heads uncovered in the Sukhasan Room for Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Visitors are further shocked to know that on one side, luxurious offices with marble floors, and expensive furniture are provided to Paramjit Sarna and his DSGMC staff, but behind the Sukhasan room, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji's Saroops are being printed in sub-standard unkempt areas littered with rubbish and scrap.


When the sewadars of the Satkar Committee visited the printing areas, they were shocked to see so many uncovered Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji stacked like bricks. Many of these Saroops were literally touching the ground, with just a thin rumala between them.

"How can this go on in an organization whose budget is in the crores of rupees? "

Although, there was the separate Sukhasan room in the complex, it was not being utilized for these Saroops, nor was it big enough to store all of these Saroops. The Satkar Committee sewadars spent several hours relocating some of the Saroops to the Sukhasam room, so they can be given proper respect, but only so many could be moved.

Stacks of Saroops Everywhere

As the sewadars moved throughout the complex, they saw more and more stacks everywhere, many left uncovered, and others carelessly covered by a single white bed sheet. The sewadars estimated over 300 Saroops in many of these giant stacks. There were dozens of these stacks throughout the hall.

Bhai Balbir Singh of the Satkar Committee estimated that all in all there were several thousand Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji being stored in that shabby complex, all without proper maryada and respect.

One of the Satkar Committee sevadars exclaimed, "How can this go on in an organization whose budget is in the crores of rupees? If they can afford, luxurious offices for themselves, why can't [they afford] the same for our King of Kings? Why is Guru Maharaj being kept in this condition? This is totally unexcusable!"


Hundereds of Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji stacked like bricks, dozens of such stacks were in the comple

Angs of Guru Granth Sahib tossed in Trash

Another shocking scene the sewadars encountered was that damaged or misprinted angs of Guru Granth Sahib were thrown into rubbish bins, along with normal paper waste. These Angs contained the sacred verses of Gurbani, yet they were being treated like trash.

The sewadars also saw one saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that had been parkash on a dirty desk, there were no rumallas or chaur sahib for that open saroop. It was left unattended, with a paper inserted in it as a place holder. Again, another huge violation of Sikh Maryada.


Discarded Angs of Guru Granth Sahib Ji thrown into rubbish bins.

Another violations the sewadars noted was that complete single volume Saroops were being printer in Hindi and Urdu. Sri Akal Takht directive does not allow single volumes of Guru Granth Sahib to be printed in any langauge other than Gurmukhi - only Senchees are allowed.

Sewadars of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee and the Shahbaaz Khalsa recently held a press conference in which this photographic evidence was handed to the press and then submitted to Sri Akal Takht Sahib so that this beadbi (extreme disrespect) could be stopped as soon as possible. Sadly, neither the appointed Jathedar Vedanti nor the press has taken notice of these violations.

Both organizations have appealed to the Panth at large, that pressure should be put on appointed Jathedar Vedanti to take stern action against the DSGMC executives so that this beadbi in their complex can be stopped.
To the Sikh Nation there is nothing more sacred than our sacred Gurbani, it is the very form of our Guru. That is why even the paper and the ink it is written with is called blessed.

ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਕਾਗਦੁ ਕਲਮ ਧੰਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਧਨੁ ਮਸੁ ॥
Blessed is the paper, blessed is the pen, blessed is the inkwell, and blessed is the ink.
ਧਨੁ ਲੇਖਾਰੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਿਖਾਇਆ ਸਚੁ ॥1॥
Blessed is the writer, O Nanak, who writes the True Name. 1

While there are those who will sacrifice everything for the respect and honor of this Sacred Holy Bani, there are many who will look the other way since it is much easier and fashionable in this day and age.

Historically, it was well known that Sikhs gained their power from the sacred Gurbani. It was so revered that Sikh kings such as Raja Ranjit Singh would always have Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth Sahib on thrones higher than them, generals would take both saroops on elephants into battle as commander-in-chief.

These very detractors of the Panth have attacked not only Sri Dasam Granth Sahib, but are also undermining the reverance and respect accorded to Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The 13 Shaheeds of '78 and others throughout history gave their lives to stop this very type of beadbi happening today. In the future, will there be any Sikhs left that stand up for their Guru's respect?

Click to View Photograph Galllery of Desecration

[edmail]



EVIDENCE - Panthic organizations appalled at the level of disrespect by Delhi Gurdwara Publishers.

I was up late last night looking at these pictures, my heart breaking. I am tempted to post all 33 from this gallery of shame, but it would take too long with my slow connexion and I want to get this up.

Pictures come to mind.

My Dad, at 97, still gracefully anf reverently bowing to Guru Ji.

Suni, clutching Guru Ji to her pregnant body as the fighting and carnage went on around her.

The shaheeds bowing with love and reverence before they left.

Myself, sitting cross-legged, tears on my face, coming home after an absence of 20 years.

Sitting here, typing, my eyes catch the little wooden box that holds the hairs from my combs. I can't help but think how the shed hairs from my head are treated with more respect than our dear Guru Ji.

Please send this link to the article to every Sikh you know. http://www.panthic.org/news/126/ARTICLE/4039/2008-04-17.html

And if they don't have access to the Internet, print it out and give them a copy. This obscenity must end at once!

I first read this article in the blog, The Confused Khalsa Rambles.



--



WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

Would You Bring Hitler To Justice?

Going through my e-mail, I came upon this editorial from The Panthic Weekly. It contains ideas I have often thought about, so I present it to you.

I noticed that their reference to the [person] generally known as 'KPS Gill' left out the 'S.' At first I thought it was a mistake or a misprint - until I considered that the 'S' stands for 'Singh,' a name Gill has forfeited all rights to. Very good, Panthic Weekly, and thank you!


Thursday 17th April, 2008
Niranjan Singh, Panthic Weekly Commentator


Scene of the recent BC Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan where the Government attempted to censor the photos of Great Sikh Heroes and Shaheeds

If you could go back and Bring Hitler to Justice—before the Holocaust, before Kristallnacht, before any of it—Would you do it? Would it be wrong? Well, Kim Bolan of the Vancouver Sun seems to think it's wrong.

In recent articles by the "reporter" in the Vancouver Sun, she has slated Sikhs, as a community, for respecting those that died to prevent horrific genocide—to stop those that would kill every man, woman and child out of hate for their beliefs or origins.

In the past few years, the Surrey and British Columbia governments have decided that free speech doesn't apply to the Sikhs. They have asked us to stop respecting our heroes, those that died for what they believed in, equality. They have asked us to forget our rich history of sacrifices for righteousness. They have asked us to give up our core beliefs and values because they don't fit in with their politically correct, diplomatic visions. However, this policy of forgetting the past causes many Sikhs to believe that Canada and other Western Nations are more concerned with economic deals with countries like India and China regardless of their human rights records. India: a country where University students admire Adolph Hitler as one of their top three heroes while denying The Holocaust ever happened.

It is well known in India and throughout immigrant communities that Indira Gandhi and her government had a clear cut plan to "unite" India at all costs, including sacrificing civil rights for Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and other minorities. One of the first objectionable actions by the government dates back 30 years when the government openly supported the creation of an anti-Sikh cult, that was guarded by a heavy para-military contingent that marched through the holy city of Amritsar. The march included derogatory words and actions by the cult leader as he openly defamed Sikh Gurus. When the Sikhs peacefully protested for them to stop, they were gunned down—mercilessly slaughtered. Sikhs tried to file police reports regarding the incident and they were turned away; justice denied. Yet Kim Bolan and various authorities seem to want to deny justice again by having us remove and denounce pictures that highlight their sacrifices.

However, what followed has left deeper wounds in the hearts of Sikhs. Operation Blue Star—not just an attack on Amritsar, but a series of simultaneous attacks on DOZENS of historical temples across Punjab—was meant to strike at the very heart, physically and emotionally, of the Sikhs. After that, riots were planned in the streets of major cities, as mobs were given voter rolls to identify Sikh homes and businesses, then more attacks.

In 1984, after witnessing the carnage of government run genocide across their state, targeting their people, "assassins" took it upon themselves to stop what they saw as wrong. Wouldn't any reasonable person when faced with untold numbers of innocent people facing torture and death at the hands of a hateful regime? The justification worked in World War II when The Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy, it's the same justification Bush used for the Iraq war: Stop those that would mercilessly slaughter thousands of innocents on a whim, before they are allowed to carry out their heinous crimes. Israel was created to stop hate against the Jews, Tibet should be free to stop persecution of a people because of their beliefs. Tibet in China is no different than Punjab in India—a people persecuted and oppressed by their own government.

Unfortunately, some of the plans still came to fruition. With the death of Indira as an excuse, the Sikhs faced their very own Kristallnacht. However the history of a people and a religion that has continually faced persecution for hundreds of years seems to be irrelevant to Kim Bolan. They are assassins because they killed someone she admires.

Kim Bolan's allegiances suggest that she doesn't frown on genocide. In fact, one of her known associates in the "Sikh" community is K.P. Gill, the so-called "supercop." She respects him for putting down what she calls "terrorism." What she doesn't seem to care about, is how this so-called terrorism was put down—torture, genocide, murder, mass graves, Gestapo-like tactics. This mass murder is condoned, and even admired by a reporter who doesn't bother to investigate the facts and clearly injects her strong bias and opinions into her articles.

Some may forget that at one time George Washington was a terrorist according to the British. So was Gandhi. In fact, Nelson Mandela famously quoted Gandhi in 2000 stating, "Where choice is set between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence…I prefer to use arms in defense of honor rather than remain the vile witness of dishonor." If standing up for what you believe in, if putting your life on the line to save others, and if asking for human dignity and the right to free speech and freedom of religion is terrorism. Then we are terrorists. Had the Americans lost the Revolutionary War they would've been known in history as assassins and terrorists, but instead they are looked up to across the world as symbols of freedom and liberty. What Kim Bolan doesn't seem to understand is that the majority of the Sikh community worldwide thinks she is a joke. The majority of the Sikh community, unlike the puppets she almost exclusively quotes, understands these issues and why we respect our martyrs.

First it's Jathedars Talwinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh Babbar who fought for the right to exist, then Bhai Fauja Singh who peacefully protested and was shot down, then it's Guru Gobind Singh Jee, who taught us that laying down and allowing oppressors to step all over you is not right and freedom and justice are principles a person can never give up. Will you ban them all?

Kim Bolan described Khalistan as "a mythical nation Sikh separatists want carved from Punjab." Perhaps Khalistan is a state of mind, perhaps it is a myth. Or perhaps it's the Empire built by our forefathers before the British came in and created the "mythical" state of India which later split our kingdom into the "mythical" states of India and Pakistan. Perhaps we just want to be left alone and have the right to self-determination—to exist—the right to free speech and the right to religion. Would you deny us that in your free democracy as well? Fortunately, in the democracy set up in Canada—our country too—even a minority's voice is heard, whether it be Kim Bolan or Sikhs calling for 'Sarbat da Bhalla," peace for the entire world and all who inhabit it.



If you could go back and bring Hitler to Justice—before the Holocaust, before Kristallnacht —Would you do it? Would it be wrong? Kim Bolan of the Vancouver Sun seems to think so. In recent articles by the "reporter", she slated the Sikh Nation for standing up against evil and tyranny.






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WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

19 April 2008

An Evocative Blog


I just did something I rarely do. I added a friend's personal blog to our link list. The blog is called evoking and its author is my friend Jasleen Kaur. I would like to invite you to read her blog and get to know her.


Jasleen is a very sweet, strong, devout lady whom Guru Ji called to be a Sikh. She has become a sister to me and I'd like to share her with our readers. Her story of how she came to Sikhi is told in her most recent post. Read it, you'll like it! And you might even learn something. I have become friendly with several bloggers on the list after adding them and , one way or another getting to know each. For some reason few of my friends blog and almost all of my blogging friends aren't Sikh and don't write on Sikh topics and hence don't belong here.


Perhaps I should let you know that Sitemeter, our statistical service lets us know about all the out-clicks from this blog, so we will know how many of you accept this invitation.


I need to write posts about the sentencing of Sukhvir Singh Ji's attacker and also this serious business about the disrespect shown our dhan dhan Guru Ji, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in Delhi. By the DSGMC. Here is a link for you, if you'd like to read about it.: Desecration of the Guru by Our Own Institutions


But it's Saturday night and I'm tired. Those things will just have to wait.


By the way, I roached the picture here from evoking without Jasleen's permission. Hehehehehehe...