Hi,

I am neither Sikh, nor Muslim, Arab, South Asian etc. but I think the following question unites us all:

How did we ever end up with the three stooges Rumsfeld, Bush, and Cheney along with scriptwriter Karl Rove and Archangel Condi in charge of the most beautiful and powerful nation on earth?

It is sooo scary to think that they actually believe good old JC will arrive soon and therefore they don’t have to worry about the environment and that ozone hole which is getting bigger and bigger. It is sooo scary to think that they actually believe JC is near and when he arrives, he will clean up the whole mess in no time!

About Barbara Bush’s comments, "And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this --this is working very well for them.” Spoken like a true Bush, Barbara!!

Sincerely Skeptisch

I agree that what innocent Hindus and Sikhs have experienced after these attacks is awful... I myself come from sikh and hindu backgrounds and it really, really upsets me to see these innocent people who love the US and Britain being harassed.... I have been in similar positions and it feels awful, because I love the US, yet some Americans look at me with suspicion. The same goes for most Arabs and Muslims who are good people, but the situation is tough as all groups want respect and tolerance, but they also want ppl to know the differences between the groups.

HOWEVER, mistaken identity and racial profiling is natural after these traumatic attacks... it is the fault of the Muslims who do these attacks. You shouldn't blame the governments of our countries or even the people... blame those who perpetuate the negative stereotype, which not only hurts us but hurts themselves.

I mean, if Chinese terrorists attacked a country, then Koreans, Japanese, etc would be profiled too... and thatis awful, no doubt... but it is a natural and logical reaction after a traumatic attack.

I blame the 19 Arab Muslims who did 9/11 on all this trouble, not the government.

I think Muslims must show a willingness in associating with Hindus and Sikhs. I feel that they go out of their way to distance themselves. The ball is in their court.

Islam has well-funded institutions, university chairs, Centers for Islamic Studies, and clerical authorities that are ever present to appear on TV and quell the bad press. Sikhism and Hinduism have no voice and no face to come to their rescue. Oh, we do have Deepak, a reluctant representative, who would rather distance himself from Hinduism than support it. Under the circumstances, I don't blame the scared old Hindu grandmother who must fend for herself when she goes out shopping in choosing to put a fat bindi on her forehead to show that she's not Muslim. It's sensible to do so.

Then there is the very large problem of Hindus distancing themselves from Hinduism. The Hindu elite, both in India and abroad, never have a kind word to say about Hinduism. What good can such a body of people do for anybody? I do admire the Muslims and Sikhs in this respect for the pride they display in their culture.

It is sad that the South Asians must collectively suffer. I think the well-funded Islamic institutions must invite Hindus and Sikhs to form a committee to deal with this if we want to form one voice. If Muslims think we are not good enough to associate with then we must form our own defense.

you may want to read kavita chhibber's huge story on the sikh community in North America-kavitachhibber.com

Dave, Thank you for the great article. I do understand the importance of the two pronged approach you have mentioned. In the terrible times of 9/11 and its aftermath and 7/7 and its aftermath, you need to act with approaches like what you have mentioned. This apart, I think we need a single pronged approach to educate people from all the religions that EVERY religion has a vast majority of peace loving people and some fundamentalists. It is the fundamentalists who are responsible for destruction. Efforts must be taken by people to educate people from THEIR own religion to understand that ALL religions have extremists and peace loving people. If this is put deep into their mind, we can, to some extent, avoid such disasters like 9/11 and definitely the after disasters effects. Govt. cannot do this as it will not have an effect on them. You have to tell this to people of your religion, I have to tell it to people of my religion and so on. It applies to everyone from all religions. You will encounter words like "pseudo secularist, communists, etc on the way. You just have to ignore them and make those naive and ignorant people see the bigger picture. In fact, Deepak Chopra's post on this issue is really an eye opener. I feel that efforts in this direction is lacking in all the religions. More sane and educated people should understand the bigger picture first and then educate people around them. This is what I consider as the most important and urgent task which we should set out to do.

Good Evening Dawinder . . .hope all is well. Thank you for posting such an engaging topic. Tolerance . . .acceptance . . .acknowledgment of pluralism within global humanity.

In relation to your question - I think it is important for all races and cultures to educate one another on their own backgrounds, as well as to be tolerant and accepting of others. Until we begin these steps within ourselves . . . stopping the Us versus Them verbiage and thought processes . . .we will never have a chance to come close to a society which looks for the best possible outcome for global humanity.

Pluralism is such a unique and difficult mindset for society to achieve . . .but individuals such as yourself who bring the possibility to the public is essential. Programmes such as yours, as well as initiatives like The Global Centre for Pluralism being built and opened in Ottawa, Canada by the AgaKhan and the Canadian Government, are crucial in terms of looking at the factors in all realms of society that promote the success of pluralistic values and foundations. We need to look at how each of us can celebrate the diversity not only within ourselves - but within each of our neighbours, family and friends. Diversity should strengthen society - not destroy it.

Welcome to the family on IntentBlog and I look forward to more engaging and thought provoking posts. Wishing all an abundance of happiness, laughter, friendship, love, tolerance, acceptance, humility, knowledge, peace, patience, understanding, kindness, serentity, tranquility and inner bliss . . .Laila

First a sad sarcastic comment:You do not start digging a well when you are dying of thirst.
Second:do not seek to dilute your effort by hoping for the participation of the others.
This problem has an immediate action necessary and, it needs a CONTINUOUS ongoing community education effort.Immediate action will require MEDIA EXPOSURE PLATFORM,purchase of announcement space in NEWS PAPERS,APPEARANCE IN FULL TENTORIAL AND SARTORIAL REGALIA at public forums,soup kitchens, homeless shelters and a BARRAGE of letters to congressmen and senators and also OP-ED write-ups/letters in news papers.
Continuous efforts begin at public elementary and middle SCHOOL EDUCATION level through efforts at introducing diversity understanding lectures and show and tell classes.
Extending invitations to school children and western associates for BHANGRA functions or GURDWARA activities is immensley helpful.
IT IS A SAD REALITY THAT EQUALITY OF INTELLECT STANDS NO CHANCE OF RECEIVING FAIRNESS WHEN FACED WITH INEQUALITY OF NUMBERS,IGNORANCE,INTOLERANCE
AND BIGOTRY.

Hi To all,
Well.. I want to make comment on racial profiling ..I am Hindu and fit into 'Terrorist Profile' because Indian and Pakistani have same race profile..
I take San Francisco BARTrain daily And I do not mind if cops searching me daily because I am fitting into Profile...Bottomline is terrorism should be prevented and cops should do their job and everybody knows who is terrorist it is either Abdul,Salim or Hasan etc..and you can check last 15 years records may be 1 or 2 exception you find...My question for people who oppose racial profiling is hypothetically If some blue eyed Irish guy is making terrorist attack on Bombay airport .What would you expect from indian goverment will search every white guys(Irish,German,Scandavian,...etc Etc)...
Jignesh

Hindu, Muslim, Sikh all the same and we should all stand up for each other.

From afar and never having experienced any of this I find it exceedingly difficult to contribute on the profiling.

Jignesh has a very pertinent question. Though I do understand the need for caution I think it can be done with much more care and concern for others. Sania Mirza, our teen, tennis prodigy made another equally pertinent observation during her post match interviews at the US Open. She was asked what she felt like to be so popular and such a star from the view point of being an Indian and a muslim. Her reply was she she wonsdering why none of the others, who are of varied religions and nationalities, have never been asked a similar question.

Divya,
I was quite disturbed by your observation that you feel hinuds are distancing themselves from hinduism. Though I don't think so myself, if what you say say is even remotely true it is a pity.

Personally I'm a Zoarastrian, not a very religious person and with no deep knowledge of any religion including my own. What I like most about the hindu way of life is that it sees divinity in everything. People often, in my opinion, refer to hindus as idol worshippers. My limited knowledge and observations tell me this is utter nonsense. Hindus believe divinity exists in all nature. It resides in stones, trees, water, animals and humans and these idols are merely reminders of that fact. Its the concept that is worshipped not the idol. Maybe a very unpolished and perhaps even ignorant interpretation of hinduism but for me its wonderful.

Dave,

Great post and equally interesting responses.

The education your discussing I suspect could be handled with a very simple campaign: Terrorism is the Ultimate Hate Crime...or "Hate Crime is Terrorism".

Think about the attacks on GB and the US and MANY other countries throughout the years were ultimately about hatred based on a "broad stroke". The idea that you could fly a plane into a building, or set a bomb off in a train filled with complete strangers is really about generalizing people which is not sane. It's about not seeing the individuality of people and in fact their divinity.

We all need to understand that violence against anyone based on some image that they may represent in our minds is terrorism pure and simple.

We feed terrorism by painting anyone with a broad stoke.

Peace,
Scott.

Jignesh - I agree with your observation on racial profiling. People here are so full of guilt and so burdened with political correctness that they have to invent all kinds of convoluted solutions.

Dara - I probably didn't express myself clearly enough. Hindus distance themselves from their traditions politically, not spiritually. Since hinduism is not really a religion, i.e., it does not have a belief system or a theology, but is only a set of traditions and stories (and, for some, superstitions), the effect of this culture seeps into the Indians who grow up in India. So it is a part of us and hardly something one can distance oneself from. Politically, however, it is another story. The Indian elite are deeply influenced by western discourse. The west has always depicted the Indian traditions as backward, idol worship, serpent and cow worship, etc. I think Hindus have internalized these negative characterizations of hinduism. It is probably in an effort to align themselves with their colonial masters, who they wish to emulate in every way, that Indians go about distancing themselves from Hinduism.

Growing up in India, the phrase idol worship was incomprehensible to me. It seemed so inconsequential. What difference does it make? Who really believes that people worship stone and brick? It was later when I studied the history of Christianity that I began to understand what a big deal it was. Entire continents have been ravaged on account of idol worship. Without the concept of idol worship to contrast itself against, Christianity would have no identity. In creating this identity for itself, Christianity had to denigrate other religions -first the Jews and the pagans and then the Hindus. The Hindus, being clueless about the nature of Christianity, went completely on the defensive - actually sir, it's not really a piece of wood, it's symbolic - or they fell right in line with the Christians and began to accuse their own traditions of idol worship, empty rituals, brahman tyranny, etc. This is the way in which Hindus distance themselves from hinduism.

Divya,

Actually the admonishment to avoid idol worship goes back to Judaism as it is part of the 10 commandments.

The Bible, however is ALL symbols (as with all ancient holy text). Even the historic events that took place should be read symbolicly. In other words, whether they actually happened or not is of less importance than what they represent in human consiousness.

The admonishment to avoid idol worhship actually has nothing to do with a statue...but rather it is the warning to avoid making an identity of that which is not "real"...anything that is temporary is not real: money, ego, relationships, etc. etc. Those things can be enjoyed and are important on some leve but once an identity is made of these things then only suffering can come of it. Because ultimately all of those things must pass away and if I "am" my money or my thoughts or my relationhship then what happens when those things dissolve? I suffer. So the commandment is not about angering God, it is a way for me to avoid suffering...the Commandments were meant to be attained naturally by embracing the first commandment "Thou Shall Have no Other God before me"...God is all that is infinite and making a god of the finite will cause pain. In focusing on that that is infinite and never changing the rest of the commandments are naturally attained.

All religions state this and so all religions point the way. Idols or symbols of the Divine are helpful to many as they allow us to focus on an aspect of the infinite and devote ourselves. They are only a problem for our growth if they are taken literally.

One of the stumbling blocks to the understanding of the bible by so many Christians is that it is an Eastern text that is being interpreted by Western thought. It is studied in a very "Left Brain" sort of way. In other words, what is there is taken as literal rather than symbolic. When that happens we run into all sorts of problems.

Interestingly enough, Muslim fundamentalists are actually reading the Koran with a Western mind set.

I'm not bashing Western thought. Left brained thinking has created wonderful technology and enormous leaps in our understanding of Science and the Universe. However, without right brain thought, the human race cannot take the next leap...it can never concieve of the next step because the next step cannot be quantified only intuited.

It's time to embrace the next step I think.

Peace,
Scott.

Scott it is so wonderful to have you back on the blog again!! Your ability to articulate concepts in a 'user friendly format' is welcome. I agree with your comments above . . . and yes - it is certainly time for us to embrace the next step . . . wishing everyone an abundance of laughter, joy and happiness . . .Laila

While putting a sticker pronouncing your faith is going too far, I don't see anything wrong with indicating that you aren't Muslim. I think South Asians are probably being attacked as a general reaction to immigration that has bubbled over with 7/7. I don't think the local lads that are beating up a Sikh or Hindu person are going to stop if told that person is not Muslim. It's more their general frustration and anger at lack of love, lack of a social network, and the other usual downsides we see of individualistic Western civilization that are being expressed here. Whether it's Columbine or 7/7 or the attacks you speak of, I don't see much difference. What needs to be addressed is why such people aren't growing up properly, what's being fed into their minds at tender ages, whether it's Kill-Bill-style American culture or Laden-style Islamic culture. That's the key.

As for the stares from normal people, I think it's natural for people to be scared and suspicious given the environment? Do you really think a terrorist Muslim can't wear a badge that says he's Hindu?

So there's nothing you can do about the short term. For the long term, I think as Hindus or Sikhs, the best way to be is just be ourselves: open-minded, accepting, jovial, polite and kind. Inviting people to our events, as someone suggests, is helpful. But much more helpful, I think is attending British events. I think integrating into British life is what's more important. Rather than getting British kids to see our way of life, we really should be taking the initiative by getting out more and experiencing (and accepting) their way of life. The more they see us around their events and celebrating enjoyable British traditions, the more accepting and open to us and our's they'll be. And for Hindus, Sikhs or Buddhists, there's nothing in our scriptures preventing us from doing that.

As for the question of standing with the Muslims or distancing ourselves, I don't think we need to expressly state we aren't Muslim. Again, a terrorist Muslim could and would say the same thing. So it's irrelevant.

All this is of course, discounting racism where people believe someone who isn't white doesn't deserve to be in their country or even to live at all. You can't change the minds of such people, so all you can do is make sure you protect yourself. And in this endeavour, rather than creating an exclusively Hindu or exclusively South Asian body, creating a secular civil rights group that speaks for all (including for example, whites and local minorities who are targets of Muslim violence) would be much better. Doesn't such a group already exist in Britain?

In brief, just be yourself. Such a reaction is normal and natural. The only way to prevent such things is to make sure more terrorists aren't being created amongst your countrymen.

Mr. Dave Sidhu,

With all due respect, sir, you are asking a question that should not emanate from, in my view, an enlightened mind! You are, perhaps unwittingly, maintaining the insidious global religio-social status quo. I hardly expect this kind of close-minded subliminal elicitation from a man who wants to tell us all about his outstanding academic achievements when, as far as can see, have not one iota to do with the integrity and relevance of the question he has asked.

Dave, why do you think it is important for us to know what universities you have attended and what your academic achevements are? And what relevance and importance do they bear to the "sincerity" of the important question you have asked?

Peace!

P.S. Absolutely no offense meant. Just curiosity!

Mr. Saywack, as this is Mr. Sidhu's first post, he was merely attempting to introduce himself to the readers. His educational background isn't relevant to the merits of his discussion of British Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims -- and Mr. Sidhu acknowledges this by separating the introduction from the "substance" of the post. His background is relevant, however, to those interested in the author himself. Other contributors have provided some biographical information in their first posts for the benefit of the readers, and this post is no different in this regard. In other words, lighten up!

~ Neelu

ps - no offense intended!

Neelu,

Thank you!

I am glad that you agree with me, the author's education is vainful info and completely irrelevant to the subject matter he chooses to entertain, irrespective of the biodata provided by other contributors to this medium. You are a bright lady.

It is absolutely imperative that we discuss further the subject of religion. We must use common sense and basic intelligence in our challenging and herculean effort to "decode" the mystery of the universe and the notion of a god! We cannot, and must not, surrender our power of reason and logic, which undoubtedly is strongly and explicitly espoused by most religions.

What kind of world was it when the Bible and Kuran was written? Has the world remained static since? How much has the last century revolutionized our thinking of reality? What does the future hold? Will the human race ever divest itself from religion?

In the 19th century, imagine yourself living in this world. There was no television, radio, automobiles, airplanes, computers, street lamps, paved hi-ways or bi-ways, etc, etc. Can you see how easily things can be begun an later become cemented into the traditional, transcended faric of society?

More on this later!

Best regards,

Ron Saywack,

P.S. Without religion, there will be no divisions of large classes of people into distinctive categories of Us v Them!

Mr. Saywack, you MISUNDERSTOOD my comment as an endorsement of your own interpretation of Mr. Sidhu's introduction. In fact, I was DEFENDING Mr. Sidhu's inclusion of his biographical information because it is a way for readers to get a glimpse into who the author is.

This background information is not only informative, but can serve as the basis for associations and connections with the readers. For example, in Sohaila Kapur's first post, she writes that she is "a playwright and theatre director from New Delhi, India." Not surprisingly, one commenter writes, "My brother is a theatre artist,and works extensively in Delhi." Another states that he is an actor. Again, I repeat my previous comment, the biographical information IS relevant to the extent that it provides readers with a human component to the discussion. Mr. Sidhu gave us that, and by clearly separating the "biodata" from the "substance" it appears that he did not want the former to effect the latter. You seem to be the only one who is mistaking this friendly introduction as a "vainful" attempt to infect the merits of the post. You may be right about one thing, though, I am a bright lady :)

~ Neelu

Hi Neelu,

Thank you, it's obvious that you are defending Mr. Sidhu! There are merits to your comments!

Now, I am eager to learn of your own biodata. Will you so oblige?

Respectfully,

Ron Saywack.

I'm married! :)

~ Neelu

My dear friend, Neelu, very informative, indeed.

Ron.