After reading this, do something for yourself. Dress yourself smartly and stand up tall infront of the mirror but do not see yourself…see Guru Gobind stand before you. The Guru’s Pride and courage lies within you and the soul of the Gurus will always be a part of you.

YOU ARE A SIKH OF THE GURU, LEARN, DO NOT BE AFRAID, SIKH ARE FIGHTING A BATTLE DO NOT PULL OUT. JUMP INTO THE BATTLE AS A SIKH HAS ALWAYS DONE.

I met him at a film festival and found out about his upcoming work.

He is really doing a service to the community by making these films, and will be able to continue to do so as long as he has the funding! Be generous!

I love reading this site. I was just reading a few bits from people here, and wanted to add my comments. My hubby is Sikh, and I remember when we met – we met thru his friend, and they were afraid at first that I’d be like many and chide them. Instead, I welcomed he, his friend, and all their friends, Sikh or not with open arms. My only gripe is that he doesn’t wear his turban except for special occasions. He retains his beard/mustache, long hair, and wears his Kara, but I’m always begging he wear his turban. We are always looking after each other – he’s been there for me when I had gone thru some terrible family issues, and when people harrass him, I give them a few mouthfuls of old country lip. ( I am part british, and part middle european gypsy). Needless to say, I’m proud of my husband, who he is, who he represents, and I’m not only willing to stick up for those who are Sikh, but would love to do all I could to change society’s perceptions of Sikhs, Indian, and anyone else who suffers from such ignorance. I also want to add that for anyone who afraid to show pride for their religion, their culture, or anything else, because of harrassment – show them up by NOT letting them get to you…show who you are, and let that be your guide. My husband tells me how he’s proud because I don’t hide my gypsy heritage – one which has gotten much harrassment over many centuries, but I use it as an example to others to believe in themselves, and stand up to those who try to put them down. I had to tell a few people how THEY were in fact the terrorists, because they had called my hubby a terrorist without knowing anything more than what they saw. Those who have to harrass so ignorantly are the TRUE terrorists. ‘noFixedadderess’, I hope that you can finally be proud of yourself for being Sikh, and know that there’s one ‘American’ pulling for ya, and for anyone who feels the way you did. I also think that some PR for the Sikhs would be wonderful, but it must be the RIGHT kind…..the hilton sister s are nothing to be proud of. They’re nothing more than pigs who get FAR more atention than they should, and have no place in promoting the virtues and values held by Sikhs. Their antics are not only old, disgusting, and boring, but make an outright mockery of the values Sikhs hold. Rabbi Sergill is a far better example for PR, and should be given proper recognition here. What is needed is for non-Sikhs, especially those who are not Indian, and usually hurl their tortures – their crude remarks and nasty jokes at them due to lack of willingness to learn of the culture(s) to be be exposed by those true virtues, values, etc. One cannot make people more open minded by using those who help stereotype them. I had grown up with Indian food festivals, and learned about the culture right along with my own Polish, Hungarian, Slovack, and British roots, and as I grew up, I came to regaurd Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, and any other cultures just as my own. I also later found out that I had some Indian and Asian roots in my heritage I didn’t know about, which makes me TWICE as proud. I also hope to be learning more about all cultures, including Indian, and esepcially (but most definately not limited to Sikh). And if there’s any who are reading this who have been harrassed, esepcially Sikhs, you may definately email me, and I’d be glad to be friends. Maybe we could finally open the world’s mind towards other people with proper examples and stop the stupidity.

Pattie

*****”DASTAAR: Defending Sikh Identity” is hitting the festival circuit with great success. We had a good showing at the VC LA Asian American Film Fest, and several screenings are coming up:

THIS SUNDAY at the Dallas Asian Short Film Festival (www.affd.org) – Dastaar is one of the finalists for Best Short Documentary. Tell everyone you know in Dallas to check it out and with enough support it might win! Venue details at http://www.affd.org.

JUNE 15 at AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs Film Festival at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland. It’s up for an audience award so if you can make it please vote for it!

JULY 21, 8:30PM – DASTAAR: DEFENDING SIKH IDENTITY to screen at New York Asian American International Film Festival, held at the Asia Society.

Word, Sonia.

I dont know what you’re talking about dude.

This former Penthouse Pet is of Sikh descent. I don’t think her baring her booty has done much for brown/Sikh civil rights.

I think the best PR campaign that Sikhs in the US could get would be to have Vikram Chatwal getting it down with one of the Hilton sisters on “Mundian to bach ke rahein.” Quick, to the point and ‘hawt’

How about a Sikh Playboy Playmate?

Me thinks – Its guys who attack sardarji’s here. They will feel competitive and resent a sardar getting it down with a gori.

Therefore a sacrifice must be made; a buxom sardarni must be offered to placate the gora guys

What say Punjabi Boy?

wonder if a)the religion shouldnt associate outwardly appearance as its ‘identity’(pretty radical I know but the most practical,I have studied the sikh religion myself and never and nowhere did the gurus imply unshorn hair and turban asa pre-requisite to being a Sikh)

(simplified explanation) — When Guru Gobindji formed the Khalsa, he stipulated the five external symbols (kangha, kirpan, kaccha, kara, kesh) to his panch pyares. While Guru Nanakji gave the foundation and content to the Sikh religion, it was Guru Gobindji who externalized the religion with symbols and created a separate identity for the sikhs. It is arguable that the sikh religion would not have survived without this sort of externalization and identification. Messages and movements with similar messages (as Guru Nanakji) lost steam or were absorbed into larger religions (Hinduism, Islam). Ex. sufi movement in Islam (Kabir, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Fareed Skakarganj) and the Bhakti movement in Hinduism (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Mira Bai, Tukaram, Nam Dev, Vallabha Swami). The biggest threat to sikhs has always been the indirect absorption into hinduism. Without having to typing too much; let me say that in the past, periods of prosperity have led to moving of a signficant number of sikhs into hinduism. This is preceded by a loosening of external identity (usually by cutting hair). Ex., towards the end of the 19th century, sikhs dropped to below 9% of the total population in punjab leading to speculation that the religion would vanish and be absorbed as a variant of hinduism. I am not suggesting that this scheme of things should be continued or is good or bad, just trying to provide some context.

The troubling thing these attacks happened in probably the most cosmopolitan city in the world.