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Posted on 07/31/2009 11:01:02 AM PDT by Steelfish
Sikh soldiers guard Queen Elizabeth II
AP – [Pic in URL] Lance Corporal Sarjvit Singh, left, of The Army Air Corps, and Signaller Simranjit Singh of the Royal …
Fri Jul 31
LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II has switched bearskin hats for turbans outside Buckingham Palace, where Sikh soldiers have begun guarding the monarch and her treasures, Britain's defense ministry said Friday. Signaler Simranjit Singh and Lance Cpl. Sarvjit Singh are the first Sikhs to take part in patrols outside the queen's residence and to stand watch over the Crown jewels at the Tower of London across town.
Guard duties are usually carried out by the Guards of Household Division, famed for their bearskin hats and crimson coats that attract picture-taking tourists in their thousands. The ministry said the Sikh soldiers instead wore turbans and blue uniforms.
Other army regiments often help carry out guard duties at Britain's Buckingham Palace when the Household Division is on operations. The ministry said the two soldiers are the first of the 90 Sikhs in Britain's army to be handed the task.
"It's purely a coincidence that this has happened now," said a defense ministry spokeswoman, on condition of anonymity in line with policy. "Regiments take it in turn to stand in for the Household Division and it just happens that two of the soldiers this time round are Sikh." Sarvjit Singh, who was born in India and is a member of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, said he was thrilled to have had the opportunity to guard the queen.
"My experience being a Sikh on the queen's guard is beyond words," said the 28-year-old. "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel privileged to have this honor."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The Sikh are the GOOD GUYS!! She is in good hands.
Oh not to worry. We’ll soon have the turbans here too protecting BHO.
When in London get tickets to see the Ceremony of the Keys, when they lock up the Tower for the night. Much more fun than watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham.
Kudos on your effort to keep people from jumping to the wrong conclusion in this thread. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. :-)
Here we go again:
Sikhs aren’t Muslims or whatever you’re thinking. They HATE Muslims, actually.
Very cool! I used to work with a Sikh here at the office - really nice guy and a lovely family he had. He would go shooting with the ‘usual gang’ here every month, and was pretty good at it.
well, when I break something, I try to fix it... :D
IIRC Sikhs have a religious requirement to carry knives for the purpose of defending themselves against Muslims.
Sikh guards didn't work so well for Indira Ghandi; but then again it would be like having a Catholic guard after ordering an attack on Rome.... not too bright.
They do. It’s one of the five ‘K’s. Basically their commandments. Many just wear ornamental knives on jewelry as an adaptation.
Sikhs aren’t Muslims .... They HATE Muslims, actually.
... TM'ers.
The kirpan has both a physical function, as a defensive weapon, as well as a symbolic function. Physically it is an instrument of "Ahimsa" or non-violence. The principle of ahimsa is to actively prevent violence, not to simply stand by idly whilst violence is being done. To that end, the kirpan is a tool to be used to prevent violence from being done to a defenseless person when all other means to do so have failed. Symbolically, the kirpan represents the power of truth to cut through untruth. It is the cutting edge of the enlightened mind.Then again, given the activities of Muslims in India, you're not too far off the mark.
These guys are the bluest of blue chip. They can guard me anytime!
Their religion was created to defend against muslims. I didn’t refer to any specific religion or reason of the carrying of the kirpan. I was just clarifying that it’s often ornamental. They have adapted.
Not exactly.
The Guru was put in chains and ordered to be tortured until he would accept Islam. When he could not be persuaded to abandon his faith to save himself from persecution, he was asked to perform some miracles to prove his divinity. On his refusal, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in public at Chandni Chowk on 11 November 1675. Guru Ji is also known as "Hind Di Chadar" ie to save Hinduism, Guru Ji gave his life
Sikhs have been fighting Islamist fanatics a lot longer than we have.
What happened to the Gurkas?
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