Posted on 10/15/2004 7:15:36 AM PDT by flutters
Terrorism task force, FBI called in over weapon that is integral to faith
His first name means "God’s prayer."
And prayers were what Gursimran Singh, 18, was counting with a mechanical clicker as he rode an Ohio State University bus this week — and what he’s done on the bus every day since school started a few weeks ago.
Singh, a devout Sikh and OSU freshman, also was wearing a turban on his head and a kirpaan, a ceremonial knife, in a sling within his clothing. The knife had a 6-inch blade.
Wearing a kirpaan, he said, is crucial to the Sikh religion.
But fellow riders and the bus driver didn’t understand.
Singh, a Cincinnati native, was arrested Wednesday morning after OSU police officers stopped him as he got off the bus.
The joint terrorism task force was called in, an OSU police report shows, and the FBI interrogated Singh.
No charges were filed against Singh, said OSU Assistant Police Chief Rick Amweg, and within about 2½ hours, he was back in class.
"I was just shocked," said Singh, who said he doesn’t harbor anger toward the officers and that he was treated with respect.
He did question, though, why it took several officers to arrest him and two to handcuff him.
"I thought it only took one person," he said yesterday afternoon.
Though Singh didn’t know it at the time, the arrest was the culmination of an incident when he rode the bus about a week ago, when some other OSU students became suspicious and took pictures of him with cameras on their cell phones, Amweg said.
At the time, Singh was using his prayer clicker, which he said counts his prayers not unlike a Catholic’s rosary beads.
The students turned his picture over to OSU police, who then began a watch for Singh, Amweg said.
"Our concerns were that we needed to identify who he was, and what he was doing," he said, adding that he thought the students did the right thing.
In the course of trying to find Singh, police on Saturday stopped another Sikh student on the street, Amweg said.
That man was a second-year OSU medical student. He was questioned for about a half-hour and not charged.
But on Wednesday, a bus driver recognized Singh from a picture police had circulated to OSU drivers and radioed for police.
At least one member of the Sikh community said it’s a shame that those of his faith are lumped together with terrorists.
"After 9/11, people have become hypersensitive, or actually hyperdefensive," said Tarunjit Singh Butalia, a research scientist at OSU and faculty adviser to the OSU Sikh Student Association. "I think what happened here is an example."
Butalia, who is a member of the World Sikh Council, American region, urged people of different faiths to get to know one another.
As many as 36 students are Sikhs at OSU, and there are 100 Sikh families in Columbus, Butalia said.
"I would encourage people who see someone different to go up and to ask questions."
Sikhs, with 20 million followers worldwide and their largest populations in India and Pakistan, have never been tied to the Sept. 11 attack.
Prosecutors had considered charging Singh with carrying a concealed weapon, which Ohio code says is any "instrument, device or thing capable of inflicting death," but case law exempts the kirpaan.
"We stand by the right to wear a kirpaan," Butalia said.
The knife’s name means "bringer of mercy" and represents the Sikh pledge to be ready to oppose oppression — but to never start a confrontation.
OSU police have agreed to be at the next meeting of the Sikh Student Association, and Sikh students will attend a police training seminar next quarter to foster communication, Butalia said.
Singh said he would like to see everyone become more knowledgeable about differences.
"It would probably have been better if they (the students) had approached me, and asked me questions," he said.
He remembers pre-9/11 days, when "you didn’t stand out."
And then there is now: "I mean, Osama bin Laden wears a turban."
Amweg said he doesn’t criticize the students for contacting police.
"I think we had good citizen involvement. They did what they should have and reported it, and it all worked out for the best."
I know that the "sword" reference is to the Word of God, not an actual sword. However in this day and age, with the threats that we are facing, do you think that God would not want us to be armed with steel as well?
My daily carry piece is the Kimber 1991A1 .45cal ACP "Eclipse Target II":
http://www.kimberamerica.com/eclipse.php
> whereas Orion appears to think that weapons are more powerful than the Word of God
I'll take a .45 when confronted with a mugger, thank you. The Word OF God is notoriously unreliable.
>it is the Word of God that bought the universe into being, and everything in it, seen and unseen
Sorry, wrong. The universe and everything in it, seen and unseen, was sneezed out the nose of the Great Green Arkelseizure.
I suggest you actually pick up a Bible and read it sometimes. Rather a vast numebr of references to swords being used by Jews/Christians.
-"I would encourage people who see someone different to go up and to ask questions."-
Um...yeah. I hope they speak English, and if they were baddies, could I shoot them?
A guy with a knife is quite dangerous (if dangerous, that is), even more so than one with a gun in some cases. If they suspected a knife, that'd be a reason to call in some extra backup.
God can and does use physical weapons to serve his purposes. But we must not ever think our individual lives may be saved by the physical sword, for then we shall die by the sword. Put your trust in God, in His Word, and live, not just in this life, but in the world to come. Anyone who puts his trust in the power of this world, including those who believe in false gods, like those of Islam and Hinduism, will surely perish for all eternity.
> "all who take the sword will perish by the sword"
The women of our country long ago learned that those without swords can still die on them.
> I urge you to renounce Satan
I urge you to renounce Elmer Fudd and all his works.
Yes. Which is exactly why I advised the Sikhs running the corner 7/11 (Who'da thunk it) to put up a US flag on 9/11.
It was tough, but I did eventually come to renounce Elmer.
I had not imagined there were so many pagans and ignorant people on Free Republic. I will pray for you. While there is life there is hope!
I fully support the NRA and the right of people to keep and bear arms of very sort, including swords. What I do not support is people misquoting scritpure and taking the Lord's name in vane, as you have done.
That was after she had ordered Indian troops to shell the holiest Sikh temple. Furthermore, she was well on the path to replacing India's Westminster-style parliament with authoritarian rule, so her Sikh bodyguards probably did India a favor.
it is very probable that Sikh terrorists blew up a jetliner on an India-Canada flight ten or more years back.
The difference from Muslim terrorism was that when those Sikh extremists did that, the Sikh community in Canada and India soundly condemned that act.
If your religion required you to wear a WWJD t-shirt, they couldn't make you take it off any more than a public school could make a Sikh teenager take his turban off.
Geez, a knife. Oh, forgot that Muslim is a religion of peace
This guy is a Sikh, not a Muslim.
> I fully support the NRA and the right of people to keep and bear arms ...
How do you square that with: "we must not ever think our individual lives may be saved by the physical sword?' Especially given the VAST amount of evidence that defending onesself witha sword (or, more recently, a gun) is a marvelous way to save one's life?
> misquoting scritpure ... as you have done
Where? I copied-and-pasted the quote straight out of an online Biblical text.
> taking the Lord's name in vane ... as you have done
Where?
> I had not imagined there were so many pagans and ignorant people on Free Republic.
Look at any Crevo thread.You'll see the ignorant pagans come out in full force in defense of "Creation Science," massively tarring decent and thoughtful Christians with their poofist nonsense.
> It was tough, but I did eventually come to renounce Elmer.
Good. Now, renounce all the other imaginary beings, and you'll be set!
> While there is life there is hope!
Indeed so. You may yet be redeemed and find yourself a place in the halls of Asgard.
I've already showed you where. You quoted scripture to say the opposite of what Christ intended, as is clear from the passages I quoted. Remember, the devil can quote scripture. And when he does so, it is always blaspheme and taking the Lord's name in vain. I would be happy to explain more fully, but first you must read John, chapter 1, verses 1-5 and Ephesians, chapter 6:11-18. To understand what sort of armor one needs for life, I urge you to read that brief passage from Ephesians. It may save your soul.
The reason a physical sword can never save your life is obvious if you remember that Jesus is not talking about your transient life here on earth. He's talking about the life of your soul, which goes on forever, after this brief life, either in Heaven or in Hell. He says, "I set before you life and death; now therefore choose life." He's not talking about the life of flesh and blood.
The joint terrorism task force was called in, an OSU police report shows, and the FBI interrogated Singh.
One Sikh student carrying a ceremonial knife, who is a regular rider of the bus, justifies a swat-like team to arrest him (and the probable cause was what?), he is interrogated for two-and-a-half hours, and the joint terrorism task force and the FBI is called in--but we can't be bothered to secure our borders, or arrest and hold the illegals in the country, including many thousands of middle easterners.
Prosecutors had considered charging Singh with carrying a concealed weapon, which Ohio code says is any "instrument, device or thing capable of inflicting death," but case law exempts the kirpaan.
And an openly displayed six-inch knife with its handle out of its sheath is a "concealed weapon?" I think much of what passes for the "War on Terror" is simply a justification for security types to go nuts, at our great expense, trampling the rights of the innocent, while doing little to enhance our security.
You are quite wrong about the passage from Matthew. His words were prompted by the sword used to cut of the ear of the soldier, the very sword the disciples mistakenly believed Jesus wanted them to have for the occasion. You've made the same mistake Peter made! So, you're in good company in that regard.
I have to run now. I encourage you to keep growing in your faith and your knowledge of the Word. Please understand that I seek always to live by the whole counsel of God.
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