Posted on 04/19/2013 9:49:05 PM PDT by Jyotishi
Washington - Sikh Americans expressed concern over the possible backlash against the community in the aftermath of the twin bomb blasts in Boston marathon early this week.
Having a bitter experience after 9/11 and a target of hate crime, Sikh leaders urged the community to be careful and vigilant against any violence directed against them.
"In the past, any terrorist action which resulted in American lives, have led to negative impact and violence on the Sikhs who are often targeted due to their conspicuous appearance," said Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education.
"Many Sikh places of worship have been vandalised and attacked in the aftermath of 9/11 and we fear that the Boston tragedy might trigger another wave of reaction against members of the Sikh community," Singh said.
"The Sikh community joins Americans of all backgrounds in expressing our profound condolences and sympathies to the people of Boston, and the participants of the Boston Marathon, after the horrific and tragic bomb attacks that killed and injured so many people," he said.
The Boston bombing, he said, has shocked the Sikh community which is still recovering from the attack at the Wisconsin Sikh Temple a few months ago.
"We feel the pain and suffering of the victims in Boston," Singh added.
"We are requesting everyone, Sikhs and Non-Sikhs, to come together and hold vigilance to show our resolve and solidarity with those killed and injured," said Inderpal Singh Gadh, chairman of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, a Sikh center in Rockville.
Sikh leaders said this is a time for the community to pull together.
"We are asking all members of the Sikh community to be vigilant. We are urging all Sikh Gurdwaras (temples) to review their security procedures and to be in contact with their local police departments, possibly to request additional patrols," he said.
Meanwhile, many mosques all over the US held special prayers services for the victims of the Boston terrorist bombings. The prayer services were held in congregation during the early yesterday afternoon Sabbath services.
"American Muslim leadership must break this cycle of terrorism, demonisation and more terrorism. Islamophobic media bashing and school bullying is making the Muslim students depressed and angry and a few can resort to violence," said Dr Shaik Ubaid, the New York Co-chair of Muslim Peace coalition USA.
"American foreign policy of waging unjustified war is also a major contributing factor. The Muslim leadership must put in place programs to teach American youth peaceful ways of showing dissent," he said.
>> Don’t leave out Moslems, and Scientologists and Voodoo, and Buddhism.
Not so sure about Voodoo/witches/Wicann (or whatever they are called) myself! but you are right, of course, and we both forgot Hindus, which is not the same religion as Sikh.
>>Bigoted Christians make me ashamed of them.
The response to his comment has been very gratifying.
Does the country they were born in not need people? This country does not have to be at “standing room only” condition!
This country is largely prosperous because it has surplus resources “per capita”. Import more people to acquire more terrorism, crime, welfare cases? Why?
>> Better yet. Go down to one of those Muslim neighborhoods in Dearborn Michigan and wear a t-shirt with a cross in front a see if you come out in one piece.
Sounds like fun. If I didn’t have responsibilities, I might play along....
Need to get over 9/11/2001? FU!
I have not got over 12/7/1941 yet, and I was not born until 1946!.
>> Bigoted Christians make me ashamed of them.
It’s not necessarily about bigotry, but generalizations.
If bigotry is a concern, then let’s not discount the US Citizens of Muslim faith that respect the Constitution and want the promise of America... despite my opinion that Islam is a war plan.
Evangelize Christianity.
I’d rather be around real Sikhs than phony Christians.
>> Need to get over 9/11/2001? FU!
Sharpen your tacks.
Ask TJ.
Me too.
And the Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting was a few months ago.
They both tend to wear turbans and are brown people. That is all some morons need to lump them in together (see below).
Once again I hope ALL moose limbs are nervous about this. Including the chief mooseie turd win the white house.
LOL! So you still hate the Japs then, eh?
Um. Ok. Do I really need to do a search for crimes targeting Christians?
You must have interesting friends to be able to know enough self proclaimed Christians doing that stuff, as to make it significantly large a number as to be relevant.
I grew up in an urban bastion of liberal glory. The people I refered to weren’t friends. Occasionally, one or more would make the news and their mother or grandmother would talk about how they were such good boys. On Sunday, you’d see these young fellows in a coat and tie on their way to a “Rev Wright, Social Justice” type of Church.
Of course, they called themselves Christian...
I grew up in a very bad neighborhood. It was also a very liberal neighborhood. I’m sorry, I’m repeating myself.
That said, we should also keep the muslms in prayer. No sane person would willingly choose that cult. You are borne into it, and it takes great courage and wisdom to leave it.
Former moslems have the coolist conversion stories. Esp those who became Christians while in the middle east.
Heck, you could walk in the worst neighborhood in South Chicago with a Sikh by your side and come out, not only unharmed, but a neighborhood cleaned up of some criminals.
Ditto
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