To Curb Bullying, ‘Who Are the Sikhs?’ Film Debuts at Kerman High

Fresno Bee ^ | 5/27 | Carmen George

[nickcarraway]

Standing before a Kerman High School class on Wednesday, Raj Sra talked about being the only Punjabi kid at his Tulare schools growing up.

He was called many names.

“Everything you can imagine: raghead, camel jockey,” Sra said, who now works as an information systems and technology administrator for the Fresno County Office of Education. “People had no idea where India was. They thought anybody with a turban was Muslim or from Arabia. It was just some far-off place.”

Fresno County school officials, in partnership with local Sikh leaders, are working to change that skewed perception. Together, they produced a five-minute educational film about Sikh culture and dress that debuted Wednesday before a Punjabi language class. Principal Pam Sellick said Kerman High is one of only two public schools across the state that offer Punjabi as a language elective.

Filming the movie was spurred by a report released last year, titled “Go Home, Terrorist,” that documented the bullying of Sikh American students. The report was compiled by the Sikh Coalition, a national organization created after 9/11 in response to discrimination and violence against Sikh Americans.

Researchers surveyed more than 500 Sikh schoolchildren at forums in Fresno, Boston, Indianapolis and Seattle and found that around half of them were bullied. Fresno County had the second-highest percentage of students who reported being bullied (54.5%) after Indianapolis (55.8%).

At a Fresno State forum last spring that addressed such bullying, Simran Kaur, western regional director of the Sikh Coalition, recalled a young college student who grew up attending Fresno schools. He talked about how he became suicidal after constant bullying related to his traditional dress.

“In many ways, we all felt like we had let that young man down,” Kaur said. “And so I think that was educational for us all.”

[Flash Bazbeaux]

The have their internal squabbles like any other insular group, but so far as I know they generally obey the laws, pay their taxes, mind their own business and don’t try to take over.

[fieldmarshaldj]

This isn’t a bad thing. Folks need to know the difference between Sikhs (good guys) and Mohammadans.

[BenLurkin]

Kindly assimilate into our Judeo-Christian/Anglo-American culture, sir.

It’s not asking too much for people coming here from exotic places — to leave their exotic costumes, and customs behind.

They should be glad to.

[truth_seeker]

“Kindly assimilate into our Judeo-Christian/Anglo-American culture, sir.

It’s not asking too much for people coming here from exotic places — to leave their exotic costumes, and customs behind.

They should be glad to.”

There have been some pretty significant contributions to America, that were outside your definition.

Perhaps most obvious are the Native Americans. The French assisted us, in gaining our independence. There were a few Jews, in colonial America. The Chinese built the railroad.

My own father-in-law, son of two immigrants, both earned a purple heart in WWII, and came home to eat pasta and talk with his parents in Italian, God forbid.

Who do you propose to administer precisely when and what customs and practices continue for how many of us?

[BenLurkin]

You know, you’re right.

America is dead.

I just need to quit mourning her demise, and move on.

[COBOL2Java]

Kindly assimilate into our Judeo-Christian/Anglo-American culture, sir.

It’s not asking too much for people coming here from exotic places — to leave their exotic costumes, and customs behind.

They should be glad to.

---

Yes! Like those Hasidic Jews!

I mean, what's up with those ridiculous hats? And those curly things dangling from those ears? Don't you just wanna cut them off? Jeez!

And those damned Chinee!

I mean, give it up already with the stupid dragons, alright? And those stupid silk costumes! Assimilate already! You don't see any God-fearing "Judaeo-Christians" wearing those things! Let's see some good old cowboys and indians! And speaking of indians...

When the heck are THEY gonna assimilate to the good old, like you say, "Judeo-Christian/Anglo-American culture," huh? Ditch the stupid costumes! Get rid of the feathers! Cut the hair!

I'm with you man! Kindly assimilate into our Judeo-Christian/Anglo-American culture!!!

[BenLurkin]

I absolutely agree that the Indians and the Chinese need to knock off with the native costumes and pagan customs.

Not sure how you figure that Jews aren’t part of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage, though. That’s an odd error to make.

[COBOL2Java]

I absolutely agree that the Indians and the Chinese need to knock off with the native costumes and pagan customs.

Maybe we should pass a bill to force them to do it! That'd teach em! Jail terms for the offenders!

[BenLurkin]

No need to get carried away, sir.

Anyone who wants to be an American will do so without the need for legislation. And those who decline to do so — have no intention of being Americans anyway.

[COBOL2Java]

Well, then, if we can’t jail ‘em then deport em all! Only re-blooded Americans allowed! Everyone here has to look and behave just like us!

[BenLurkin]

It doesn’t matter.

America is dead.

Dead and rotting.

[bigdaddy45]

So “lets make fun of the kids who look different.” You know, the cripples, the tards, the kid with the hair lip... You’re a real prince. And a real keyboard warrior tough guy.

[BenLurkin]

I would point out that you are missing the point. But you already know that, don’t you.

[Hot Tabasco]

Very polite people who need to stop wearing the weird costumes.

Why?

[BenLurkin]

Only if they want to be Americans.

Otherwise — who cares?

[Hot Tabasco]

Only if they want to be Americans.

How do you know the Sikhs you encounter aren't naturalized citizens who still respect their religion?

Otherwise — who cares?

You, you're the one who has made an issue of this........

[BenLurkin]

You’d think whoever was handling the immigration would take one look at these characters and say “Oh, hell no!”

[Dartman]

Kindly assimilate into our Judeo-Christian/Anglo-American culture, sir.

Wasn't your War of Independence fought to some degree about something like that? You know, the Church of England and all that.

As someone else posted, you should learn the difference between Sikhs and muslims. BIG difference.

[BenLurkin]

Here’s a tip for you: both would have needed to drop the bizarre dress and customs if they wanted to become Americans.

But, I have conceded in this thread that America is dead — and there is little point in trying to stop the freaks and pagans of the world from coming to feed off her moldering corpse.

[Dartman]

And drop the exceedingly foreign customs. Oh, and get a haircut.

Are you serious? Since Beatlemania hair has been an issue. This is really funny !!