(Photo by Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press)“This is an assault on American values.”-Malkit Gill, President of the NE Sikh Study Circle of Milford, MA
As far as the Sikh’s I’ve spoken too are concerened, when Wade Michael Page allegedly openned fire on a temple just oustide Wisconsin, he attacked our first amendemht rights: the freedom of religion.
American citzens who’ve lived the American dream; this mass shooting struck a cord at the ignorance of society of our neighbors.
The FBI was leading the investigation because the shooting was considered domestic terrorism, or an attack that originated inside the U.S. The agency said it had no reason to believe anyone other than Page was involved.
Page began shooting as several dozen people prepared for Sunday services.
Six victims ranging in age from 39 to 84 years old lay dead. Three others were critically wounded. (AP)
Here’s some quick facts I think everyone should know. Knowledge is power and power is change. Change is tollerance.
–Sikhs are not muslims. Sikhism is distinct from Islam and Hinduism, though observant Sikh men who wear turbans and do not cut their hair are sometimes confused with Muslims.
–They are not from the Middle East. They’re Indian.
–Women can hold high ranking positions in their gurdwara or temple.
–The Sikh faith emerged in what is now India and Pakistan more than 500 years ago.
–There are more than 20 million Sikhs worldwide, most in India, and 500,000 in the U.S.
–Sikhs believe in one God and the reincarnation of souls. Sikhs follow the teachings of Guru Nanak and nine gurus who followed him between the 15th and 18th centuries.
–They have no official priests: Men and women known as “granthi” ceremoniously perform some priest-like functions.
Thank you for those informative bits, Crystal. Maybe if more peope read and learned about the Sikhs, they would not be caught up in the malestrom of hate.