Respect for Singhs
Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!
Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!
Since I have never really travelled in the east or in India, I have never really had an experience with non-Sikhs having respect for Singhs. I had one of my first experiences today while I was at the store.
I went to pay and the lady at the register looked middle eastern. Her accent was very Indian sounding, so I am guessing she was Afghani, but I did not ask. I paid with my Visa card and as always, she asked to check my ID. I pulled out my wallet and just showed my driver's lisence through the window in the wallet where barely half of my name showed.
She quickly glanced at it and said, "I can't see your whole name." At this point, most people ask me to take it out of my wallet. But she said, "It is OK though, I know you are a Singh and I won't ask you to take it out." All I could do was smile. The respect she showed me, just for being a Singh, just through her words and the way she looked at me, was incredible. I have never seen this in my life.
I have seen people hate me, mislabel me, swear at me, or think I am some kind of terrorist, but this has never happened. I wish that all Sikhs would get this kind of respect, as they did in the past. But truthfully, I don't think we deserve it. Singhs of the past deserved respect like this, but very few today do.
But even as I saw such outside respect for gursikhs today for the first time, I also saw how ignorant and stupid Americans can be today as well. While I was shopping, before the last incident, two white boys walked by me and as I turned the corner I heard one of them say, "What's he hiding up there? An Uzi?"
Don't they have any shame? I am not asking for the kind of respect the cashier gave me, but why can't Americans at least TOLERATE others. So much ignorance in this country and I live in California, one of the most TOLERANT and accepting (can you tell I hate the word tolerant, for another discussion though) places in the country.
Anyway, sorry for wasting your time.
Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!
Since I have never really travelled in the east or in India, I have never really had an experience with non-Sikhs having respect for Singhs. I had one of my first experiences today while I was at the store.
I went to pay and the lady at the register looked middle eastern. Her accent was very Indian sounding, so I am guessing she was Afghani, but I did not ask. I paid with my Visa card and as always, she asked to check my ID. I pulled out my wallet and just showed my driver's lisence through the window in the wallet where barely half of my name showed.
She quickly glanced at it and said, "I can't see your whole name." At this point, most people ask me to take it out of my wallet. But she said, "It is OK though, I know you are a Singh and I won't ask you to take it out." All I could do was smile. The respect she showed me, just for being a Singh, just through her words and the way she looked at me, was incredible. I have never seen this in my life.
I have seen people hate me, mislabel me, swear at me, or think I am some kind of terrorist, but this has never happened. I wish that all Sikhs would get this kind of respect, as they did in the past. But truthfully, I don't think we deserve it. Singhs of the past deserved respect like this, but very few today do.
But even as I saw such outside respect for gursikhs today for the first time, I also saw how ignorant and stupid Americans can be today as well. While I was shopping, before the last incident, two white boys walked by me and as I turned the corner I heard one of them say, "What's he hiding up there? An Uzi?"
Don't they have any shame? I am not asking for the kind of respect the cashier gave me, but why can't Americans at least TOLERATE others. So much ignorance in this country and I live in California, one of the most TOLERANT and accepting (can you tell I hate the word tolerant, for another discussion though) places in the country.
Anyway, sorry for wasting your time.
3 Comments:
At one point in India, sikhs had so much respect that a sikh's words in court were undoubtably held as truth.
it's really nice to see singhs/kaurs being respected for the faith and beliefs they uphold. all of us must strive to regain the respect everyone had for a Sikh in the past. and manjot veerjee, don't be disheartened because you have had a few run-ins with ignorant folks.....educate them instead of pondering why in the world a tolerant state would have such ppl around....there are bad eggs everywhere....and that is sad :(
Manjot Singh,
Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!
We also had a similar incident on the same day. I and Daddy were sitting outside store (on bench), waiting for my husband to come and pick us up. We were busy in our conversation and suddenly one person who was entering the grocery store, stopped, slightly bent his head, folded hands and said something softly we coun't catch. We folded our hands and said fateh silently too. But the respect he showed was amazing, he actually stopped for a few seconds before entering store and he was not even Indian. And after some time again we were busy in conversation and that same person did same while leaving too.
You know this is something I really like about American Singhs here, they like to share Sikhi values with their friends, relatives everyone. I guess its because they feel very confident about Sikhi values and saroop and keep spreading the essence further out. So many times I see Singhs, bring their non-sikh american friends to Gurudwara Sahib to take blessings from Guru Sahib and learn about teachings through translations on the shabad sheet. Also, here the committee members instead of fighting for power etc. do outreach programs with local police and community, there is a Khalsa school where they teach Gurmukhi, there is a homeless dinner every month where members from Gurudwara Sahib participate regularly. They keep sending regular motivating emails to everyone e.g. to make new year resolution to attend Group Sadhna (Amrit Vela Naam Simran) in Gurudwara Sahib, to give daswanth of time to Guru jee by simran for atleast 2.5hrs. Infact I am pretty much impressed by how things happen here. Here no one pays to do Akhand Paaths, rather members of sangat do it unitedly for all Gurpurabs (of all the Guru Sahibaan's Gurpurabs). At one such Akhands Paath at 3.00am was raul of someone called John non-sikh American, who probably was attracted to Sikhi. After few weeks I see the same person (as far as I recognize) in Gurudwara Sahib with still growing kesh and beard. The President of the commitee is so nice and sweet, she talks with same love, respect and humility with a mona as well as any other Singh. Guru jee says
"naa ko maeraa dhusumun rehiaa naa hum kis kae bairaaee
No one is my enemy, and I am no one's enemy.
brehum pusaar pusaariou bheethar sathigur thae sojhee paaee
God, who expanded His expanse, is within all; I learned this from the True Guru. ||2||
subh ko meeth hum aapun keenaa hum subhunaa kae saajun
I am a friend to all; I am everyone's friend.
dhoor puraaeiou mun kaa birehaa thaa mael keeou maerai raajun
When the sense of separation was removed from my mind, then I was united with the Lord, my King. ||3||"
and also "bisar gaee subh thaath puraaee
I have totally forgotten my jealousy of others,
jub thae saadhusungath mohi paaee
since I found the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||1||Pause||
naa ko bairee nehee bigaanaa sugul sung hum ko ban aaee
No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone. ||1||
jo prubh keeno so bhul maaniou eaeh sumath saadhoo thae paaee
Whatever God does, I accept that as good. This is the sublime wisdom I have obtained from the Holy. ||2||"
I feel they are actually acting on Guru Sahib's teachings, our actions should reflect what we expect of others. I think we should spend more of our energy and resources for Gursikhi prachaar and community education about Sikhs, gain respect though leading by example, i.e., living a pure Gurmat lifestyle.
Harjap Kaur
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