Recently some trouble have been taking place in France. The French government had said in 2004 that Sikh students could not wear turbans to schools as turbans were religious symbols, these law also apply for the Muslim headscarve (worn by girls). And so, large-scale protests among the Sikh community started, which argues that wearing a turban is not just a religious symbol but a part of Sikh identity. But the protests have had little impact on France which has steadfastly refused change in its policy.
I've learnt about all these happenings through http://www.sikhnet.com/ and while browsing through it's news i found a really exciting presentation about the relationship between sikhs in WWI and WWII with the french people. This presentation slides were obtained from http://unitedsikhs.org/.
so just watch it, and I hope you enjoy. (Click the link below)
http://alvindar86.fileave.com/French_Sikh_History_Presentation_Combined.pdf
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Pre-school racist
This is another experience I had when I was in University…
Once I was sitting in the library. A man and his daughter came and sat not too far from me. The daughter was very young, still in her pre-school. The man was using the computer on the table, probably finding the location of a book. I kept reading the book I was holding. The girl was quite chirpy, she kept on signing some tunes, I guess she learned it in her kindergarten. So this was going on for some time, I was reading…her dad was surfing…and she was singing. Then she said something that TRULY shocked me…
All of a sudden I heard her say “Orang India Orang Cina tak boleh masuk syurga” (The Indians and Chinese will not go to Heaven).
This was quite upsetting. How could a child say, or even think of something like that? I do know of elders who say that, we elders have a lot of ego, a lot anger and hatred for one another. It’s understandable if a man or woman says that, the older we get, the more we’re caught up in the web of confusion, and the more we’re farther from the universal truth.
But what made this simple child say that?
My first guess is her parents or pre-school teacher. I’m surprised that elders could instill hatred and discrimination on such an innocent girl.
I doubt if we’d ever reach zero racial tolerance.
Who shall we hold accountable for her words ??
Once I was sitting in the library. A man and his daughter came and sat not too far from me. The daughter was very young, still in her pre-school. The man was using the computer on the table, probably finding the location of a book. I kept reading the book I was holding. The girl was quite chirpy, she kept on signing some tunes, I guess she learned it in her kindergarten. So this was going on for some time, I was reading…her dad was surfing…and she was singing. Then she said something that TRULY shocked me…
All of a sudden I heard her say “Orang India Orang Cina tak boleh masuk syurga” (The Indians and Chinese will not go to Heaven).
This was quite upsetting. How could a child say, or even think of something like that? I do know of elders who say that, we elders have a lot of ego, a lot anger and hatred for one another. It’s understandable if a man or woman says that, the older we get, the more we’re caught up in the web of confusion, and the more we’re farther from the universal truth.
But what made this simple child say that?
My first guess is her parents or pre-school teacher. I’m surprised that elders could instill hatred and discrimination on such an innocent girl.
I doubt if we’d ever reach zero racial tolerance.
Who shall we hold accountable for her words ??
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