I Am Somebody

Preet Mohan Singh Ahluwalia

Yesterday Sukhpal Singh Sodhi, a Sikh cab driver in San Francisco was fatally shot while he was at work. According to SFPD this may be an isolated incident of a stray bullet having hit Mr. Sodhi, as he was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Perhaps.

In the aftermath of the events of September 11 many Sikhs faced harassment and ironically Mr. Sodhi’s brother Balbir Singh Sodhi was shot dead after having been mistaken for an Arab because of his turban and beard, which every Sikh man wears. Sukhpal Singh Sodhi may have been yet another victim of mistaken identity. Two brothers from the same family having died a violent death is indeed tragic. SFPD must thoroughly investigate this incident and acquire the professional services of FBI if need be.

Issue 3 of SikhSpectrum.com was already ready for publication hence the reason for this brief insert.

For over 100 years Sikhs have been in North America. Having faced discrimination and hate in the early part of last century Sikhs have come a long way in establishing themselves within the mosaic of diversity that is represented in America today. Not only Sikhs, but Americans too, have come to accept different cultures and ethnicities as the nation becomes multicultural.

Diana L. Eck of Harvard started The Pluralism Project to study the growing religious diversity of United States in view of the new immigrant communities that have made this nation their home. Inspired by its success other universities across the nation are engaged in similar studies and within local communities there is a growing awareness of inter-faith issues, which has led to inter-faith meetings between representatives of different religions.

The deaths of Sukhpal and Balbir suggest that much work needs to be done, and as a community Sikhs need to look beyond an occasional inter-faith seminar if we are to educate the common public about who we are. Though most Americans, at least those who I have the privilege of knowing, are good men and women it does not preclude the presence of a certain percentage of people like the killer of Balbir Singh Sodhi who after being caught reportedly told the police: "I'm a patriot. I'm a damn American all the way." It was in response to such misguided patriotism that George Bernard Shaw had said: "You'll never have a quiet world till you knock patriotism out of the human race."

For a long time now Sikhs have been in a reactionary mode. We must be pro-active. Everybody has a role to play. Those of us who are fortunate not to be “risking” our lives driving cabs or working late nights at gas stations and convenience stores also have a responsibility toward the less fortunate among us. If you are educated then be the intelligentsia that will guide the community out of its troubles. It is the quality of work done collectively and not the growing number of Sikh organizations that will measure the effectiveness with which we deal with hate related crimes against innocent men and women.

Sikh youth can educate young Americans by writing and presenting term papers on Sikh philosophy and identity. The older generation can take a positive step by first ending unnecessary bickering over irrelevant issues. Most forums and almost all Gurdwaras are involved in factional fights. If this were not enough, for many grown up Sikh men and women their loyalty is not to Sikh principles, but personal friendships to people of dubious intellect whether he or she is a “scholar” or an incapable community leader. Frustrated with similar circumstances within his community, Rabbi Nachum Braverman of Los Angeles wrote:

The Talmud records that sinat chinam was the principle cause for the destruction of the Second Temple. Bitter factional struggle and petty individual vindictiveness destroyed the cohesion of the Jewish Commonwealth, condemning the Jews to 2,000 years of exile. Even when the Romans had besieged Jerusalem and total disaster was imminent, hostile groups within the city fought among themselves and plundered stores of food, causing terrible famine. Today, as then, we face a great crisis of survival. Today, as then, our response is often self-destructive.

Hate related crimes and prejudice against people who look different is not new and unique to Sikhs only. Every minority has faced discrimination and hate, and is consistently trying to address it through education and legal safeguards. Being a small and badly fragmented community we should learn from their experiences and move forward with a positive attitude. It will take time for racism and prejudice to end. No matter how small your contribution all of you can be a part of the change.

When an external object enters an oyster's shell it cause pain. As a reaction to the prolonged pain the oyster secretes nacre and coats the irritant with layers of it. Eventually, over a period of time, it turns into a magnificent pearl. As our history testifies, not only have Sikhs persisted through the toughest of challenges, we have also grown.

We will continue to grow and flourish.