Comments and Feedback on Issue No. 9, February 2003

Mrs Indu Gill

Jagjeet Singh

Thanks and Regards,

Asha

Sincerely,

Amit Singh

Literary Agent

from A Singh
Place: London, UK

Editor: We are publishing a short discussion with A. Singh on the article : Because I Am a Woman.."

This article makes a number of assertions based on the premise that if a woman claims to have been raped or tortured or otherwise abused, she must be telling the truth. It fails to identify the often substantial rewards that accompany a woman being believed to be some sort of "victim". This may include: being allowed to stay in another (better) country for their own "protection" (a slightly drastic measure, perhaps?), attacking the good name of a man for pecuniary advantage (extortion) or revenge.

The article should have mentioned the following: in places like Pakistan and Turkey certain practices that are universally practiced and accepted as a woman's "right" are not considered acceptable. These include adultery and lewdness - both are despicable forms of treachery. Treason has never been tolerated in an army worthy of the name, and in a society which values the high ideals of chivalry (i.e. a society in which feudal customs and practices persist, such as Turkey or Pakistan especially in Punjab), "modernity" is looked upon as a thief. Combine that with a religion that seeks to enforce good morality (Islam/Sikhism/early Christianity), and instances of punishment for seriously inappropriate conduct are to be expected.

Most importantly, the article failed to identify the most salient aspect: it's all about women lying. Women lie all the time and that's a fact. So do men. It's only a problem when they start to lie with other people. Or start killing off their unborn children because they got drunk one night. Will SikhSpectrum.com dare to stand up for what is right next time, instead of taking the fashionable route of accepting licentiousness and reviling punishment? I can assure you, whatever punishment people are dealt on earth for adultery, God will inflict much more severe punishment for such serious and DELIBERATE abuses perpetrated by women.

Editor: There is no reason to believe that SikhSpectrum.com reviles in punishment or accepts licentiousness. We are not preventing people from writing on a topic of interest. We have also provided them with some guidelines in case they would like to contribute.

All women are not honest and faithful, but neither are all men. Adultery in marriage is not acceptable and neither has it been promoted on SikhSpectrum.com

It may be true that some women manipulate a situation to their advantage. By generalizing such behavior and attributing it to all women we will make it worse for the real victims who are in need for help. These articles present the conditions of ordinary women and their struggle for more respect.

Also Sikh scripture does not talk about punishment for a transgression as it may be for other faiths. At the most the tradition is to declare a person a tankhya and a token service (generally cleaning the shoes of the congregation at the Gurdwara or community service) is required. You may have also noticed that most devout Sikhs dust the shoes of people who visit the Gurdwara besides being involved in community service. In fact most people who volunteer these services do it out of devotion since service of others and humility are promoted in the Scripture.

It's interesting that you took my message as an attack on SikhSpectrum.com I can assure you it wasn’t. However, it was interesting because I think you probably realized that what I had written was the truth. It's important not to just come out with some PC drivel and try to pass it off as something meaningful, which is what I believe the author of that article attempted to do.

I think it's also important to respect the power of God. God is good, therefore he does not like evil. Further, he has the power to destroy evil. I do not think it's unSikh to say that adultery, manipulative behavior, lying and lying around will be punished by God. I'm not applying personality attributes to him, but you have to admit that he is fair. That means he will punish a great many women. Because the fact is, most adulterous, manipulative schemes are devised and acted upon by women. These are creatures that men have a duty to guide, gently but firmly, on to the right path. When men condone their bad behavior, and hide their own cowardice under a cloak of modernity, that's evil behavior and it will be punished.

In the meantime, when women "ask for help", when they claim to have been "wronged", they will pull out every trick in their arsenal: lie, turn on the tears and bat their eyelids. And idiotic men will rush to their aid and form the ranks of their evil army.

In the world today, sex outside marriage is the norm. The evil society (one of many that will join the long list of those that have been wiped out by God) considers that this is OK and normal, because you will need to do it to find the ideal marriage partner. A sort of experimentation to see who you like the most. However, that isn’t what happens. A woman will sleep around with whoever she finds attractive, until the time comes when she's getting old, and wants to marry someone rich, docile, tractable who will look after the children and bring in the bread. A different type of man altogether. Meanwhile, men like me are being wronged, because we will not sleep with a woman we do not love, one who we would marry if required to.

That's the crux of the matter, and it shows clearly that however men behave, it is women who are the source of the evil. The article you published didn’t show that.

Editor: Editor: The article you read are the views of its author. If you feel that women are the source of all evil then you can send in your thoughts and it will be published. Please do conform to the guidelines. Our readers are educated and they should appreciate your well-written arguments.

The concept of good and evil is common to all religions though the reasons for evil and “punishment” meted to the evildoer are specific to each religion. I will not speak for other faiths but Sikh religion finds haumai (human ego) as the root cause for man’s wrongdoing. It is human responsibility to conquer ego and thereby create a kind and just society for all. This being the central message of Guru Granth Sahib. As per the Sikh definition the Creator is forgiving.

How can You be angry with Your own children?
O Lord!
For, as You belong to them, they belong to You." (Rag Siri MI p.25)