Remember, Reflect, Recognize

On August 5th, 2012 a man blinded by ignorance and hatred barged into the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, and murdered six innocent Americans. Congregants from the peaceful weekly Sunday Diwan (gathering) ran for shelter and barricaded themselves in bathrooms and prayer halls, where they made desperate phone calls and sent anguished texts pleading for help as confusion and fear took hold. The memories of the six victims, Satwant Singh Kaleka, Paramjit Kaur, Suveg Singh Khattra, Prakash Singh, Ranjit Singh, and Sita Singh, are engraved into the hearts of Sikhs across the nation.

That day, seven years ago, one man muted the voices of six and raised the voice of one. Before this moment, I was too young to realize the discrimination my father, and other members of my community faced. I was either unable to understand such a concept, or too afraid to give it any thought.

At a candlelight vigil in Washington D.C. and at the Guru Nanak Foundation of America in Silver Spring, MD, I heard speakers stress the importance of educating those who were unaware of the Sikh faith and who saw the reflection of a terrorist in those who wore a turban. Their call to action made me realize the importance of spreading awareness because if the target wasn’t the turbans of Sikhs in America, it was the turbans and hijabs of Muslims in America

After the shooting, I saw my courageous parents proudly distribute pocket-sized pamphlets entitled “Who are Sikhs?” to respond to everything from questions about their physical appearance to derogatory comments. I also began sharing with my classmates on why I didn’t cut my hair and how Sikh warriors and prophets regarded all religions as equal and fought against injustice. These small efforts do make an impact, as more individuals recognize who Sikhs are and pass this knowledge forward.

Sikhs are present in all professional platforms and their contributions to their local communities are centered around the Sikh value of Seva (selfless service). There are hundreds of Sikh Gurdwaras (temples) across the country that offer safe spaces for the local community to gather and take part in free community meals for everyone regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Today, to pay respect to the six courageous men and women lost in the Oak Creek attack, I humbly ask you to learn about the history and significance of the Sikh religion. Learning and then sharing about who Sikhs are will help prevent hateful comments and attacks. Also, I hope that our country’s representatives will create legislation that recognizes the Sikh community and expands the right of Sikhs to publicly follow their religion. Our community members continue to face obstacles in carrying their articles of faith such as the Turban and a Kirpan (small dagger) in their professional workplaces and public/private spaces. Together, we will create a welcoming environment where we all respect and are aware of each other's differences.