Mayor Greg Ballard’s Speech at The Sikh Temple in Indianapolis

Invitation to visit Sikh Temple
The Sikh Temple (Acton Road)
10950 Southeastern Avenue

Sunday, October 4, 2009 @ 12pm

Thank you very much for the opportunity to visit the Sikh Satsang (Congregation) of Indianapolis. Before I begin though, I want to quickly acknowledge my wife [Winnie], Kanwal Prakash “KP” Singh, Maninder Walia, members of the Sikh Congregation, and representatives from our other faiths.

Thank you for your support and your invitation to speak here today.

[I] thank this Congregation for its hard work in interfaith hunger programs, diversity initiatives, American Red Cross disaster relief fundraising, and the 9/11 Community Fair.

Your tireless work to improve the quality of life for people of all faiths is noteworthy and should be recognized. Your stewardship and commitment to making Indianapolis a welcoming community for all who inhabit it, is truly remarkable.

When I received the invitation from “KP” to speak today, I welcomed it with open arms. [but he is persuasive.]

The Sikh community in central Indiana is an expanding and vital part of our ethnic, cultural and spiritual diversity here in Indianapolis.

I have said [repeatedly that] we must work to “diversify our diversity”.

This accepting congregation certainly represents the very best that Indianapolis and central Indiana has to offer.

It is no secret that our "Hoosier hospitality" and your interfaith value system have worked together to attract and retain a growing Sikh community here in central Indiana.

One that has grown from just 50 or so families a few years ago to a community that now serves roughly 1,000 active members who decided to make the Indianapolis area their home.

[I know that the] the Sikh faith believes in equality for all humans and rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and gender.

Something I think all Hoosiers can respect and appreciate. It is for this very reason that I find it unfortunate that some in this Community and around the world have not become knowledgeable enough about differences between the various expressions of faith.

As a community, we [should] not build up walls because of these differences, but instead build relationships based on mutual respect and appreciation of each other. [I like to think that my term as Mayor has opened up the dialogue across communities and faiths] and it is evident to me that the Sikh faith represents peace, equality and well being for all persons.

No matter what their religious beliefs or ideologies may be. We [will] continue to educate our community about the Sikh traditions and how it is part of our American [and Hoosier] culture.

Again I thank you very much for the invitation to speak here today and I very much look forward to my next visit.

Thank you