IN SEARCH
OF RIGHTFUL PLACE AND OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
Some very distinguished guests stopped by to greet
and address a gathering of Sikhs from across the nation
at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill
on Tuesday, May 17, 2005. Among them: Senator Richard
Lugar, Chairman U.S. Foreign Relations Committee,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former First Lady;
Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jim McDormatt, Tom Davis,
Joseph Crowley, Rush Holt, and Congresswoman Sheila
Lee Jackson; Justice Department officials, interfaith
leaders, and friends. They were attending the Sikh
American Heritage Dinner Reception sponsored by The
Sikh Council on Religion and Education under the leadership
of its Chairman Dr. Rajwant Singh. This historic gathering
was another significant milestone in recent months
for Sikh Americans in their efforts to mainstream
their presence.
Senator Richard Lugar addressing the
gathering, flanked by Dr. Rajwant Singh and K.P. Singh
on the right.(1031)
The honored guests recounted the proud history, many
contributions to American society, and great sacrifices
of the Sikhs for human freedoms. Each representative
offered assurances to work on the special concerns
of the Sikh community since 9/11: workplace religious
freedoms, ending misplaced suspicions and unlawful
discrimination, racial profiling, and violence and
hate crimes against the Sikhs due to the distinct
identity of Sikh men with faith-mandated beards and
turbans.
Amidst interfaith prayers and honoring the achievements
of their own in various fields in which they had excelled,
the Sikh Americans expressed hope that some day they
may also be able to serve in all areas of American
life without threat to or having to renounce their
sacred articles of faith. Reminders of the inalienable
rights and responsibility of each citizen to honor,
strengthen, and preserve those rights and precious
freedoms received an enthusiastic and faithful response
from gathered Sikh men, women, and young adults. Some
of the Sikh American soldiers presently serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan were formally recognized and
honored.
Washington D.C., with its spring beauty, architectural
monuments and memorials, historic sites, and symbols
of proud heritage of many cultures was the perfect
setting for this important gathering. New Americans,
as all the generations of immigrants before them,
are searching for a rightful place and opportunities
to serve. Throughout history they have brought their
concerns to this powerful citadel of democracy. Though
the Founders and great architects of nation could
not have imagined this convergence of people and cultures
to our shores, they would have approved the promise,
unbound energy, cultural textures that new arrivals
represent for America's future.
A few composite images, highlights, and reflections
of this historic evening:
The interfaith prayers were led by Bhai Gurdarshan
Singh (Sikh Priest), Mr. Clark Lobenstine (Executive
Director, Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington),
Mr. Richard Foltin (American Jewish Committee), and
Chaplin Daniel P. Coughlin (Chaplin of U.S. House
of Representatives).
There was an unusual synergy, a sense of emotional
triumph, and may be even disbelief among the 225 Sikhs
who were attending the event and that the concerns
of the Sikh community in the USA and around the world
were being spotlighted by U.S. Senators, Congressmen,
and other officials whose voices have an impact far
beyond the Halls of Congress and the States and the
Departments that they represent. The entire Sikh world
was in the witness stand and applauding.
There were enthusiastic introductions of special
guests by members of the Sikh community and equally
warm and animated responses and vigorous assurances
of support from these leaders of America. Several
honorary sponsors of the event could not attend. The
attending honored guests expressed sensitivity, understanding,
friendship, and pride in the contributions of the
Sikh community to American strength and enrichment.
Some of the special guests recalled the unparalleled
sacrifices of the Sikhs throughout their 536-year
young history in assuring universal human dignity,
personal freedoms, and in defense of sacred rights
of others.
A brief history of the bravery and sacrifices of
the Sikhs during World War II was presented. The audience
observed a minute of silence in memory of those who
fought on the side of the Allies during World War
II and made enormous sacrifices. Out of the nearly
3 million Sikhs who served, 83,000 lost their lives
and 109,000 were injured in that conflict in defense
of freedom.
Among the attending Congressmen and Senators, many
had traveled to India, some even to the State of Punjab
and The Golden Temple at Amritsar - the St Peter's
and Vatican of the Sikhs. They made their remarks
from personal experience and knowledge of the Sikh
faith, history, and people. Each distinguished guest
was honored and recognized with special gifts on behalf
of the Sikh community. Most of the Congressmen and
the Senators stayed at the event to greet the gathered
guests, answer questions, and for media interviews.
There was a spirit of solidarity, mutual respect,
uncommon dignity, and friendliness in the ornate banquet
hall.
There were frequent reminders of the attack on America
on 9/11 and the countless incidents of the harassment
and unprovoked violence against the Sikhs. Many Sikhs
became victims of hate crimes; many more continue
to be treated unfairly due to their being mistaken
as Middle Eastern, Arabs or somehow associated with
the despicable characters like Osama Bin Laden.
There were gentle reminders that the significance
and sanctity of Sikh symbols and articles of faith
must be recognized as an inalienable right of freedom
of conscience of Sikh Americans. All doors presently
closed under the existing laws on the physical appearance
must be re-examined and opened for members of the
Sikh community with their faith-mandated identity
and religious symbols as well as for other minorities
with special legitimate concerns and traditions. All
citizens must be able to serve and contribute to the
American society.
The continuing denial to participate in the military
service due to past rigid requirements need to be
revisited in light of the convergence of diverse groups
in America in recent decades. The existing governing
laws based solely on physical appearance, gender,
and entrenched traditions reinforce perceptions of
unfairness and open discrimination. This is in violation
of equal rights for all citizens guaranteed by the
U.S. Constitution.
Dhol and Tabla interludes and delicious North Indian
Dinner:
Brief interludes of Punjabi Dhol (drum) with its
energetic beat and rhythm invited the spirit to dance
and the heart to sing transporting our imagination
and senses to a joyous folk festival or colorful celebration
12,000 miles away in some dusty village of Punjab.
A masterful Tabla (a pair of Indian drums) demonstration
given by tabla maestro Rajinder Pal Singh Jindi to
the accompaniment of background music on the harmonium
played by Bhai Gurdarshan Singh provided a beautiful
musical highlight.
A typical North Indian dinner added another cultural
touch and provided an opportunity to connect with
guests and community representatives, make new friends,
and learn about the many creative ways in which people
are serving their communities; seeking and discovering
their rightful place under the American spacious skies
and investing in its societal fabric.
A promising future amidst the current challenges:
Sikhs and Asian Indians have been a part of American
life for over one hundred years. Today, nearly 500,000
hardworking and proud Sikh men, women, and children
are engaged in peaceful pursuits in building America.
They, along with all other faith and ethnic communities,
are contributing in immense measures to the economic
prosperity, cultural tapestry, and spiritual landscape
of America. They are also awakening to the need of
greater political awareness and participation in diverse
areas of their community life, institutions, and opportunities.
Beyond the high-profile meeting and lofty promises,
the challenge before us is not to let our values and
culture, which is the very core of our being, to be
diluted, infringed upon as in France, or elsewhere
or be lost due to neglect or needed nurturing. As
we preserve our own culture and spiritual heritage,
we must try to relate to the nations; let our culture
be a part of the larger and rich national cultural
tapestry. We need to ask ourselves what we are doing
for the community and country that provides us home,
warmth, opportunity, and unimagined blessings. Each
of us must make a difference and be willing to safeguard
life, liberty, and our precious freedoms.
America has always honored equal opportunity and
merit. Americans respect diligence and family values;
celebrate contributions and achievements. We too can
achieve respect through hard work, being model citizens,
and sacrificing for the common good. While mentoring
and cultivating the next generation, we must focus
on those facets that bring greater awareness of our
rights and responsibilities; participate in creating
a sense of belonging in our new environment.
We must: develop a sense of place and understanding
about the culture and communities around us; do our
homework before we present our case or concerns and
use the best talents for the job and the occasion.
This is not a personal crusade but a collective campaign.
Stakes are too high to let important opportunities
be allowed to slip away or to be guided by shortsighted,
unwise or divisive agenda. We have much to gain though
a united front, resolving outstanding differences
peacefully; a professional approach, by offering an
unmistakable, responsible, and well-defined message
at landmark events, and networking with other faith
and ethnic communities with distinct and diverse experiences.
We must honor the traditions and commandments of our
faith: sanctity and dignity of all life and faiths;
universality, equality, justice, and service of others.
We must encourage the best and the brightest to lead
our cause; involve the young and up-coming talents
early and often. Attractive visuals, special cultural
ambience, and support information and literature can
be a major asset. Let learning (Sikh means disciple)
and thoughtful reflection, not teaching others be
our first and foremost lesson. Many of these ideas
were in place at the Sikh American Heritage Dinner
Reception and at other landmark events across the
nation. Sikh Americans are engaged in shaping the
promise of America. Congratulations!
Kanwal Prakash "KP" Singh
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
www.KPSinghDesigns.com
