Why didn't Obama mention Sikhs in his inaugural address?

Tejwant Singh · #1 (**permalink**) 23-Jan-2009, 23:35 PM

Dear Cyber Sadh Sangat, this is what Obama said in his inaugural address in one of his lines: "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/23899-why-didnt-obama-mention-sikhs-his.html

Many Sikh forums I have visited since the inauguration are full of ire because of the ommission of the Sikhs in the above. Many of them are planning to boycott Obama, writing petitions and demanding the reason why Sikhs were excluded and want an apology from him.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23899

It is sad to notice that our Punjabi spirit of hastely conclusion make us trip on our own mound of ignorance and shows although Sikhi teaches us to be openminded, how much parochial we still remain in our non-Sikhi way of thinking.

Following is what Thomas Jefferson said when the state of Virginia wanted to add Jesus Christ in its constitution.

Thomas Jefferson:

"[When] the [Virginia] bill for establishing religious freedom... was finally passed,... a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word "Jesus Christ," so that it should read "a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion." The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend within the mantle of its protection the *** and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination." --Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, 1821. ME 1:67

I thought I would share this with you.

Thanks and Regards

Tejwant Singh

Randip Singh · #2 (**permalink**) 23-Jan-2009, 23:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaheguruSeekr

Dear Cyber Sadh Sangat,

This is what Obama said in his inaugural address in one of his lines:-

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers."

Many Sikh forums I have visited since the inauguration are full of ire because of the ommission of the Sikhs in the above. Many of them are planning to boycott Obama, writing petitions and demanding the reason why Sikhs were excluded and want an apology from him.

It is sad to notice that our Punjabi spirit of hastely conclusion make us trip on our own mound of ignorance and shows although Sikhi teaches us to be openminded, how much parochial we still remain in our non-Sikhi way of thinking.

Following is what Thomas Jefferson said when the state of Virginia wanted to add Jesus Christ in its constitution.

Thomas Jefferson:

"[When] the [Virginia] bill for establishing religious freedom... was finally passed,... a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word "Jesus Christ," so that it should read "a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion." The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend within the mantle of its protection the *** and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination." --Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, 1821. ME 1:67

I thought I would share this with you.

Thanks and Regards

Tejwant Singh

Maybe someone should e-mail him about Dalip Singh Saund?

kds1980 · #3 (**permalink**) 24-Jan-2009, 00:32 AM

Its simple according to him sikhs are either part of hinduism or a non existant community In USA

Archived_member7 · #4 (**permalink**) 24-Jan-2009, 00:47 AM

I belive he is gone through my post that Hindu is for Hindustani people ...and has no connection to a religious identity...

Huck_Finn · #5 (**permalink**) 24-Jan-2009, 01:21 AM

he also did not mention the red americans and natives...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23899

does it mean he considers them non existent?

Jaspreet08 · #6 (**permalink**) 24-Jan-2009, 02:38 AM

He probably believes us to be too small a community for him to mention. I don't think he believes us to part of Hindus. I think he is more alert and intelligent than that.

I think Hilliary Clinton would have mentioned Sikhs. She had a lot Sikh donors during her campaign.

Tejwant Singh · #7 (**permalink**) 24-Jan-2009, 03:03 AM

I agree that he should have mentioned Sikhs, Buddhists, American Indians etc. etc. He should have added those lines. But on the other side you all are missing the point. He was quoting Jefferson what the state of Virginia tried to do was to add JESUS CHRIST in its constitution which he objected to. Those are Jefferson's words. Not President Obama's.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23899
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23899

One can find Jefferson's quotes on this site: http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/...s/jeff1650.htm

Tejwant Singh · #8 (**permalink**) 24-Jan-2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaspreet08

He probably believes us to be too small a community for him to mention. I don't think he believes us to part of Hindus. I think he is more alert and intelligent than that.

I think Hilliary Clinton would have mentioned Sikhs. She had a lot Sikh donors during her campaign.

Jaspreet, you may be right but Obama was the only one to vote for the easing of restrictions regarding Sikhs on the TSA bill. Hillary did not nor did McCain.

Tejwant

anders · #9 (**permalink**) 24-Jan-2009, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaspreet08

He probably believes us to be too small a community for him to mention. I don't think he believes us to part of Hindus. I think he is more alert and intelligent than that.

Living rather half the Earth away from those happenings, I think it's mostly a matter of statistics and general US ignorance. Your current President probably knows lots more than most USAians on ethnological/religional/cultural interactions and problems that might arise in such areas, and seems to be willing to face problems in that field on his short listed priorities. Teaching the US general public that a Sikh or Rajasthani or whathever head gear isn't automatically mean that somebody's about to kill you should get massive federal education effort.