Why Are Sikhs Used for Racist Propaganda by EDL?

badshah · #1 (**permalink**) 05-Feb-2011, 20:17 PM

Why is it that Sikhs are being used as part of racist groups propoganda like EDL?

What are your views on Sikhs being used like this as Neo Nazis March through Luton today.

Does anyone have a picture of this Sikh that they mention in the video.... is it just some bald guy that they told to put on a turban?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/34384-why-sikhs-used-racist-propaganda-edl.html

Please see video in link: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/vid...ausing_Trouble

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #2 (**permalink**) 05-Feb-2011, 21:19 PM

Nothing new..in India the RSS BJP all use "Sikhs" in this way to forward their own agendas...see how so many "sikhs" get prominenetly photographed in BJP marches, hartasl, demonstrations, flag burnings, rath yatras etc ?? Most recent was the Flag raising in kashmir incidents...sword bradihsing sikhs, wild loking sikhs etc on RSS marches ...Now the Quebec canadians also used the sikhs to forward their own agenda in canada..

badshah · #3 (**permalink**) 05-Feb-2011, 21:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gyani Jarnail Singh

Nothing new..in India the RSS BJP all use "Sikhs" in this way to forward their own agendas...see how so many "sikhs" get prominenetly photographed in BJP marches, hartasl, demonstrations, flag burnings, rath yatras etc ?? Most recent was the Flag raising in kashmir incidents...sword bradihsing sikhs, wild loking sikhs etc on RSS marches ...Now the Quebec canadians also used the sikhs to forward their own agenda in canada..

Tell me more about the Canadian propoganda.... thanks

spnadmin · #4 (**permalink**) 05-Feb-2011, 22:57 PM

badshah ji

The Canadian examples are part of a worldwide trend. Some see it mixed with an anti-immigrant political sentiment that is building steam and growing throughout the west - to include US, Canada, and Europe. Sikhs have been swept into the mix of hatred and resentment because we are easier to identify than other immigrant groups, and we stand out from other religions and cultures that are different from the mainstream. Kesh, dastar, kirpan make us stand out. That gives others the opportunity to latch onto "symbols" of the "different ones" that we "hate" because they are challenging "our sacred norms."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34384

Combine this with general ignorance about Sikhism, and we are confused with terrorists. What image does the media cultivate? Turban, beard, and the general public gets stuck on this image of Al Qaeda.

In the US a recent flap in the Michigan state Plymouth-Canton School District over a tiny kirpan worn by a young boy under his sweater stirred up something similar. The story has caused about 3 months of controversy in the blog-o-sphere. Every neo-conservative, who has a blog, to every mainstream religion and rightist political stand is carrying on about how "the time has come" for the powers that be to crack down on "multiculturalism" and tolerance of different religious practices. Reason? "We are a Christian country" and it is "about time that Christians are respected for who they are," etc. etc. etc.

Can you see how these rants are built around the idea that if any concessions are made to minorities, then the mainstream loses more than its share. A zero-sum game. These are countries whose economies are not bouncing back from the collapse of financial markets last year, and are mired in recession and unemployment. Historically immigrants are the first to feel the lash of public resentment in these circumstances.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34384

Some Sikhs will gladly fade into the crowd. Others will not because they have a sturdy faith.

spnadmin · #5 (**permalink**) 05-Feb-2011, 23:03 PM

In answer to your question about Canada

Go to this section of the forum and read all the recent links about partisan politics in Quebec province surrounding the National Assembly and the fact that the ruling party in Quebec seized on the kirpan to promote its own separatist agenda in Ottawa. There are many threads that tell this story.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34384
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34384

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/canada/

badshah · #6 (**permalink**) 06-Feb-2011, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spnadmin

badshah ji

The Canadian examples are part of a worldwide trend. Some see it mixed with an anti-immigrant political sentiment that is building steam and growing throughout the west - to include US, Canada, and Europe. Sikhs have been swept into the mix of hatred and resentment because we are easier to identify than other immigrant groups, and we stand out from religions and cultures that are different from the mainstream. Kesh, dastar, kirpan make us stand out. That gives others the opportunity to latch onto "symbols" of the "different ones" that we "hate" because they are challenging "our sacred norms."

Combine this with general ignorance about Sikhism, and we are confused with terrorists. What image does the media cultivate? Turban, beard, and the general public gets stuck on this image of Al Qaeda.

In the US a recent flap in the Michigan state Plymouth-Canton School District over a tiny kirpan worn by a young boy under his sweater stirred up something similar. The story has caused about 3 months of controversy in the blog-o-sphere. Every neo-conservative who has a blog from every mainstream religion and rightist political stand is carrying on about how "the time has come" for the powers that be to crack down on "multiculturalism" and tolerance different religious practices. Reason? "We are a Christian country" and it is "about time that Christians are respected for who they are," etc. etc. etc.

Can you see how these rants are built around the idea that if any concessions are made to minorities, then the mainstream loses more than its share. A zero-sum game. These are countries whose economies are not bouncing back from the collapse of financial markets last year, and are mired in recession and unemployment. Historically immigrants are the first to feel the lash of public resentment in these circumstances.

Some Sikhs will gladly fade into the crowd. Others will not because they have a sturdy faith.

Hi, thanks for all the information.

You say that some Sikhs are willing to fade into the crowd... is that possible? You can get rid of all your Sikh identity but at the end of the day you are still brown (coloured) and just another Packee

Also I know that the Canadian's have taken the Native Indian's land and can potentially wipe them out as they continue to dig for oil..... so if they have no respect for the Native's what difference will it make to Sikh who are prepared to lose their identity?

spnadmin · #7 (**permalink**) 06-Feb-2011, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badshah

Hi, thanks for all the information.

You say that some Sikhs are willing to fade into the crowd... is that possible? You can get rid of all your Sikh identity but at the end of the day you are still brown (coloured) and just another Packee

Also I know that the Canadian's have taken the Native Indian's land and can potentially wipe them out as they continue to dig for oil..... so if they have no respect for the Native's what difference will it make to Sikh who are prepared to lose their identity?

Read Canadian coverage of the events surrounding the bloody brawl that occurred outside the Sikh Lehr Center in Brampton. Consult our Hard Talk and Canada sections for articles about that.

The sentiment that is willing to deprive Sikhs of identity includes Sikhs who have done quite well in the Canadian political establishment. See also our Hard Talk and Canadian coverage on this point.

p/s The complete spectrum of Sikhi is represented in Canadian politics. On one end is Ujjal Dosangh who is so assimilated into western norms of appearance that he is indistinguishable as a Sikh. On the other end is Navdeep Singh Bains who is a kirpan carrying MP with a message that goes beyond Canada.

BTW Sikhs are not all one shade of brown, and biases in favor of fair skin are found in India and among Sikhs in Canada and elsewhere. Check Sikh matrimonials for examples.

I am not understanding your second question. So cannot really respond.

badshah · #8 (**permalink**) 06-Feb-2011, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spnadmin

Read Canadian coverage of the events surrounding the bloody brawl that occurred outside the Sikh Lehr Center in Brampton. Consult our Hard Talk and Canada sections for articles about that.

The sentiment that is willing to deprive Sikhs of identity includes Sikhs who have done quite well in the Canadian political establishment. See also our Hard Talk and Canadian coverage on this point.

BTW Sikhs are not all one shade of brown, and biases in favor of fair skin are found in India and among Sikhs in Canada and elsewhere. Check Sikh matrimonials for examples.

I am not understanding your second question. So cannot really respond.

Hi

What I was saying is that Canadian's do not have much respect for their Native Indian brothers by taking their land away from them so I do not think they will give more respect to Sikhs who change the appearance.

(The orginal people of Canada back in the day where not allowed to mix with white folk)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/...62M4R720100324

About my point on being brown, you took too lieterally, racists do not not compare shades of brown.... brown is brown in their eyes.

spnadmin · #9 (**permalink**) 06-Feb-2011, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badshah

Hi

About my point on being brown, you took too lieterally, racists do not not compare shades of brown.... brown is brown in their eyes.

Then how does Ujjal Dosangh maintain his political footing for years? And how has he become the darling of the conservative Canadian press?

Who are the "racists" you are talking about? Sometimes members of a stigmatized race exhibit extreme racism toward their own people. Again check Sikh matrimonials if you do need examples. Also our coverage of honor killings in the US, Canada, and India.