Intolerance, religious unfamiliarity lead to severe bullying of local student (includes TV video of story)

I love it! I wonder who declared November Sikh Awareness Month?

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

__________________
ਦਾਦਰ ਤੂ ਕਬਹਿ ਨ ਜਾਨਸਿ ਰੇ ॥
dhaadhar thoo kabehi n jaanas rae ||
You frog, you will never understand.


ਭਖਸਿ ਸਿਬਾਲੁ ਬਸਸਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਜਲ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਨ ਲਖਸਿ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
bhakhas sibaal basas niramal jal anmrith n lakhas rae ||1|| rehaao ||
You eat the dirt, while you dwell in the immaculate waters. You know nothing of the ambrosial nectar there. ||1||Pause||

Guru Nanak Dev ji Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Ang 990


WHY TRY TO FIT IN? YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

Sikh Coalition.

We ought to be able to launch something really classy and visible in a short period of time. It will pop into my head when I don't try to think about it. LOL

It is the nature of Humans to make fun of people Which look different from them .That is why people laugh at persons Which are few inches shorter or fatter than them

That would be me, Kanwardeep Ji, so laugh away!
But on a serious note, it's a bit different when you're short or fat or have a funny nose or a limp or a stutter... they're things you can't "fix". But if just by taking off your patka or cutting your hair will make the teasing go away (until they decide your ears are too big or your hair is too curly!), you can see how it would be complicated for traditional Sikh kids.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-youth/33106-intolerance-religious-unfamiliarity-lead-severe-bullying.html

I can't imagine how, if I was a Sikh kid and knew in my teens what I know now, I would get so mad being teased by ignorant kids when I think about the sacrifices made by Sikhs in history. It would just burn you up. I don't know how any of them get through it, and can understand why some of them buckle under the strain. As long as they come back to it when they're through school.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33106

Ishna

Well there are fields where uncouth ,abusive language is used against each other.
Let me Give you example When Me and my brothers used to play cricket at very ground level,slurs against like ( judi) Means a boy with knot was quite common.Also if a sikh boy drops a catch then first thing other boys used to say is it 12 o clock? There is no way you could have escaped this.Once the level of cricket gets higher the use of Language also gets more abusive
mainly by players who used to dominate the cricket.In these type of case's there is only one way to tackle it and that is just play very good cricket.No amount of preaching or fighting is going to work,and BTW if you cannot play good cricket then don't play it or just accept what others boys say

Unfortunately I don't need to imagine Mai Ji as that is what I dealt with for many years from age 4 when I started proper school (half my school life ). I hope never to repeat the experience but it is much easier to deal with rascism now having been through that. Its also made it much easier for me to deal with peer pressure.

United Sikhs also runs an education programme:
http://www.unitedsikhs.org/sap/

What is the Sikh Awareness Project (SAP)? The Sikh Awareness Project is a series of specially-designed, age-appropriate presentations to educate school children, faculty, college-age students, law enforcement, governmental and non-governmental professionals, and the general public about the Sikh faith, the distinct appearance of Sikhs, and discrimination and other problems that Sikhs face. The main aim of the project is to increase awareness about Sikhs in the society that we interact with everyday, and promote understanding about who Sikhs are.

Why is there a need?
Sikhs have a distinct physical appearance as initiated by the tenth Guru of the Sikh religion. Post 9/11, Sikhs have been targets of hate crimes and increased racial discrimination at school and work. There also have been incidents of police brutality in many states. These problems have increased the need for spreading awareness about Sikhs and ensuring that the innocent Sikhs are not wrongly labeled or discriminated against.

How will SAP help?
Education is a limitless tool that can reach out to children and adults alike, working to eliminate discrimination and bullying where it occurs and prevent it from happening. Only in recent years have governmental offices and private enterprises provided resources and training for staff on issues of discrimination and diversity. Furthermore, few school curriculums cover world religions, and even fewer have detailed, accurate explanations of the Sikh faith and why Sikhs have a distinct appearance. SAP not only explains the tenets of Sikhism, but also explains why Sikhs have a distinct appearance, particularly addressing the dastaar (the Sikh turban, worn as an article of faith). Children are the future, so to educate and breed understanding in them is a way to foster awareness of the Sikh identity in the entire community.

SAP at School
Sikh children are often bullied and taunted as a result of their unique appearance, and have faced an increase of bullying in the years following the 9/11 attacks and the recent conflicts in the Middle East. Studies have shown that bullying is incredibly destructive for both the bully and those being bullied; bullies often later resort to more major offenses and displays of violence, including vandalism, assault, and even murder, whereas those being bullied suffer from a lack of self-esteem and confidence for many years, sometimes to a crippling degree.

	UNITED SIKHS volunteers discussing the importance of the Dastaar (Sikh turban) at a middle school		UNITED SIKHS volunteers conducting the SAP presentations with students

UNITED SIKHS has been working with schools where incidents of bullying were reported in the past. UNITED SIKHS approaches the schools and arranges Sikh Awareness Presentations to introduce the Sikh religion to the students and faculty. The presentations geared toward schools include bullying as a specific topic, paired with a separate presentation for faculty and staff regarding the issue of why Sikh students are particularly at risk for bullying, including some suggestions for preventing and resolving bullying in schools.

SAP at Work
The number of reported cases of racial profiling discrimination against Sikhs increased drastically post 9/11. Hence, there is a specific need to educate governmental authorities as well as employers about the Sikh religion.

	UNITED SIKHS Team with the Employer’s representatives while conducting a SAP presentation

UNITED SIKHS has joined hands with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to reach out to employers and government investigators and sensitize them to the needs of the Sikh work force. UNITED SIKHS is also designing training programs for employers and many organizations so as to help their employees understand the Sikh religion better.

How can you help? You can volunteer and learn how to bring SAP into schools, governmental offices, and private companies in your area. UNITED SIKHS is currently looking for volunteers with the ability to talk to children or adults effectively to train as presenters. If you are interesting in volunteering, please email volunteer@unitedsikhs.org or call 1-888-243- 1690.

If you would like UNITED SIKHS to visit your child’s school or your office, please email sap@unitedsikhs.org.