☀️ JOIN SPN MOBILE
Forums
New posts
Guru Granth Sahib
Composition, Arrangement & Layout
ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New resources
Latest activity
Videos
New media
New comments
Library
Latest reviews
Donate
Log in
Register
What's new
New posts
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
Sign up
Log in
Discussions
Hard Talk
Of Berets And Turbans
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Admin" data-source="post: 115607" data-attributes="member: 1"><p>Elaine Donnelly at NRO <a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZmJhMDE5NDk2NjUyMjNmNjA3NTBlZjhjMjhmOWJlMzY=" target="_blank">goes overboard in castigating the Army</a> for allowing a Sikh doctor (and potentially a Sikh dentist) to retain the beards and turbans their faith requires of them. Donnelly (whose work I usually admire) compares this dispensation to the Army's deliberately turning a blind eye to the blatant jihadism of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. The two are in no way comparable. The latter was an egregious dereliction of duty on the part of the authorities, while the former is merely bureaucratic nitpicking of the sort that Paul Fussell characterized so accurately as "chickenshit."</p><p> Donnelly should consider that the Sikhs have a long and distinguished history of military service in the British Indian Army. Sikh regiments were not only unfailingly loyal (once the British had conquered the Sikhs, a feat that required two wars between 1845 and 1849) but were usually in the forefront of the battle. Only the Gurkhas equal or exceed the military reputation of the Sikhs. Throughout their service to the Raj, which ended only with Indian independence, the Sikhs were allowed to retain their beards and distinctive headwear. It did not affect their performance in combat; rather, it was a mark of distinction, of regimental loyalty and unit cohesion--the intangible moral factors that lead to high combat effectiveness.</p><p> </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately, the United States Army has a tin ear when it comes to such matters. Take, for example, a simple matter such as headgear. Up through the tenure of General Eric Shinseki as Army Chief of Staff, only elite units were permitted to wear a beret--a privilege earned in blood. The Army Rangers wore a black beret, the paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st airborne wore maroon, and the Special Forces wore the famous green beret. In an effort to "transform" the Army and make it more "expeditionary oriented," Shinseki directed all troops to begin wearing the black beret. That's right--we'll turn the Army into a lean, mean, fighting machine by making all the troops wear Monica Lewinski's hat. It was a fitting gesture for the Clinton era in military affairs. The Rangers, of course, were outraged--a black beret means something, just as the maroon beret and jump boots mean something to paratroops, and the green beret to the Special Forces. And now a bunch of fat, sloppy REMFs were wearing it and walking around with Ranger swagger. As for the paratroops and the Special Forces, well, they didn't want to be mistaken for Rangers, either. There was pretty close to a full blown headgear rebellion that was squelched only when the Army relented and allowed the Special Forces and Airborne to retain their distinctive colors. As for the poor Rangers, they were given a rather washed-out looking tan beret, and still haven't gotten over it.</p><p> The point is seemingly minor matters such as headgear and footwear matter when it comes to morale, unit cohesion and combat effectiveness. These small marks of individuality, especially when earned, allows the soldier to gain pride in himself and his unit. It makes him part of a larger tradition, not just a cog in the Big Green Machine, and should be encouraged, not suppressed. A truly clever Army would not try to make Sikhs shave their beards and discard their turbans, but would go so far as make them special marks of distinction. Tap into the Sikh community, form Sikh platoons, companies and battalions wearing the traditional Sikh uniform. I wager the Sikhs will serve the United States with the same zeal and loyalty they showed to the British Raj.</p><p></p><p></p><p> And while we are on that subject, I understand that there are a great many under-employed Gurkha soldiers now that the British army is cutting back once again. An offer of citizenship in return for service might get a very favorable response from some of the best soldiers in the world.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Admin, post: 115607, member: 1"] Elaine Donnelly at NRO [URL="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZmJhMDE5NDk2NjUyMjNmNjA3NTBlZjhjMjhmOWJlMzY="]goes overboard in castigating the Army[/URL] for allowing a Sikh doctor (and potentially a Sikh dentist) to retain the beards and turbans their faith requires of them. Donnelly (whose work I usually admire) compares this dispensation to the Army's deliberately turning a blind eye to the blatant jihadism of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. The two are in no way comparable. The latter was an egregious dereliction of duty on the part of the authorities, while the former is merely bureaucratic nitpicking of the sort that Paul Fussell characterized so accurately as "chickenshit." Donnelly should consider that the Sikhs have a long and distinguished history of military service in the British Indian Army. Sikh regiments were not only unfailingly loyal (once the British had conquered the Sikhs, a feat that required two wars between 1845 and 1849) but were usually in the forefront of the battle. Only the Gurkhas equal or exceed the military reputation of the Sikhs. Throughout their service to the Raj, which ended only with Indian independence, the Sikhs were allowed to retain their beards and distinctive headwear. It did not affect their performance in combat; rather, it was a mark of distinction, of regimental loyalty and unit cohesion--the intangible moral factors that lead to high combat effectiveness. Unfortunately, the United States Army has a tin ear when it comes to such matters. Take, for example, a simple matter such as headgear. Up through the tenure of General Eric Shinseki as Army Chief of Staff, only elite units were permitted to wear a beret--a privilege earned in blood. The Army Rangers wore a black beret, the paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st airborne wore maroon, and the Special Forces wore the famous green beret. In an effort to "transform" the Army and make it more "expeditionary oriented," Shinseki directed all troops to begin wearing the black beret. That's right--we'll turn the Army into a lean, mean, fighting machine by making all the troops wear Monica Lewinski's hat. It was a fitting gesture for the Clinton era in military affairs. The Rangers, of course, were outraged--a black beret means something, just as the maroon beret and jump boots mean something to paratroops, and the green beret to the Special Forces. And now a bunch of fat, sloppy REMFs were wearing it and walking around with Ranger swagger. As for the paratroops and the Special Forces, well, they didn't want to be mistaken for Rangers, either. There was pretty close to a full blown headgear rebellion that was squelched only when the Army relented and allowed the Special Forces and Airborne to retain their distinctive colors. As for the poor Rangers, they were given a rather washed-out looking tan beret, and still haven't gotten over it. The point is seemingly minor matters such as headgear and footwear matter when it comes to morale, unit cohesion and combat effectiveness. These small marks of individuality, especially when earned, allows the soldier to gain pride in himself and his unit. It makes him part of a larger tradition, not just a cog in the Big Green Machine, and should be encouraged, not suppressed. A truly clever Army would not try to make Sikhs shave their beards and discard their turbans, but would go so far as make them special marks of distinction. Tap into the Sikh community, form Sikh platoons, companies and battalions wearing the traditional Sikh uniform. I wager the Sikhs will serve the United States with the same zeal and loyalty they showed to the British Raj. And while we are on that subject, I understand that there are a great many under-employed Gurkha soldiers now that the British army is cutting back once again. An offer of citizenship in return for service might get a very favorable response from some of the best soldiers in the world. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Discussions
Hard Talk
Of Berets And Turbans
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top