I will probably never forget this day. My mother woke me up
to tell me that there was a shooting in a Gurdwara in Wisconsin.
A shooting in a
Gurdwara? I cannot express the disbelief I felt in that moment – the
Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship, was forever to me the safest place in the
world. It is where we meditate and pray, cook together in our community kitchen, sit
and share a hot meal. Everyone is welcome. It is a place filled only with love
and kindness.
A shooting in a
Gurdwara? I am speechless.
My heart aches for the victims of this horrific tragedy.
Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
I cannot say that any good can come of such a day, but what
I do know is that news stations around the world are reporting this tragedy,
and my social media pages are overflowing with posts about Sikhism.
So let us realize that in this moment, rather than becoming
wrapped up in anger, or trying to understand the motives behind the shooting,
uniting to create awareness is of utmost importance. We must make sure that we
never see a day like this again.
So please, share your thoughts, speak, and educate.
Let us also have a moment of silence for the six innocent
lives that were lost today, and pray for the incredibly brave police officer
that risked his life to save those that were in the Gurdwara.
What can you do to help?
Please visit this link to support the families of Sikhs and
police officers wounded or killed in the Wisconsin Shooting. Any contribution
will make a huge difference: www.indiegogo.com/Milwaukee-Sikh
To learn more about the Wisconsin Shooting, please visit this link.
Some facts about Sikhism:
“Sikhism is the world's fifth largest independent religion. It originated in
northwest India, and its central tenets are belief in a single God, equality
for all people and a commitment to community service.
Sikh men wear a turban and keep an uncut beard, among other articles, as a sign
of devotion to God and to keep a strong identity. This uniform identity ensures
equality and discipline. Unfortunately, this appearance is often incorrectly
confused with Al-Qaeda, Taliban, etc.
The Gurdwara is the proper name for a Sikh Temple, a place of peace. Members of
all faiths are welcome. Sikhs sit together humbly on the floor while praying.
After services, Sikhs and non-Sikhs sit as equals on the floor while eating a
meal donated and prepared by members of the congregation.
Sikhs believe in the validity of all faiths. To that end, they have fought to
ensure religious freedom, not only for themselves, but for members of all
communities.
Sikhs continue in that struggle today, despite today's horrible injustice.”
(Source Unknown)
