A few months ago I made a post about doing a presentation on Sikhi to work colleagues. Yesterday my colleague who was marking me came to me and said "I had all of my family around the other day. My daughter's boyfriend (typical chavy sort of bloke) was there and was complaining about Muslims. He said look they've got a big Mosque in Gravesend now. I corrected him and told him that actually it's a Sikh Temple where anyone is welcome and they give free food. After that he felt a bit ashamed but continued to say that Sikhs have knives in their Turbans. I once again corrected him and said that Sikhs only have their hair tied up in their Turbans, not knives. I told him that they do carry knives but it is only for the protection of others. He then went on to say that the Sikhs he has met drink alot. I once again corrected him and said that the Sikh religion forbids any consumption of alocohol. He then said 'ok, Sikhs sound like a nice bunch of people'. I remembered all the things you said in your presentation that time."
Education is the key!
Dhan Guroo Nanak.
A blog about Sikhi, Gursikhi, Keertan, Waheguru, Vaheguroo, Starting off in Sikhi, Khalsa
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Shame!
One of the builders in our house is 63 years old, but very fit physically. He always likes to spend hours (and I mean hours) talking to me about his life and other random things - especially when I'm in a rush and have to go to work! Maybe I just have one of those faces or something.
He likes to talk about religion and other "Sikhs" he has met and wonders why we do things differently (lol). But the other day he said something that just made me put my head in shame, he said "You people really know how to throw a party, I don't think I've ever seen so much alcohol in my life. I would never allow that at my wedding. I saw lots of elderly men and some women not being able to walk and talk properly because they were so drunk. I don't think I've ever tried Indian vegetarian food, there were just platefuls of meat being put infront of me." I thought oh Vaheguroo, what am I suppose to say to that?! I explained that there is a very fine line between religion and culture.
As if that wasn't bad enough he went to say "My friend wears a turban, he wears a different one to yours. He has it so tight around his eyes it looks like he can't take it off. (I think he might have said something about him having a big beard but I'm not sure if that's what he said.) When they went to a wedding they looked very nice, he wore a nice suit and his wife wore a nice Indian suit with her hair tied up. But at the party they turned into different people. He took his turban off and let all of his hair down and started downing all of the alcohol bottles. His wife also took off her suit and wore short, tight clothes and let her hair down and also started drinking." What a sad state of affairs! The same Sikhi that countless Shaheeds have given their lives for, is being portrayed like this. I really hope it gets better before it gets worse. Needless to say I was gobsmacked and words just couldn't come out of my mouth.
He likes to talk about religion and other "Sikhs" he has met and wonders why we do things differently (lol). But the other day he said something that just made me put my head in shame, he said "You people really know how to throw a party, I don't think I've ever seen so much alcohol in my life. I would never allow that at my wedding. I saw lots of elderly men and some women not being able to walk and talk properly because they were so drunk. I don't think I've ever tried Indian vegetarian food, there were just platefuls of meat being put infront of me." I thought oh Vaheguroo, what am I suppose to say to that?! I explained that there is a very fine line between religion and culture.
As if that wasn't bad enough he went to say "My friend wears a turban, he wears a different one to yours. He has it so tight around his eyes it looks like he can't take it off. (I think he might have said something about him having a big beard but I'm not sure if that's what he said.) When they went to a wedding they looked very nice, he wore a nice suit and his wife wore a nice Indian suit with her hair tied up. But at the party they turned into different people. He took his turban off and let all of his hair down and started downing all of the alcohol bottles. His wife also took off her suit and wore short, tight clothes and let her hair down and also started drinking." What a sad state of affairs! The same Sikhi that countless Shaheeds have given their lives for, is being portrayed like this. I really hope it gets better before it gets worse. Needless to say I was gobsmacked and words just couldn't come out of my mouth.
You Look Like Royality
The other day my mum told me that an African lady had come up to her at work at the tills. She said "I've seen you working here a few times and everytime I've wanted to say how amazing and royal your turban looks. You wear different colours but this blue one makes you look like royalty."
Dhan Guroo Nanak.
Dhan Guroo Nanak.
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