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I Refuse to Live in Fear

HARLEEN KAUR

 

 

 

Moving back has been great after a long and busy summer. I was thrilled to see my friends again, excited to meet my new residents in South Quad and both nostalgic and ecstatic to start my last year here.

But new years and people also bring new problems, and unfortunately Labor Day evening was a testament to that.

Walking back to my dorm after a nice night with my family, we were approached by a man who appeared to have been drinking quite a bit. He asked my father for some money, and he politely declined and kept walking. The man became angry and started shouting after us as we walked away, including the comment, “Give me that towel on your head!”

We continued walking down the street and were very close to my dorm when a truck of students drove past with the windows rolled down, I assume to enjoy the pleasant weather as we were. As they passed us, a boy in the back seat stuck his head out and yelled, “I love Ann Arbor, towel head!”

Twice. In less than 10 minutes.

Even as I write this, my anger, and also helplessness, from last night return. There was no point in engaging in conversation in either scenario, but the fear that entered all of us makes me wish we could have. A few minutes after the truck drove away, there was another truck that pulled up next to us while we were walking. I’m sure we all thought it, but my mom is the one who whispered it to me once we realized it wasn’t the case, “I thought they were coming back for more.”

Living in fear is not something that I was taught. Rather, I was taught to hold my head high and practice my faith fearlessly, regardless of the consequences. This is what Sikhs have done throughout history and, though it has led to bloodshed and sacrifice many times, it is what we will continue to do. Yet there are many cases of blatant discrimination, bias, and exclusion that could be stopped, and that will help prevent these instances of misinformation and ignorance.

Each time a Sikh is stopped by the TSA for a secondary screening in an airport, it shows the people around them that there is potentially something to fear under a turban, behind a beard or beneath dark skin. Each time a Sikh is not allowed to serve in the United States military or their local law enforcement due to his or her articles of faith, it tells them that their love for this country is not equal to others’. And when FIBA, the international basketball governing body, decided that they needed more time to decide whether or not Sikhs can play basketball with their patkas (turbans), it sent the message that it is allowable to exclude individuals for no reason but the fact that they look different.

At this point in our nation’s history, it is unacceptable that we are still allowing certain individuals to face hate crimes and ignorance with no justice. The small messages that are sent on a day-to-day basis can create the long-standing message that a turban is dangerous or Sikhs are a threat. As a Wolverine, seeing a practicing Sikh with a turban on one of our athletic teams would be a dream of mine, but it might not happen since he or she could not go on to play professionally.

When I walk down State Street or across the Diag, I want to know that the fact that I feel at home isn’t countered by the fear that others may have from their perceptions of my turban or my brown skin. I want to know that I don’t have to explain my identity or my presence to anyone around me, but I can just belong as one of the leaders and the best, just like everyone around me. The day that I feel truly fearless practicing my faith will be the day that I truly feel like a Michigan Victor, but until then, I’ll have to keep proving that I’m not just a “towel head.”

 

The author is a senior at the University of Michigan.

[Courtesy: The Michigan Daily. Edited for sikhchic.com]

September 9, 2014

Conversation about this article

1: Harinder Singh (Punjab), September 10, 2014, 12:20 AM.

It is a matter of time that they will learn to co-exist happily with us. Just live in Sikhi and move boldly into the future. Waheguru is beside us, always.

2: Harinder Singh (Punjab), September 10, 2014, 4:18 AM.

Sikhs have faced fought back and overcome worse behaviour under the Mughals, the British, and now the Indian government. This too shall pass ...

3: Gurdarshan Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), September 11, 2014, 7:20 AM.

In my opinion the Sikhs in Malaysia and Singapore live with their heads held high and practice our Sikhi fearlessly. Sikh-Malaysians have been more here for than 120 years. Many keep their turban, kesh, beard and other articles of faith without fear. They continue to serve in the Police and armed forces, and this I believe contributes to the respect given to the community despite being a very small minority in Malaysia. If there's only one Sikh family living in an area, life is still harmonious with the majority Malay/Muslim community, as well as the Chinese and Tamils. Today we constitute 4th and 5th generation Malaysians and have moved boldly into the future, on the strength of a legacy left by our grandparents and parents through the blessings of Waheguru and Guru Granth Sahib.

4: Sukhbir Singh (Hyderabad, India), September 13, 2014, 6:49 AM.

Looking beautiful in Sikhi attire.

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