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Fellow Sikh-Americans: Please Vote!

by GURMEET KAUR

 

Dear Fellow Sikh-Americans:

Presidential Elections are almost here.

First of all, PLEASE DO VOTE!

And, when you vote, please also look at how the candidates stand on Sikh issues.

Eight months ago, the Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group for Sikhs, sent questionnaires to both major party candidates on issues important to Sikh-Americans.

They've heard back from Senator Obama.

Senator McCain's campaign has told them that he plans to respond, but they have yet to receive a further response. Eight months have gone by; we are now mere days away from Election Day.

Regarding issues of special concern to us:

1      Senator Obama has supported us by demanding an explanation from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for its turban screening procedure and urging them to work with the Sikh-American community to address the troubling policy that allowed America's 43,000 TSA screeners to pull aside turban-wearing travelers for secondary screenings. This resulted in TSA reforming its procedures.

2      Senator Obama also has a clear stance on ending racial profiling.

3      He has taken the time to respond to the Sikh Coalition's questions on his stance on the issues important to us.

 

Please do your part in getting to know which candidate is beneficial for our community, our future and our children's future.

And please get out and vote. Early voting in most of the states has already started. Please let your voices be heard.

It is our civic duty. It is our moral duty.

 

October 23, 2008

Conversation about this article

1: Irvinderpal Singh Babra (Brantford, Canada), October 23, 2008, 10:53 PM.

Gurmeet Kaur's article is superb, focused and with a lot of new Sikh energy. I support her in her drive to urge Sikh-Americans to vote, and to vote for Barack Obama. This is history in the making. Let's bring about this much-needed change in the U.S. we all love. America direly needs caring and healing.

2: Parminder Singh (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. ), October 24, 2008, 10:37 AM.

In line for early voting in Georgia. Two hours down, likely two more to go. Great turnout, but where's the youth? Grab some college kids and get out to vote!

3: Anup Kaur (New York, U.S.A.), October 25, 2008, 9:59 AM.

Senator Obama in my mind is the Sarbat Da Bhalla candidate. He sends a message of inclusion and representation that has henceforth not been seen in a Presidential candidate and he sends it with a quiet conviction and clarity. He is not only fully qualified to be President, he demonstrates the much needed ability to think about issues in a nuanced manner and formulate positions based on a balancing of core values rather than on fear. Now, although I would agree that no one should be put in office on the basis of his race alone, I do have some thoughts regarding the impact of a black President, and one that had an immigrant parent. The positive impact that such a President will have on minority communities is immeasurable. We live in a society divided, one black and one white, one made up of "foreigners", one of "real" Americans. There can be no justice until these divisions are erased. The potential for this candidacy is certainly not as revolutionary but nevertheless brings to mind the institution of Guru Ka Langar. That the inclusion of all parts of society can and does break down artificial barriers and creates a more pefect society. One can pay lip service to equality and inclusion, but until the minority person is not only tolerated but considered to have a right to take part - the dream will not be realized. On the oher hand, the McCain camp has tolerated, and in my mind encouraged, division in many ways. The implication that Obama is a terrorist is a definite play on his being "foreign," "black," and "Muslim." The idea that no one other than the "Joe-six-pack" model can be used to represent America is absurd and insulting. (As an aside, Joe's clearly an alcoholic). Indeed, the truth is that Obama is not a Muslim, but even if he were - does that mean he cannot be the President of the United States? Does that mean our Sikh sons and daughters cannot be President because they aren't Christian or because their skin may not be white or because their grandparents or even parents were born in a foreign land? The fact that the McCain team would resort to these subliminal and overt tatics tells me McCain cannot be my President and certainly not the President of "We the People." I too encourage all those reading to vote this November 4th and I hope that you will vote Obama.

4: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), October 27, 2008, 12:04 PM.

Just cast the first vote of my life; hopefully, a historical one. I was under the voting age when I left my country of birth (India) and it took years in between the two citizenships. Now in my 30's, way later than most people's first time, I felt like 18 again, empowered to have a political say for the first time. It was 45 degree F and very windy this morning. They had opened a new polling booth close to my home for early voting. Who would have thought the very first day in suburban Georgia, one week before the election day, there will be a line of thousands of people, notwithstanding wind and chill. I was in the first 200s, yet had to wait in line for 3 hours. They say, such turnout is unprecedented. There were women with babies and 80 year-olds; some even in wheel chairs. Every one freezing, but excited. I'm told that never before in the history of this country, passion of this magnitude has been seen at polling booths. My ears were catching conversations about Wright, Ayres and even an Obama mistress. I knew, I was in the McCain crowd. From what I have heard of early voters so far, the media keeps saying it is mostly African Americans and Obama supporters. In my district however, there were less than 1% African Americans in the line. I was the only "other" one, a far as I could see. I was a bit disappointed to see no Asians, Sikhs or Indians turning out. I know there is a good percentage of us where I live, I run into them at work, restaurants and grocery stores all the time. And, as Paraminder Singh pointed out, no young people either. I feel good having done my part. I hope that our community will do the same, and young people will get out and use their privilege. I can't even imagine the rush on Election Day, so I can't remind you all enough, please go for early voting! I also hope and pray that we will have a President who unites and transcends the racial divide, believes in environmental preservation and in leadership based on compassion, not imperialism.

5: Sukwinder Dhada (Johns Creek, Georgia, U.S.A.), November 04, 2008, 11:45 AM.

This was my first vote here in the U.S.A. Like Gurmeet, after living in this country for almost 15 years, I had a chance to have my vote count; I felt very proud that I had done my civic duty and partipated in a historical event. It is great to see that the lines are long at the polling stations, showing that this election matters to all citizens of this great country of ours. Just to let you know, my 18-year old daughter voted too, even though she is at college; she made sure she handed in her absentee ballot on time.

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