People
The 'Average' Sikh
HARMEET SINGH MATTA
They say that the average American does not know the difference between a Sikh and a Muslim. They tell me the average American associates a turban and a beard with ISIS, Taliban or Bin Laden.
That's okay, because the average Sikh does not have "fear" in his or her vocabulary.
We are not the victims of mistaken identity; we are in fact doing exactly what our identity was supposed to do. It was supposed to absorb hate and ignorance so others would not have to.
See, you mistake us for something we are not, however, you do not know exactly who we are.
Our heritage teaches us tolerance, to love the enemy and to protect even those we do not agree with. These seemingly progressive values -- of equality, freedom of religion, justice for all that you thought were American -- are actually something Sikhs have been living, and dying for, for centuries over. Our history is full of examples of how Sikhs protected others before themselves, put humanity first and their own life last. We are taught from a very young age that our identity comes with responsibility; it will come with its own set of challenges, and we are in fact ready for anything and more your hate can dish out.
We have learned through our forefathers that hate does not last, and love and truth eventually overcome. You may feel big by attacking us, but with each blow you only strengthen our resolve. You have bullied our children in schools, attacked our places of worship, all in your skewed misinformed and small view of the world.
Yes, we look different but we are not foreign to this type of treatment. Everywhere a Sikh goes they know they stand out, they know their identity comes before all else that is presented about them, and even in the face of extreme intolerance they are willing to not reciprocate the hate but shower love instead.
You think if you intimidate us we will go running "back to our country," as you heckle commonly - wilfully ignorant that we are Americans ... as much as you are.
However, we will not go ‘back‘ or ‘away‘, but only dig our heels in stronger to prove that not only are we not afraid but we have the resolve to overcome your anger.
Our Sikh Faith provides us the guidance in knowing there is no ‘other‘, there is no ‘difference‘, there is no ‘better‘, there is only divine light which shines in all.
A Sikh's strength lies in his and her identity -- it goes hand in hand with their existence. You might use images of the media to shape your worldview through biased lenses, but we use spiritual power to shape our resolve. A Sikh will stay steadfast in a storm because we know the real battle does not rage externally, rather internally is where the conquest really counts.
My hope is of a better America, where tolerance is not just a word that is thrown around, but actually practiced by every individual.
Where diversity is not seen as a weakness but our core strength and what makes this nation great.
Till then you will never see us hiding. The 'Average’ Sikh will be out there with our turbans and beards, easy to spot and ready for any challenge that may be presented.
[Courtesy: The Huffington Post. Edited for sikhchic.com]
December 21, 2015
Conversation about this article
1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), December 21, 2015, 7:24 PM.
The title, I suggest, should read "The Outstanding Sikh." They are in every field and should offer free eye checkup for those who can't tell the difference between ordinary pedestrians and those walking tall.
2: Dya Singh (Melbourne, Australia), December 23, 2015, 7:56 PM.
Wah, Harmeet ji! Well put. 'Savaa laakh se aik larraoon / tabhe Gobind Singh naam kahaoon.' We have faced the Talibans and the ISIL's / ISIS' since Guru Nanak's times - from our very birth almost 550 years ago. All this is not new to us as it is to the average non-Sikh American, Brit, Canadian, Australian, European, African and even Asian. We have borne, faced, challenged, fought and overcome this evil since Baba Nanak worked on the chakki in Babar's prison. We never received accolades then, in fact we were discriminated by others who we had even defended and the same is true today. It has always been our spiritual duty and test. That is why teaching our young our history and enlightening others of who we are is a constant need. Thank you for putting it so succinctly. I am attending a Sikh family camp in Sydney, Australia organized by SYA in two weeks and you have given me something to read to the youth.