Sikhism

Sikhs Request Exemption from Proposed Ban of Religious Symbols

January 3, 2004

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50831-2004Jan2.html

On January 3, 2004 The Washington Post reported, "France's tiny Sikh community is seeking help from India's Hindu prime minister to have Sikhs' traditional turbans exempted from a planned French law to ban Muslim head scarves and other religious symbols from schools. Chain Singh, spokesman for about 5,000 Sikhs, said he was contacting Prime Minister Atal Bihari...

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French Sikhs Request Help from Indian Prime Minister in Opposing Ban of Religious Symbols

January 2, 2004

Source: The Telegraph-Calcutta

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040103/asp/nation/story_2746423.asp

On January 2, 2004 The Telegraph-Calcutta ran a Reuters article that reported, "France’s tiny Sikh community is seeking help from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to have their turbans exempted from a planned French law to ban Muslim headscarves and other religious symbols from schools. Chain Singh, spokesman for about 5,000 Sikhs here, said...

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Update: Kathuria First Sikh to Run for Senate

December 31, 2003

Source: Sikhnet

http://www.sikhnet.com//s/Kathuriastatement

On December 31, 2003 Sikhnet reported, "Dr. Chirinjeev Singh Kathuria, a Sikh running for US Senate in the state of Illinois, issued a statement last week outlining his position on issues of importance to the US Sikh community. In his statement, Dr. Kathuria called for tightening existing bias-crime reporting laws so that, 'accurate statistics can be recorded and hate-based activity accurately tracked and countered...

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Elderly Sikh Man Beaten to Death in Gurdwara

December 31, 2003

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/3355463.stm

On December 31, 2003 the BBC News reported, "The intruders who beat an elderly Sikh man to death at a Wolverhampton temple on Christmas Eve may have walked straight into the building which remains open around the clock, police said. Sohan Singh, a 78-year-old temple volunteer, regularly stayed overnight to prepare the religion's holy books for early prayer sessions. It...

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Second Subway Manager Accuses Development Agent of Discrimination

December 26, 2003

Source: The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031226.wxsubway26/BNStory/National/

On December 26, 2003 The Globe and Mail reported, "Another manager of a Subway Restaurants franchise in Edmonton has come forward with a complaint of religious discrimination, alleging an official of the sandwich chain refused to let him wear his turban while serving customers. The complaint is the second made public...

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North Texas Sikh Center Honored

December 25, 2003

Source: The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/stories/122503dnedixmas.ae71d.html

On December 25, 2003 The Dallas Morning News included the Irving Sikh Center in a list of those making a difference during the holiday season. The temple, headed by Dr. Sohan Singh, holds a charity drive each November to coincide with the birthday of Guru Nanak. The temple conducts charity work at homeless shelters, holds food...

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Sikhs Manage Smoothly Task of Feeding Thousands

December 23, 2003

Source: The Age

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/23/1071941706628.html

On December 23, 2003 The Age ran a feature article on the preparations for the langar (community meal) at the Sikh gurdwara in Blackburn for the celebration of Guru Nanak's birthday: "Rather than the usual hundreds, today the temple is expecting more than 1000 worshippers. To feed them all, 10 families have banded together - for not only will they prepare the meal, they will also...

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Bearded Santa Teaches a Lesson of Humanity

December 22, 2003

Source: Tolerance.org

http://www.tolerance.org/news/article_tol.jsp?id=915

On December 22, 2003 Tolerance.org reported on how the artwork of Cynthia Duxbury is educating Americans on the danger of anti-Arab stereotypes. Duxbury has recently completed a compelling image "playing Santa's hat off the turban of a bearded, faceless man. After creating the side-by-side Santa/turban images, Duxbury added the words: 'Funny how the tiniest thing can make people feel different...

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Sikh Crossing Guard Plays Santa

December 22, 2003

Source: Herald Sun

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8231483%255E2862,00.html

On December 22, 2003 the Herald Sun reported, "All year, Gursharan Singh Bhatia is lollipop man at the Medina Rd crossing outside Glendal Primary School in Glen Waverley. But for the last few school days before Christmas, he leaves his traditional Sikh turban at home and doffs a Father Christmas hat. All the Glendal kids, their parents and...

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Vermont Sikh Makes Hospitality a Vocation

December 20, 2003

Source: The Brattleboro Reformer

http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8862~1843031,00.html

On December 20, 2003 The Brattleboro Reformer published an article on how Gurudharm Singh Khalsa, the new group and corporate sales director for the Putney Road Quality Inn, is turning his responsibilities of welcoming guests and serving his community into ways of educating others on Sikhism. Khalsa comments that his job provides the perfect secular opportunity...

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Non-Christians Embrace Christmas in WA

December 19, 2003

Source: The Bellingham Herald

[bellinghamherald.com/stories/20031219/TopStories/168888.shtml]

On December 19, 2003 The Bellingham Herald reported on how Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and Pagans celebrate the Christmas holiday season. Interviews reveal that many local Sikhs exchange gifts, that some local Muslims put up Christmas trees, and that Jews sometimes celebrate secular Christmas along with Hannukah. Pagan celebrationsoften involve time for introspection and a ritual commemorating the winter solstice.

Chicago Community Honors First Sikh to Die in Iraq

December 16, 2003

Source: Daily Herald

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intid=3797110

On December 16, 2003 the Daily Herald reported,"U.S. Army Spc. Uday Singh of Lake Forest has left an indelible mark on his Sikh community, which is hailing him a hero and martyr for giving his life in Iraq. Singh, who fought with American troops, was the first Indian casualty of the war. He died Dec. 1 after an attack on his unit in Habbaniyah. Now the 21-year-old is being...

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Sikhs Act as Mediators Between Hindus and Muslims in Nanded

December 14, 2003

Source: The Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=37174

On December 14, 2003 The Indian Express reported, "Last month the bombing of a mosque [in the North Indian city of Nanded] triggered riots that went on for a week. In a place where Hindus and Muslims clash at the drop of a grenade, the Sikh community plays the all-important role of the neutral party that often mediates and mends. They enjoy a peaceful existence away from the...

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Sikh Women's Conference Calls for Gender Equality

December 13, 2003

Source: Sikhnet

http://www.sikhnet.com/s/DetroitWomenConference

On December 13, 2003 Sikhnet reported that over two hundred delegates from the United States and Canada attended a Sikh Women's Conference at Oakland University. The conference was hosted by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the World Sikh Council – America Region.The conference focused on "the need to recognize and remove all barriers to change, and to adopt the philosophy and model laid...

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