Sikhism

Update: Death of Waqar Hasan and Congressional Law Granting U.S. Residency to 9/11 Survivors

January 12, 2003

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

[philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/4925345.htm]

On January 12, 2003 The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that "Waqar Hasan - the faithful son, the father of four, the one who paid all the bills - is gone; [he was killed in his convenience store four days after 9/11 by Mark Anthony Stroman]... Hasan's wife, Durreshahwar, and teenage daughters have lived in their white, one-story frame house in a New Jersey suburb for nearly a decade, their stay tied to his business visa... Now, his wife and...

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The Sikh Center in Orange County, CA

January 8, 2003

Source: myOC.com

[myoc.com/community/religion/spirit/spirit.shtml]

On January 8, 2003 myOC.com reported that "The Sikh Center [in Orange County, CA] has been in existence since 1990. During the 1980s five Sikh families in Orange County began conducting services in their homes. Now the Center has over 500 families as members. Although exact numbers are difficult to obtain, several sources indicate that there are between 16 million and 20 million Sikhs worldwide... Bicky Singh... is president and chairman of the board of...

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California Sikhs Reach Out

January 3, 2003

Source: Contra Costa Times

[bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/4868104.htm]

On January 3, 2003 the Contra Costa Times reported that "once the domain of a people and religion many Americans regarded as exotic, Sikh temples throughout North America are reaching out to the mainstream. Sikhism is... not at all out of step with American values and most Americans' religions, Sikh leaders say... Sikhs have lived in California for more than 100 years, and their temples have always been open to non-Sikhs. Yet lingering misunderstanding of...

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El Sobrante's Sikh Community

January 3, 2003

Source: Contra Costa Times

[bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/4868002.htm]

On January 3, 2003 Contra Costa Times reported that "contemporary El Sobrante [CA], far from being a nowhere place, is one whose renown carries across oceans, all the way to the Punjab region of India, homeland of the Sikhs. As the site of the Sikh Center of the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the most important Sikh shrines in North America, El Sobrante rates a spot on the worldwide Sikh map... Sikhs are but one ingredient of the rich ethnic soup that the El...

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Multifaith Thoughts for the New Year

December 31, 2002

Source: The Plain Dealer

On December 31, 2002 The Plain Dealer reported that "the Plain Dealer asked Northeast Ohioans representing different faiths to share their thoughts and prayers for the new year. If there is one theme that runs through these reflections, it is a sense of hope amid despair. Religious leaders seek faith to not only be peacemakers and serve the poor and the homeless and others in need next year, but to do what they believe is God's work with a spirit of joy and peace... Ven. Shih Ying-Fa, Abbot, CloudWater Zendo, Zen Center of...

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Swaranjit Singh's Endeavor to Education Public about Sikhism

December 26, 2002

Source: SMART

[sikhmediawatch.org/news/newsdetail.asp?newsid=150]

On December 26, 2002 SMART reported on Swaranjit Singh, who "'resigned from [his] job and started calling different schools, churches, the FBI, the Federal Aviation Administration, the police, to educate people about Sikhs.' Singh said he has been on about 15 different television programs since the Sept. 11 attacks and has given presentations on Sikhism to district attorneys’ offices, police stations and about 30 to 40 groups of teachers."

Sikh's Restaurant Owners Serve Neighbors

December 23, 2002

Source: The Herald

[heraldnet.com/Stories/02/12/23/16282626.cfm]

On December 23, 2002 The Herald reported that "Sunday, dinner at the Grand Taj restaurant was on the house -- for the third time in three years... Restaurant owners Kewal Singh Johal and his wife, Jasbir Kaur Johal, served more than 3,000 free dinners to an equal number of their neighbors -- the residents of Snohomish County [WA] and beyond... Followers of the Sikh religion, they believe in sharing."

INS Detains Hundreds of Muslim and Middle Eastern Immigrants in California

December 23, 2002

Source: Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force

http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/press/pressdetail.asp?pressid=26

On December 23, 2002 the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force issued a press release. "SMART’s Executive Director, Navtej Khalsa, questioned the effect of these actions on the relationship between immigrant communities and law enforcement officials. 'We understand the need to prevent against any potential future terrorist attacks,' said...

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Sikhs Assist Californian Homeless Shelters

December 21, 2002

Source: The Bakersfield Californian

[bakersfield.com/local/story/2362221p-2416343c.html]

On December 21, 2002 The Bakersfield Californian reported that "with Christmas just a few days away, toys and food were given away at various events in Bakersfield Saturday... About 12 members of the local Sikh community served a vegetarian meal consisting of rice, vegetables, garbanzo beans and chapati, an unleavened flat bread from India, to folks at the Bakersfield Homeless Center, run by Bethany Services... Organizers said they...

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Eid al-Fitr in U.S., 2002

December 19, 2002

Source: Pakistan Link

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=69b528758e3dd704c6ce2f4374b984a0

On December 19, 2002 the Pakistan Link reported that "still reeling from the aftereffects of 9/11, the Muslim community in Sacramento turned out in record numbers for the service for Eid, the end of Ramadan. On Dec. 6, over 2000 worshipers gathered at one of the oldest continuous places of Muslim worship in the...

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Update: Controversy Over Sikh Temple Election in Fremont, California

December 17, 2002

Source: The Argus

http://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1413,83%257E1971%257E1057565,00.html

On December 17, 2002 The Argus reported that "leaders of Fremont's Sikh temple posted the $900,000 set by a judge to delay a Jan. 12 election that would decide whether they can maintain control of the Bay Area's largest and wealthiest temple... The bond is collateral to ensure the leaders don't spend temple money or assets during the appeal process......

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Interfaith Conference Discusses Thought-Provoking Questions

December 7, 2002

Source: Suburban Chicago News

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/city/w07religs.htm

On December 7, 2002 the Suburban Chicago News questioned "why would a loving God permit human suffering? What is the surest path to spiritual enlightenment? How can both doubt and belief spring from the same insurmountable questions?" Then suggested that "these and other weighty matters will be broached during some thought-provoking discussions being offered by faith...

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Sikh Gurdwara Groundbreaking in Kern County, California

December 7, 2002

Source: The Bakersfield Californian

[bakersfield.com/local/story/2287782p-2349136c.html]

On December 7, 2002 The Bakersfield Californian reported that "There are 10,000 followers of the Sikh faith in Kern County. They have never had their own temple. The building will be named after the second of the 10 prophets of the Sikh religion said Manbir Singh, the chairman of the committee organizing the temple construction effort. It will be called Gurdwara Guru Angad Darbar. And it will be a place of refuge and worship for the...

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