Sikhs March for Peace in Berkeley
Guest blogged by Mewa Singh
Yesterday’s post by Sundari got me thinking. When I saw the videos of the from the BBC footage from those days in 1984, I began wondering can the Sikh community mobilize like that again? Under what circumstances could it or even should it mass mobilize?
I thought of the mobilization that occurred with the Ram Rahim incident last year. Then while reading the internet news, I came across this Bay Area video.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO (sorry the website doesn’t allow me to embed the video)
The media was given the title as the “Spiritual March for World Peace.” Although I have been out of the loop with friends for sometime with my Bay Area friends, what was the ‘real’ reason for the gathering? Was it celebrating the shaheedi of Guru Arjan? Do we really have Nagar Kirtans to remember martyrdoms in our history? Should the march be construed as an anti-war protest? Partially to raise awareness, but partially to learn about the initiative as well, I would love to hear about the background, perspectives, or even your thoughts on this Nagar Kirtan.
6 Responses to “Sikhs March for Peace in Berkeley”
Pro-peace march, not anti-war!
we should end marches against things and march more for what we are FOR!
a very cool thing. from a PR perspective, the primary purpose of a march, it's a great idea, and the interview clips were pretty solid.
just a random thought: it is remarkable, in a way, to see the juxtaposition of the panj piyaree carrying 3ft long kirpans during a peace march. don't get me wrong, not criticizing – i think we all appreciate the history of sikhi and know the symbolism. i mention it only because i sometimes field questions and inquiries that are focused on sikh military tradition, and even our own focus on the proud military tradition. i imagine its a little strange to those looking in that folks are carrying weapons of war during a peace rally if they don't fully appreciate the history and "last resort" element of the military tradition (imagine any other religious peoples doing the same).
that in mind, i don't think that it should really be construed as a Sikh "anti-war" protest, since Sikh history dictates that not all wars are unjust. besides the primary conflict with we as Americans are concerned, how many other conflicts in the world might be considered just? i like the idea of a "World Peace" rally – emphasize the sentiment of trying to get along, avoid war at almost all costs, and pray for the same. i don't know if that's how it came across during the parade, but that's the sentiment that came across in the clip.
Pro-peace march, not anti-war!
we should end marches against things and march more for what we are FOR!
a very cool thing. from a PR perspective, the primary purpose of a march, it’s a great idea, and the interview clips were pretty solid.
just a random thought: it is remarkable, in a way, to see the juxtaposition of the panj piyaree carrying 3ft long kirpans during a peace march. don’t get me wrong, not criticizing – i think we all appreciate the history of sikhi and know the symbolism. i mention it only because i sometimes field questions and inquiries that are focused on sikh military tradition, and even our own focus on the proud military tradition. i imagine its a little strange to those looking in that folks are carrying weapons of war during a peace rally if they don’t fully appreciate the history and “last resort” element of the military tradition (imagine any other religious peoples doing the same).
that in mind, i don’t think that it should really be construed as a Sikh “anti-war” protest, since Sikh history dictates that not all wars are unjust. besides the primary conflict with we as Americans are concerned, how many other conflicts in the world might be considered just? i like the idea of a “World Peace” rally – emphasize the sentiment of trying to get along, avoid war at almost all costs, and pray for the same. i don’t know if that’s how it came across during the parade, but that’s the sentiment that came across in the clip.
These peace marches are a great way to show the principles of Sikhi. Not sure what the 'real' intention of the gathering was, but regardless the media picked it up as a positive thing.
These peace marches are a great way to show the principles of Sikhi. Not sure what the ‘real’ intention of the gathering was, but regardless the media picked it up as a positive thing.