Is a Dollar just a Dollar?
It’s a traditional part of going to gurdwara — giving a dollar (or some other amount of money) as an offering before bowing down in front the Guru Granth Sahib. Some may not think about this much, aside from how much they would like to offer and what they would like to think about before...
Getting All Voices In The Vote
Recently on TLH we have had many posts around the 2008 Presidential Campaign. How these candidate make us feel and their policy positions are equally important when deciding, which candidate to support. The qualities and values he brings to the table for organizing support around what he thinks are...
From Rags to Riches
Posted by Sundari in General on 10 15th, 2008 | 61 Comments
Okay, so I know that many of you would rather stick something sharp in your eye than have to watch Oprah. Stay away from sharp objects today then because the word is (thanks M) that Oprah will be interviewing self-made millionaire Gurbaksh “G” Chahal about his memoir The Dream being...
Sikh beauty
Sundari’s recent post, addressing the portayal of Sikhs in an ad for the upcoming Spinning Wheel festival, brings up an interesting tension for Sikh women- the conflict between modern ideals of beauty, and the requirements of the Sikh faith.
Generally (and unfortunately) women tend to value themselves...
Sikhs as Superheroes
Posted by Sundari in Sikhi on 10 14th, 2008 | 43 Comments
Only every so often I come across a petition in my inbox which advocates for an issue that I feel strongly about. I find myself more than happy to take the few minutes required to click on the links and add my name to the “Undersigned.” A few days ago, I was sent another such petition,...
The Rise and Demise of a Stupid Blog
Posted by Jodha in General on 10 13th, 2008 | 6 Comments
I had been sort of taking a wait-and-see approach to this news (pagh salute: preet) arriving out of England. It seems some punk kids started a blog to stir religio-ethnic hatred amongst Sikhs and Muslims. My hesitation was that I did not want to further enflame the story and further create the sort...
Sometimes I am Arab even though I am a Sikh
“I don’t trust Obama. I have read about him and he’s an Arab.”
So said a McCain supporter at a recent rally. To such an ignorant, bigoted, racist comment, McCain could only reply:
“No, ma’am,” he said. “He’s a decent, family man, a citizen that...
Community Institutions in Times of Crisis
Posted by Camille in General on 10 11th, 2008 | 8 Comments
The current economic meltdown has made me reflect more and more on the role of community organizations/institutions during times of hardship and uncertainty. Our current economy is in bad shape, and we’re likely to feel the fallout in lost jobs, lost job openings, and lost homes/assets for months,...
A Political Question
In keeping with the recent Election 2008 theme on TLH, I ask you the following — which party do you think completes this sentence:
[x] believe that individuals should contribute time and resources to serving the poor, vulnerable, and less fortunate members of our society.
Do you think x refers...
Debate Of Body Languages: The Presidential Campaign
So this past Saturday, Tina Fey, did a great job impersonating Sarah Palin’s “performance” at the Vice Presidential Debate on SNL. The body language, voice, and choice of words were right on and HILARIOUS!
Yesterday, Robin Abcarian, of the Los Angeles Times, wrote about the debate of body languages...
We don’t have to be friends
From the Volokh Conspiracy:
Dear Senator McCain:
Repeatedly calling me and everyone else in the United States “my friends” is extremely annoying. In part, it’s just an irritating phrase. Beyond that, I’m not your friend. I don’t know you, and, from what I know of you, I...
Gold Rimmed, Khanda Shaped, Sikh Glasses
Has anyone else noticed how ridiculous the (US Presidential Election) campaigns have gotten? The ridiculousness has reached a new all time low in the past few weeks with both sides slinging mud, making tenuous connections, and outright lying. Admittedly, I have a preference for one side over the...
Sikhs: turning religulous?
Last week Bill Maher was a guest on the Daily Show, promoting his new movie Religulous and offering a clip. The clip happened to show a sardar in a London park, which was the extent of any Sikh’s appearance in the movie.
The name, ‘Religulous,’ is a portmanteau blending the words 1)...
Kar Seva – A Sikh Environmentalist Stands Out
Time magazine recently named Balbir Singh Seechewal amongst its “Heroes of the Environment 2008.” The acknowledgement highlights the work of activists such as Balbir Singh and shows how their passion and innovation can positively impact the environment. Balbir Singh is described as “the...
Sikh : India :: Uyghur : China
In an article published in the academic journal Ethnic and Racial Studies, last year, a PhD student in political science, Marie-Eve Reny makes a comparative study of political mobilization amongst the Sikhs of Punjab and the Uyghurs of Xinjiang in China.
The Uyghurs are a Muslim community of Turkic descent...
Gurdwara Funds: A Fine Line…
Posted by Singh in Bhangra, General, Organizations, Punjabi, Sikhi, UK, USA on 10 3rd, 2008 | 12 Comments
Often on this blog we have discussed what role our institutions should play in our lives and recently I had an opportunity to examine the issue anew. In a recent gurdwara council meeting I attended, one gurdwara decided to give a large sum of money to a group putting on a bhangra program. The group...
Man vs. Machine: Sikh Chakkar
Posted by Jodha in General on 10 3rd, 2008 | 6 Comments
Yesterday a friend sent me a link to a fascinating episode of a Discovery Channel program. The “Weapon Masters” series looks at various pre-industrial weaponry and their historical development, usage, and production. For the “entertainment” value, it pits traditional usage...
A strange and unecessary effect of women in politics
Posted by Reema in General on 10 2nd, 2008 | Comments Off on A strange and unecessary effect of women in politics
In anticipation of Biden’s showdown with Palin tonight, as I wondered how Biden would perform in the strange, negotiated format that really favors Palin- allowing only 90 seconds for a response before two minutes for discussion (since every newscaster is cautioning Biden to not come across as chauvinistic)...
Panjabi Food-Choices In The Diaspora
In an effort to better understand the food habitats of Panjabi immigrants, Canadian researchers conducted a three-year study on the ingredients used in daily Panjabi meals and food choices made by Panjabi families.
Gwen Chapman, study leader and British Columbia University nutrition professor, stated:
“Since...
Mr. Singh Goes to Washington, Er, Ottawa
As part of its series on the upcoming federal elections in Canada, the Globe and Mail offers this article on the emergence and success of Sikhs in the Canadian political scene. Consider:
Sikhs [are] the only group with a greater number of MPs than their share of the population.
[In the House of Commons,]...
