UPDATED: Whither a Voice: Sikhs and Palestine
While emotions often run high on this issue, an email from a friend struck me enough to think about and create a forum for the issue.
As current estimates has over 850 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths, the tragedy in Gaza will be continued with Israeli strikes. Throughout the world, we have seen breath-taking numbers of individuals take to the streets (Professor Juan Cole of Informed Comment provides a cogent argument that street protests are overall useless and believes better lobbying for the future of the struggle) denouncing and calling for an end to the current strikes.
During the summer, on the eve of the Olympic Games, a fellow Langa(w)riter asked about the question of the shaheed (the witness) in the case of injustice and abuse.
While there will be varied Sikh perspectives on the issue of the current violence (often according to age, but not always) certain Sikh groups have taken an active stand.
The Canadian-based Sikh Activist Network worked to make sure a Sikh attendance would be seen at various protests. Certain facebook groups urging Sikhs to recognize the Palestine state have popped up. Another website shows a group of Sikhs that visited the Palestinian territories and Israeli state on a peace mission.
I wonder about other Sikhs’ participation on this particular issue (low, I would assume) and thoughts on institutional Sikh voices/individual Sikh voices responses and engagement with non-Sikh issues. How do we define those issues that call for a shaheed?
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No sooner had I asked these questions and posted this blog, when I received an email from a friend.
If interested, please sign on to this online note of solidarity called “Sikh Solidarity with Palestine” that is circulating through Facebook. I reproduce it verbatim below.
Sikh Solidarity with Palestine
January 12, 2009
Kal kaati raaje kaasaa-ee dharma pankh kar udriaa.
Koorh amaavas sach chandramaa deesai naahee kah charhiaa.This age is a knife, kings are butchers; justice hath taken wings and fled.
In this completely dark night of falsehood the truth is never seen to rise.– Guru Nanak Sahib, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, p. 145
After two weeks of relentless attacks and an ongoing siege, the results are sobering: over 880 people dead, 30% of whom are children, and more than 4000 injured; hospitals, schools, universities, local markets, streets, homes and communities crushed to rubble; a blockade on humanitarian relief including food and life-saving medical supplies; a ban on foreign journalists and media entering the area; and a sealed border rendering 1.5 million people imprisoned within the boundaries of a siege. Hundreds of thousands of lives are being destroyed as they are marked dispensable for one reason only: they are Palestinian. The death toll is rising, and Israel has hinted to no end in sight as it continues to expand its offensive by air, land, and sea. The above words of Guru Nanak Sahib, the first Guru and founder of the Sikh faith, ring painfully true today, 500 years after he wrote them.
According to Sikhi, all human lives are equal and should be cherished. Right now in Gaza, the lives of an entire people are being deemed worthless. We mourn the recent loss of over 880 Palestinian lives taken by the Israeli military. We also mourn the loss of the 9 Israeli lives taken by Hamas rockets.
We are Sikhs who stand against the brutality of Israeli occupation and the ongoing siege, blockade, and massacre of Gaza. Now more than ever, we call on our Sikh sisters and brothers to think about what our faith and our Sikh identity really means. Why did Guru Nanak Sahib seek to abolish the caste system in South Asia? Why did Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib sacrifice his life for the sake of others’ (non-Sikhs) right to freely practice their religion and live free of persecution? Why did Guru Gobind Singh, our tenth Guru, give birth to the Khalsa – an armed body of full-time revolutionaries – in 1699?
Because for Sikhs, fighting against all forms of tyranny and oppression is a spiritual obligation.
We are inspired by this Sikh tradition of fighting not only for our own rights and our own sovereignty as Sikhs, but for the freedom and rights of all people – sarbat da bhala. Historically, Sikhs have known all too well what state repression and violent hatred look like. Sikhs too, like Palestinians, have faced campaigns of ethnic cleansing by emperors and prime ministers, dictators and elected leaders. Without a doubt, we have struggled and we must continue to struggle for our right to exist and our right to be Sikhs. But we must bring to the forefront our responsibility to fight for the liberation and freedom of all people. When we end ardas with, “Nanak naam chardi kala, tere bane sarbat da bhala,” we must pay attention to the power and weight of these words, take them to heart, and put the concept of sarbat da bhala into practice.
What that means for us now, as Sikhs and as people of conscience, is to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza, the Palestinians around the world fighting for their right to return home, and the thousands of Jewish and Israeli activists calling for an immediate end to the siege and an end to Israeli apartheid. Together, we must all demand peace and justice.
We encourage all Sikhs to learn more about what is going on in Gaza and about the history of Israeli occupation of Palestine. We encourage you to organize discussions about this issue amongst your sangat in and outside of the gurdwara, in your Sikh Student Associations, and in your families. Below are a few articles and resources that provide perspectives usually left out of the mainstream media:
http://electronicintifada.net
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/opinion/08khalidi.html
http://gazasiege.org
http://ajjp.org
http://stopthewall.orgMost importantly, we encourage you to take action. Get together with others in your community, Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike, and attend a local demonstration against the siege of Gaza. Make a donation to send medical supplies and other humanitarian relief to Gaza (http://www.freegaza.org; http://www.mecaforpeace.org). For those in the United States, call on the Obama administration to make his promise of “change” a reality by stopping the spending of U.S. tax dollars on bombs that kill Palestinians. For those in Canada, call on Harper to condemn Israel’s crimes against humanity and demand an immediate stop to the siege. Pressure both governments to urgently support the global movement for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel—a strategy that helped to end apartheid in South Africa 15 years ago (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/09-0).
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
To sign on to this statement, send an email with your name and city to: sikhsolidarity@gmail.com.
203 Responses to “UPDATED: Whither a Voice: Sikhs and Palestine”
It is intricactable problem created by antisementism the world practises in overt or covert form.
It is the legacy of ancient Jews having killed Lord Jesus and the Christians not being able ot forgive or forget it.
Some thing similar to what many Sikhs harbour against muslims for killing their GURUS.
Palestinians are unfortunately just a collateral damage in the whole exercise.
We got to learn the divine art of FORGIVNG AND FORGETTING if we have to have civiled answers.
alternatively the
answer is seperating them in time zones as space zones dont prevent them from killing one other.
May be one could be nocturnal and other a day time species .
It is intricactable problem created by antisementism the world practises in overt or covert form.
It is the legacy of ancient Jews having killed Lord Jesus and the Christians not being able ot forgive or forget it.
Some thing similar to what many Sikhs harbour against muslims for killing their GURUS.
Palestinians are unfortunately just a collateral damage in the whole exercise.
We got to learn the divine art of FORGIVNG AND FORGETTING if we have to have civiled answers.
alternatively the
answer is seperating them in time zones as space zones dont prevent them from killing one other.
May be one could be nocturnal and other a day time species .
It is intricactable problem created by antisementism the world practises in overt or covert form.
It is the legacy of ancient Jews having killed Lord Jesus and the Christians not being able ot forgive or forget it.
Some thing similar to what many Sikhs harbour against muslims for killing their GURUS.
Palestinians are unfortunately just a collateral damage in the whole exercise.
We got to learn the divine art of FORGIVNG AND FORGETTING if we have to have civiled answers.
alternatively the
answer is seperating them in time zones as space zones dont prevent them from killing one other.
May be one could be nocturnal and other a day time species .
"It is the legacy of ancient Jews having killed Lord Jesus and the Christians not being able ot forgive or forget it."
WHATTTTTT
The article is about Jews and Muslims…
Not Jews and Christians…
If anything Christians are helping Jews in this case i.e. US support to Israel.
Request to all the commenter’s… please read the article first ji.
Bhull Chukk Muaff.
“It is the legacy of ancient Jews having killed Lord Jesus and the Christians not being able ot forgive or forget it.”
WHATTTTTT
The article is about Jews and Muslims…
Not Jews and Christians…
If anything Christians are helping Jews in this case i.e. US support to Israel.
Request to all the commenter’s… please read the article first ji.
Bhull Chukk Muaff.
“It is the legacy of ancient Jews having killed Lord Jesus and the Christians not being able ot forgive or forget it.”
WHATTTTTT
The article is about Jews and Muslims…
Not Jews and Christians…
If anything Christians are helping Jews in this case i.e. US support to Israel.
Request to all the commenter’s… please read the article first ji.
Bhull Chukk Muaff.
this post is about SIKHS and what our commitment and responsibility to humanity is. it’s about taking action in solidarity with other oppressed people, in this case the people of Gaza and of Palestine.
this post is about SIKHS and what our commitment and responsibility to humanity is. it's about taking action in solidarity with other oppressed people, in this case the people of Gaza and of Palestine.
this post is about SIKHS and what our commitment and responsibility to humanity is. it’s about taking action in solidarity with other oppressed people, in this case the people of Gaza and of Palestine.
Sorry to put it this bluntly but I don't think we need to link sikhs with palestine/israel in anyway or draw comparisons. Several reasons for that
1. I for one cannot understand which side is good or bad. Honestly both sides have had historic injustices done to them. Both need to live on their own territory or together and peacefully and without getting killed by the other. However neither side is black or white and can be questioned for its share of excesses. So taking sides in Palestine/Israel story is naive at best. God give them peace is all I can say.
2. Whatever is the story there, it has nothing to do with sikhs or their story. The connection is lost on me. Don't tell me sikhs need a state like palestine (or israel) or there is a similarity in struggle. I live in India and am a sikh and I don't buy that. Also in Palestine/Israel case both sides have the same story or trying to create a homeland for themselves. So in any case this is poor logic to take sides on.
3. Beware of statistics. They often are worse than lies. Simply because Israel has more sophisticated weapons doesn't mean the other side wouldn't have killed more number if they had better means. The intention isn't reflected in the number of dead. If anything the ideas of suicide bombings is worse than an open war as in a war at least the intent is to kill/thwart professionals and not to kill civilians or minimise that. At least one can pretend it is a fair fight. However, a suicide bombing is intentionally targetted at civilians. It is plain terrorism.
4. What sikhs support (and so do most broad minded educated and progressive people in the world) is an empathy for the common man, his/her right to live in a peaceful environment where he/she can freely practice his/her faith, raise a family, participate in the government in a democratic way, be assured of human rights, have access to education for kids, a free press/media, and equality for all irrespective or gender, caste, creed, color, nationality, language, etc. This is the strong message of sikhism. Focus on hard work and sharing with those less fortunate, . To this extent, I do agree one should stay tuned into what is going on in israel/palestine and be aware of what is happening, however the only participation i can think of which is appropriate is pray for the peoples to find peace and love for each other. And maybe raise a fund for medicines and food to alleviate the sufferings on both sides.
WJKK WJKF
Sorry to put it this bluntly but I don’t think we need to link sikhs with palestine/israel in anyway or draw comparisons. Several reasons for that
1. I for one cannot understand which side is good or bad. Honestly both sides have had historic injustices done to them. Both need to live on their own territory or together and peacefully and without getting killed by the other. However neither side is black or white and can be questioned for its share of excesses. So taking sides in Palestine/Israel story is naive at best. God give them peace is all I can say.
2. Whatever is the story there, it has nothing to do with sikhs or their story. The connection is lost on me. Don’t tell me sikhs need a state like palestine (or israel) or there is a similarity in struggle. I live in India and am a sikh and I don’t buy that. Also in Palestine/Israel case both sides have the same story or trying to create a homeland for themselves. So in any case this is poor logic to take sides on.
3. Beware of statistics. They often are worse than lies. Simply because Israel has more sophisticated weapons doesn’t mean the other side wouldn’t have killed more number if they had better means. The intention isn’t reflected in the number of dead. If anything the ideas of suicide bombings is worse than an open war as in a war at least the intent is to kill/thwart professionals and not to kill civilians or minimise that. At least one can pretend it is a fair fight. However, a suicide bombing is intentionally targetted at civilians. It is plain terrorism.
4. What sikhs support (and so do most broad minded educated and progressive people in the world) is an empathy for the common man, his/her right to live in a peaceful environment where he/she can freely practice his/her faith, raise a family, participate in the government in a democratic way, be assured of human rights, have access to education for kids, a free press/media, and equality for all irrespective or gender, caste, creed, color, nationality, language, etc. This is the strong message of sikhism. Focus on hard work and sharing with those less fortunate, . To this extent, I do agree one should stay tuned into what is going on in israel/palestine and be aware of what is happening, however the only participation i can think of which is appropriate is pray for the peoples to find peace and love for each other. And maybe raise a fund for medicines and food to alleviate the sufferings on both sides.
WJKK WJKF
Sorry to put it this bluntly but I don’t think we need to link sikhs with palestine/israel in anyway or draw comparisons. Several reasons for that
1. I for one cannot understand which side is good or bad. Honestly both sides have had historic injustices done to them. Both need to live on their own territory or together and peacefully and without getting killed by the other. However neither side is black or white and can be questioned for its share of excesses. So taking sides in Palestine/Israel story is naive at best. God give them peace is all I can say.
2. Whatever is the story there, it has nothing to do with sikhs or their story. The connection is lost on me. Don’t tell me sikhs need a state like palestine (or israel) or there is a similarity in struggle. I live in India and am a sikh and I don’t buy that. Also in Palestine/Israel case both sides have the same story or trying to create a homeland for themselves. So in any case this is poor logic to take sides on.
3. Beware of statistics. They often are worse than lies. Simply because Israel has more sophisticated weapons doesn’t mean the other side wouldn’t have killed more number if they had better means. The intention isn’t reflected in the number of dead. If anything the ideas of suicide bombings is worse than an open war as in a war at least the intent is to kill/thwart professionals and not to kill civilians or minimise that. At least one can pretend it is a fair fight. However, a suicide bombing is intentionally targetted at civilians. It is plain terrorism.
4. What sikhs support (and so do most broad minded educated and progressive people in the world) is an empathy for the common man, his/her right to live in a peaceful environment where he/she can freely practice his/her faith, raise a family, participate in the government in a democratic way, be assured of human rights, have access to education for kids, a free press/media, and equality for all irrespective or gender, caste, creed, color, nationality, language, etc. This is the strong message of sikhism. Focus on hard work and sharing with those less fortunate, . To this extent, I do agree one should stay tuned into what is going on in israel/palestine and be aware of what is happening, however the only participation i can think of which is appropriate is pray for the peoples to find peace and love for each other. And maybe raise a fund for medicines and food to alleviate the sufferings on both sides.
WJKK WJKF
People who blindly support the Arab Muslims of Gaza in this issue based on the bias of the left wing aren't in fact espousing Sikh values when lined up with people who want to commit genocide against Jews… At every one of these rallies the muslims have been quoted as shouting slogans that degrade Jews and call for their wholesale slaughter. Is that what Sikhs really want to support? I don't think so. Anyone in their right mind can see that for the most part the people in Gaza have rejected every opportunity to better themselves and live a 'normal' life. Why is it that Sikhs after 1947 with nothing to in their pockets turned the jungles and forests and raw land of western Punjab and other parts into the most productive agricultural place in India and maybe the planet? Why is it that the people in the West Bank aren't nearly as depraved as those in Gaza? Maybe its the jihad ideology of Hamas who deliberately use human shields, and hope that women and children die in retaliatory fire from Israel.
Why don't any of those protesters blame Egypt for not allowing aid and free trade across its border with Gaza? Why isn't anyone protesting Iran who supply Hamas with rockets and weapons to fire at Israeli hospitals and schools.
People who blindly support the Arab Muslims of Gaza in this issue based on the bias of the left wing aren’t in fact espousing Sikh values when lined up with people who want to commit genocide against Jews… At every one of these rallies the muslims have been quoted as shouting slogans that degrade Jews and call for their wholesale slaughter. Is that what Sikhs really want to support? I don’t think so. Anyone in their right mind can see that for the most part the people in Gaza have rejected every opportunity to better themselves and live a ‘normal’ life. Why is it that Sikhs after 1947 with nothing to in their pockets turned the jungles and forests and raw land of western Punjab and other parts into the most productive agricultural place in India and maybe the planet? Why is it that the people in the West Bank aren’t nearly as depraved as those in Gaza? Maybe its the jihad ideology of Hamas who deliberately use human shields, and hope that women and children die in retaliatory fire from Israel.
Why don’t any of those protesters blame Egypt for not allowing aid and free trade across its border with Gaza? Why isn’t anyone protesting Iran who supply Hamas with rockets and weapons to fire at Israeli hospitals and schools.
People who blindly support the Arab Muslims of Gaza in this issue based on the bias of the left wing aren’t in fact espousing Sikh values when lined up with people who want to commit genocide against Jews… At every one of these rallies the muslims have been quoted as shouting slogans that degrade Jews and call for their wholesale slaughter. Is that what Sikhs really want to support? I don’t think so. Anyone in their right mind can see that for the most part the people in Gaza have rejected every opportunity to better themselves and live a ‘normal’ life. Why is it that Sikhs after 1947 with nothing to in their pockets turned the jungles and forests and raw land of western Punjab and other parts into the most productive agricultural place in India and maybe the planet? Why is it that the people in the West Bank aren’t nearly as depraved as those in Gaza? Maybe its the jihad ideology of Hamas who deliberately use human shields, and hope that women and children die in retaliatory fire from Israel.
Why don’t any of those protesters blame Egypt for not allowing aid and free trade across its border with Gaza? Why isn’t anyone protesting Iran who supply Hamas with rockets and weapons to fire at Israeli hospitals and schools.
this has already been stated, but i want to put it more bluntly.
while people can genuinely disagree and choose sides in the Israeli/Palestinian struggle (Israel's formation, charter, legal rights, borders, etc), we should be pretty uncomfortable with paralleling Sikh philosophy or past struggles to the conflict in Gaza. why? because there is an intense undercurrent of anti-semitism that permeates every element of that conflict, every quest for peace and subsequent failure, every negotiation, and every tactic employed by the PLO and now Hamas. while the stated end goal of Israeli is to find some sort of balance, the stated end goal of Hamas and supporting Islamic states (who, btw, have offered the Palestinians almost no real assistance and have repeatedly rejected their refugees) is the eradication of Israel (OK – so, they don't believe Israel was justly founded) complimented by death to all Jews. I repeat – they seek death to Jews. i don't recall a virulent sense of eradication of opposition on ethnic and religious grounds ever being part of the collective Sikh experience, nor deserving of our endorsement.
while we can engage in a back and forth, cause and effect, chicken and egg discussion of what is tyranny, oppression, apartheid and how things came to this point and who is to blame, let's skip that for a moment and just view the stated positions AS THEY ARE AT THIS MOMENT before we lend our solidarity by way of of a our supposedly shared experience and our benevolent philosophy. Hamas, an organization that is universally recognized as terroristic and using the foulest of tactics to advance its position, was democratically elected to power by the Palestinians. they have taken repeated action to bring about military retribution without any regard to the civilian casulaties that are ensuing. while i absolutely sympathize, as a human and a Sikh, with those who are innocently caught in this conflict, and while i sympathize, as a student of history, with a fair number of the arguments against Israel and their past and current actions, i absolutely refuse to take a position on this current conflict in the name of Sikhi. And those who are currently doing so on a grand scale and with such zeal? A bit simple-minded.
this has already been stated, but i want to put it more bluntly.
while people can genuinely disagree and choose sides in the Israeli/Palestinian struggle (Israel’s formation, charter, legal rights, borders, etc), we should be pretty uncomfortable with paralleling Sikh philosophy or past struggles to the conflict in Gaza. why? because there is an intense undercurrent of anti-semitism that permeates every element of that conflict, every quest for peace and subsequent failure, every negotiation, and every tactic employed by the PLO and now Hamas. while the stated end goal of Israeli is to find some sort of balance, the stated end goal of Hamas and supporting Islamic states (who, btw, have offered the Palestinians almost no real assistance and have repeatedly rejected their refugees) is the eradication of Israel (OK – so, they don’t believe Israel was justly founded) complimented by death to all Jews. I repeat – they seek death to Jews. i don’t recall a virulent sense of eradication of opposition on ethnic and religious grounds ever being part of the collective Sikh experience, nor deserving of our endorsement.
while we can engage in a back and forth, cause and effect, chicken and egg discussion of what is tyranny, oppression, apartheid and how things came to this point and who is to blame, let’s skip that for a moment and just view the stated positions AS THEY ARE AT THIS MOMENT before we lend our solidarity by way of of a our supposedly shared experience and our benevolent philosophy. Hamas, an organization that is universally recognized as terroristic and using the foulest of tactics to advance its position, was democratically elected to power by the Palestinians. they have taken repeated action to bring about military retribution without any regard to the civilian casulaties that are ensuing. while i absolutely sympathize, as a human and a Sikh, with those who are innocently caught in this conflict, and while i sympathize, as a student of history, with a fair number of the arguments against Israel and their past and current actions, i absolutely refuse to take a position on this current conflict in the name of Sikhi. And those who are currently doing so on a grand scale and with such zeal? A bit simple-minded.
this has already been stated, but i want to put it more bluntly.
while people can genuinely disagree and choose sides in the Israeli/Palestinian struggle (Israel’s formation, charter, legal rights, borders, etc), we should be pretty uncomfortable with paralleling Sikh philosophy or past struggles to the conflict in Gaza. why? because there is an intense undercurrent of anti-semitism that permeates every element of that conflict, every quest for peace and subsequent failure, every negotiation, and every tactic employed by the PLO and now Hamas. while the stated end goal of Israeli is to find some sort of balance, the stated end goal of Hamas and supporting Islamic states (who, btw, have offered the Palestinians almost no real assistance and have repeatedly rejected their refugees) is the eradication of Israel (OK – so, they don’t believe Israel was justly founded) complimented by death to all Jews. I repeat – they seek death to Jews. i don’t recall a virulent sense of eradication of opposition on ethnic and religious grounds ever being part of the collective Sikh experience, nor deserving of our endorsement.
while we can engage in a back and forth, cause and effect, chicken and egg discussion of what is tyranny, oppression, apartheid and how things came to this point and who is to blame, let’s skip that for a moment and just view the stated positions AS THEY ARE AT THIS MOMENT before we lend our solidarity by way of of a our supposedly shared experience and our benevolent philosophy. Hamas, an organization that is universally recognized as terroristic and using the foulest of tactics to advance its position, was democratically elected to power by the Palestinians. they have taken repeated action to bring about military retribution without any regard to the civilian casulaties that are ensuing. while i absolutely sympathize, as a human and a Sikh, with those who are innocently caught in this conflict, and while i sympathize, as a student of history, with a fair number of the arguments against Israel and their past and current actions, i absolutely refuse to take a position on this current conflict in the name of Sikhi. And those who are currently doing so on a grand scale and with such zeal? A bit simple-minded.
this conflict is about ethnically cleansing the native palestinians who are not just muslim but christians as well and to have a jewish only state. A lot of jewish people are against this because they see the three faiths have religious links with that land and want to live there together as they have done so in the past for most of the time. this new zionist agenda are hellbent on control and expansion with only jewish people allowed to buy land etc.over 1 million palestinians were made into refugees and had their land and property stolen. there is a un resolution stating israel must allow these people to return or compensate them just as what has been happening to the jews in europe from the nazis.israel with the help of usa has ignored all these resolutions. sadly it's all to do with money. the israelis own some very large corporations in the world and have teamed up with one of the biggest arms manufacturers the usa. this partnership suits both these countries financially and in there quest for total world domination.
even according to the un self defence is justified. the palestinian cause is a just cause and hamas is a democratically elected government who must protect their people and borders by any means necassary. israel must be reminded that killing innocent women and children is terrorism and the sikhs are rightly against all forms of injustices
this conflict is about ethnically cleansing the native palestinians who are not just muslim but christians as well and to have a jewish only state. A lot of jewish people are against this because they see the three faiths have religious links with that land and want to live there together as they have done so in the past for most of the time. this new zionist agenda are hellbent on control and expansion with only jewish people allowed to buy land etc.over 1 million palestinians were made into refugees and had their land and property stolen. there is a un resolution stating israel must allow these people to return or compensate them just as what has been happening to the jews in europe from the nazis.israel with the help of usa has ignored all these resolutions. sadly it’s all to do with money. the israelis own some very large corporations in the world and have teamed up with one of the biggest arms manufacturers the usa. this partnership suits both these countries financially and in there quest for total world domination.
even according to the un self defence is justified. the palestinian cause is a just cause and hamas is a democratically elected government who must protect their people and borders by any means necassary. israel must be reminded that killing innocent women and children is terrorism and the sikhs are rightly against all forms of injustices
on the issue of jews who are against what the state of israel is doing, check out American Jews for a Just Peace: http://ajjp.org
and speaking of statements, see their open letter to israeli soldiers signed by hundreds of jews and endorsed by many organizations:
Jews call on Israeli soldiers to stop war crimes
We Jews in the international community call upon Israeli soldiers to raise the Black Flag of Illegality over the operations against the people of Gaza.
We refuse to remain silent while Israeli leaders force Israeli soldiers to commit war crimes: crimes against humanity for which they will one day be called to account. Israeli soldiers of conscience can, and must, stop this dangerous, illegal, and immoral war.
This criminal activity does nothing to advance the health and welfare of Jews. Rather, from Sderot to Sydney, from Ashkelon to Amsterdam, we will all benefit when there is justice for Palestinians.
Therefore, we call on you to use all measures possible to stop these atrocities against the Palestinian people. Flagrantly illegal orders must not simply be disobeyed, but actively and effectively opposed.
We members of the international Jewish community call on you, the Israeli soldiers of conscience, to halt the Israeli war machine, which only you can, and must, do.
on the issue of jews who are against what the state of israel is doing, check out American Jews for a Just Peace: http://ajjp.org
and speaking of statements, see their open letter to israeli soldiers signed by hundreds of jews and endorsed by many organizations:
Jews call on Israeli soldiers to stop war crimes
We Jews in the international community call upon Israeli soldiers to raise the Black Flag of Illegality over the operations against the people of Gaza.
We refuse to remain silent while Israeli leaders force Israeli soldiers to commit war crimes: crimes against humanity for which they will one day be called to account. Israeli soldiers of conscience can, and must, stop this dangerous, illegal, and immoral war.
This criminal activity does nothing to advance the health and welfare of Jews. Rather, from Sderot to Sydney, from Ashkelon to Amsterdam, we will all benefit when there is justice for Palestinians.
Therefore, we call on you to use all measures possible to stop these atrocities against the Palestinian people. Flagrantly illegal orders must not simply be disobeyed, but actively and effectively opposed.
We members of the international Jewish community call on you, the Israeli soldiers of conscience, to halt the Israeli war machine, which only you can, and must, do.
I totally agree with the people who are saying that sikhs should not side with anybody
I totally agree with the people who are saying that sikhs should not side with anybody
I totally agree with the people who are saying that sikhs should not side with anybody
K. Uppal, you don't want to mention the 800,000 or so Jews who were ethnically cleansed from what is Saudi Arabia? or the hundreds of thousands of Jews who were forced from their homes throughout the rest of the middle east?
You present the same untruths about Jews ethnically cleansing the arab muslims from the territory that is Israel today. Arab muslims themselves have admitted as much, that most of the arab refugees who left Israel did so because they were told through radio and other means that they should leave until such time as all the Jews were killed and Israel destroyed in 1948 when Israel was attacked on the day it came into existence by the arab muslim states surrounding it. You also fail to mention that Jordan was created specifically as a state for the arab muslims to inhabit, while Israel was created for the Jews. The arab muslims were given 7/8ths of what was called Palestine at that time and the Jews only 1/8th, and you seem to think even that is unfair.
You seem to be so virulently against Israel, but why don't you do some reading of the history the situation? Most if not all of the anti-Israel invective generates from a anti-semitic base of thought, and motives that call for genocide against the Jews, hardly the kind of ideology associated with Sikh thought.
K. Uppal, you don’t want to mention the 800,000 or so Jews who were ethnically cleansed from what is Saudi Arabia? or the hundreds of thousands of Jews who were forced from their homes throughout the rest of the middle east?
You present the same untruths about Jews ethnically cleansing the arab muslims from the territory that is Israel today. Arab muslims themselves have admitted as much, that most of the arab refugees who left Israel did so because they were told through radio and other means that they should leave until such time as all the Jews were killed and Israel destroyed in 1948 when Israel was attacked on the day it came into existence by the arab muslim states surrounding it. You also fail to mention that Jordan was created specifically as a state for the arab muslims to inhabit, while Israel was created for the Jews. The arab muslims were given 7/8ths of what was called Palestine at that time and the Jews only 1/8th, and you seem to think even that is unfair.
You seem to be so virulently against Israel, but why don’t you do some reading of the history the situation? Most if not all of the anti-Israel invective generates from a anti-semitic base of thought, and motives that call for genocide against the Jews, hardly the kind of ideology associated with Sikh thought.
K. Uppal, you don’t want to mention the 800,000 or so Jews who were ethnically cleansed from what is Saudi Arabia? or the hundreds of thousands of Jews who were forced from their homes throughout the rest of the middle east?
You present the same untruths about Jews ethnically cleansing the arab muslims from the territory that is Israel today. Arab muslims themselves have admitted as much, that most of the arab refugees who left Israel did so because they were told through radio and other means that they should leave until such time as all the Jews were killed and Israel destroyed in 1948 when Israel was attacked on the day it came into existence by the arab muslim states surrounding it. You also fail to mention that Jordan was created specifically as a state for the arab muslims to inhabit, while Israel was created for the Jews. The arab muslims were given 7/8ths of what was called Palestine at that time and the Jews only 1/8th, and you seem to think even that is unfair.
You seem to be so virulently against Israel, but why don’t you do some reading of the history the situation? Most if not all of the anti-Israel invective generates from a anti-semitic base of thought, and motives that call for genocide against the Jews, hardly the kind of ideology associated with Sikh thought.
read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/opinion/14goldb…
…and then tell me the Palestinians, who put Hamas into power, deserve a parallel to Sikh history, philosophy, and theology in such unequivocal fashion.
to be most blunt, peeps like some at the sikh activist network (which i've critiqued in the past, from my internet observations) the author/founders of the above mentioned facebook email/group, and people who attend rallies offering Sikh identity and solidarity to the a cause currently furthered by Hamas are, at best, misguided or extraordinarily simple-minded. but the more i think about it, the more i'm leaning towards labeling them absolute morons.
read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/opinion/14goldb…
…and then tell me the Palestinians, who put Hamas into power, deserve a parallel to Sikh history, philosophy, and theology in such unequivocal fashion.
to be most blunt, peeps like some at the sikh activist network (which i've critiqued in the past, from my internet observations) the author/founders of the above mentioned facebook email/group, and people who attend rallies offering Sikh identity and solidarity to the a cause currently furthered by Hamas are, at best, misguided or extraordinarily simple-minded. but the more i think about it, the more i'm leaning towards labeling them absolute morons.
read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/opinion/14goldberg-1.html?em
…and then tell me the Palestinians, who put Hamas into power, deserve a parallel to Sikh history, philosophy, and theology in such unequivocal fashion.
to be most blunt, peeps like some at the sikh activist network (which i’ve critiqued in the past, from my internet observations) the author/founders of the above mentioned facebook email/group, and people who attend rallies offering Sikh identity and solidarity to the a cause currently furthered by Hamas are, at best, misguided or extraordinarily simple-minded. but the more i think about it, the more i’m leaning towards labeling them absolute morons.
I read the article Sizzle. The article is a complete white-washing. There are factual errors: In Gaza, Iran largely backs Islamic Jihad and not HAMAS, contrary to what the op-ed piece writes. There are large-scale omissions: Israeli government officials largely promoted HAMAS to undercut support for the secular PLO.
I think I am leaning towards using this same label for you.
I read the article Sizzle. The article is a complete white-washing. There are factual errors: In Gaza, Iran largely backs Islamic Jihad and not HAMAS, contrary to what the op-ed piece writes. There are large-scale omissions: Israeli government officials largely promoted HAMAS to undercut support for the secular PLO.
I think I am leaning towards using this same label for you.
I read the article Sizzle. The article is a complete white-washing. There are factual errors: In Gaza, Iran largely backs Islamic Jihad and not HAMAS, contrary to what the op-ed piece writes. There are large-scale omissions: Israeli government officials largely promoted HAMAS to undercut support for the secular PLO.
I think I am leaning towards using this same label for you.
I agree with Hardeep.
Sizzle, your a little off by trying to draw some imaginary link between the network and Hamas. You do realize extreme pacficist attend such rallies as well.. are they furthering the Hamas Cause as well, generalizations are extremely problematic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE-sK8pjPAc
For those who say Sikhs should remain indifferent, where is ones compassion when witnessing such inhumanity and massacre against civilians?
I agree with Hardeep.
Sizzle, your a little off by trying to draw some imaginary link between the network and Hamas. You do realize extreme pacficist attend such rallies as well.. are they furthering the Hamas Cause as well, generalizations are extremely problematic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE-sK8pjPAc
For those who say Sikhs should remain indifferent, where is ones compassion when witnessing such inhumanity and massacre against civilians?
I agree with Hardeep.
Sizzle, your a little off by trying to draw some imaginary link between the network and Hamas. You do realize extreme pacficist attend such rallies as well.. are they furthering the Hamas Cause as well, generalizations are extremely problematic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE-sK8pjPAc
For those who say Sikhs should remain indifferent, where is ones compassion when witnessing such inhumanity and massacre against civilians?
right. the article states that Iran backs Hezbollah, not Hamas, and even states that Hezbollah essentially acts as proxy for Iran. Further, it states that Hezbollah essentially competes with Hamas for attention in Islamic and western media, as to who wrought more damage to humanity. meanwhile, the article mentions that the western powers and Israel are NOW backing the remnants of the PLO (Fatah), which had previously lost support among the Palestinian people but may again gain it back now that Hamas has officially lost its sh*t. It, quite logically, states that the only plausible peace effort is to undercut Hamas via rightfully pointing out that Hamas merely purports to represent them all the while using innocents in their own subversive and disgusting jihad against Jews, that the innocents are mere proxies.
so, Hardeep, what’s your point again? that you deserve a D-minus in reading comprehension? thanks for proving my point, guy. gold star for you.
right. the article states that Iran backs Hezbollah, not Hamas, and even states that Hezbollah essentially acts as proxy for Iran. Further, it states that Hezbollah essentially competes with Hamas for attention in Islamic and western media, as to who wrought more damage to humanity. meanwhile, the article mentions that the western powers and Israel are NOW backing the remnants of the PLO (Fatah), which had previously lost support among the Palestinian people but may again gain it back now that Hamas has officially lost its sh*t. It, quite logically, states that the only plausible peace effort is to undercut Hamas via rightfully pointing out that Hamas merely purports to represent them all the while using innocents in their own subversive and disgusting jihad against Jews, that the innocents are mere proxies.
so, Hardeep, what's your point again? that you deserve a D-minus in reading comprehension? thanks for proving my point, guy. gold star for you.
right. the article states that Iran backs Hezbollah, not Hamas, and even states that Hezbollah essentially acts as proxy for Iran. Further, it states that Hezbollah essentially competes with Hamas for attention in Islamic and western media, as to who wrought more damage to humanity. meanwhile, the article mentions that the western powers and Israel are NOW backing the remnants of the PLO (Fatah), which had previously lost support among the Palestinian people but may again gain it back now that Hamas has officially lost its sh*t. It, quite logically, states that the only plausible peace effort is to undercut Hamas via rightfully pointing out that Hamas merely purports to represent them all the while using innocents in their own subversive and disgusting jihad against Jews, that the innocents are mere proxies.
so, Hardeep, what’s your point again? that you deserve a D-minus in reading comprehension? thanks for proving my point, guy. gold star for you.
and now amneezy.
Do you people even read what is written in the thread? (http://thelangarhall.com/archives/1912/comment-page-1#comment-10876) because i've commented above as well. i am not drawing parallels between the Sikh Activist Network or any people commenting on this site and Hamas. I am explaining how fellow Sikhs, perhaps you, to not take a stance in this conflict IN THE NAME OF SIKHI because it is flat out foolish.
I am sure that S.A.N. and anyone commenting on this site are decent human beings who mean well, who are inspired by the tenants and history of Sikhi. But the conflict in Gaza that we now witness is so unbelievably complex and so immersed in vile hatred from both sides. But the very simplistic parallels in the original post between Sikh history and philosophy and the Palestinian struggle, especially these current and specific battles involving Hamas instigation, are an absolute insult to Sikh history and Sikh philosophy. Think about it carefully, think about in an objective manner.
and now amneezy.
Do you people even read what is written in the thread? (http://thelangarhall.com/archives/1912/comment-page-1#comment-10876) because i’ve commented above as well. i am not drawing parallels between the Sikh Activist Network or any people commenting on this site and Hamas. I am explaining how fellow Sikhs, perhaps you, to not take a stance in this conflict IN THE NAME OF SIKHI because it is flat out foolish.
I am sure that S.A.N. and anyone commenting on this site are decent human beings who mean well, who are inspired by the tenants and history of Sikhi. But the conflict in Gaza that we now witness is so unbelievably complex and so immersed in vile hatred from both sides. But the very simplistic parallels in the original post between Sikh history and philosophy and the Palestinian struggle, especially these current and specific battles involving Hamas instigation, are an absolute insult to Sikh history and Sikh philosophy. Think about it carefully, think about in an objective manner.
Hardeep Win – Sizzle Lose.
IDF and Zionism Win.
Hardeep Win – Sizzle Lose.
IDF and Zionism Win.
right.
You really think the current attacks has undercut Gazan support for HAMAS in Gaza? Now that truly is a joke. Palestinians do not blame HAMAS for the attacks. If they can weather the storm, they will emerge even more popular.
After years of supporting HAMAS in order to undercut groups loyal to Yassir Arafat, now the US and Israel wants to support FATAH-PLO? Blowback sure is a b—-.
So what is your point Sizzle? You can rehash Rush Limbaugh's talking points? An EIB mug for you!
Hardeep Win – Sizzle Lose.
IDF and Zionism Win.
right.
You really think the current attacks has undercut Gazan support for HAMAS in Gaza? Now that truly is a joke. Palestinians do not blame HAMAS for the attacks. If they can weather the storm, they will emerge even more popular.
After years of supporting HAMAS in order to undercut groups loyal to Yassir Arafat, now the US and Israel wants to support FATAH-PLO? Blowback sure is a b—-.
So what is your point Sizzle? You can rehash Rush Limbaugh’s talking points? An EIB mug for you!
a deep sigh.
you completely missed the point of my original post in this thread (look above), which was not to take a position in this conflict, but to point out the current stance of one side and how it is the anathema of all that is Sikhi. i seek not to dig into the history of this conflict, or even the politics of the current warring factions in Gaza and Israel, but the very prevalent and obvious anti-human philosophy that permeates the ideology of the political powers that currently represent that Palestinians.
but, rather, you retort with rhetoric of zionists, rush limbaugh and a disgusting and horrific video of tragic death to justify your anti-israeli anger. again – way to prove my point.
a deep sigh.
you completely missed the point of my original post in this thread (look above), which was not to take a position in this conflict, but to point out the current stance of one side and how it is the anathema of all that is Sikhi. i seek not to dig into the history of this conflict, or even the politics of the current warring factions in Gaza and Israel, but the very prevalent and obvious anti-human philosophy that permeates the ideology of the political powers that currently represent that Palestinians.
but, rather, you retort with rhetoric of zionists, rush limbaugh and a disgusting and horrific video of tragic death to justify your anti-israeli anger. again – way to prove my point.
a deep sigh.
you completely missed the point of my original post in this thread (look above), which was not to take a position in this conflict, but to point out the current stance of one side and how it is the anathema of all that is Sikhi. i seek not to dig into the history of this conflict, or even the politics of the current warring factions in Gaza and Israel, but the very prevalent and obvious anti-human philosophy that permeates the ideology of the political powers that currently represent that Palestinians.
but, rather, you retort with rhetoric of zionists, rush limbaugh and a disgusting and horrific video of tragic death to justify your anti-israeli anger. again – way to prove my point.
The point is to understand the Sikh Spiritual Philosophy of Bhai Khaniya Ji, to possess a sense of compassion for human life, especially the innocent civilians who are primarily suffering at the hands of zionism.
The concern not anger is directed at those who have prevented humanitarian and medical aide from reaching those who deeply need it.
And the solidarity is with those who are victims of white phosphorus and other deadly weapons.
The point is to understand the Sikh Spiritual Philosophy of Bhai Khaniya Ji, to possess a sense of compassion for human life, especially the innocent civilians who are primarily suffering at the hands of zionism.
The concern not anger is directed at those who have prevented humanitarian and medical aide from reaching those who deeply need it.
And the solidarity is with those who are victims of white phosphorus and other deadly weapons.
The point is to understand the Sikh Spiritual Philosophy of Bhai Khaniya Ji, to possess a sense of compassion for human life, especially the innocent civilians who are primarily suffering at the hands of zionism.
The concern not anger is directed at those who have prevented humanitarian and medical aide from reaching those who deeply need it.
And the solidarity is with those who are victims of white phosphorus and other deadly weapons.
deeper sigh.
Sizzle, you have a point?
You are trying to point to some deeper complexities, but then completely manifest your bias towards a particular side.
To point out the 'anti-human philosophy' of one side and not make a comment on the 'anti-human philosophy' of Likud-style Zionism (that claims that the land can only belong to Jews) is hardly objective. To not even comment on the disproportionate violence seems almost willful omission. And to post factually-incorrect and simplified links of NY Times op-ed articles deserved a retort. You got one.
Amneezy, interesting point on White Phosphorous. In fact it was also used against Sikhs in Delhi 1984.
deeper sigh.
Sizzle, you have a point?
You are trying to point to some deeper complexities, but then completely manifest your bias towards a particular side.
To point out the 'anti-human philosophy' of one side and not make a comment on the 'anti-human philosophy' of Likud-style Zionism (that claims that the land can only belong to Jews) is hardly objective. To not even comment on the disproportionate violence seems almost willful omission. And to post factually-incorrect and simplified links of NY Times op-ed articles deserved a retort. You got one.
Amneezy, interesting point on White Phosphorous. In fact it was also used against Sikhs in Delhi 1984.
deeper sigh.
Sizzle, you have a point?
You are trying to point to some deeper complexities, but then completely manifest your bias towards a particular side.
To point out the ‘anti-human philosophy’ of one side and not make a comment on the ‘anti-human philosophy’ of Likud-style Zionism (that claims that the land can only belong to Jews) is hardly objective. To not even comment on the disproportionate violence seems almost willful omission. And to post factually-incorrect and simplified links of NY Times op-ed articles deserved a retort. You got one.
Amneezy, interesting point on White Phosphorous. In fact it was also used against Sikhs in Delhi 1984.
you can't seem to differentiate "get off this land that was arbitrarily given to us, and stay out" and "death to you and your children and all your piggish disgusting people at all and every cost for stealing our land." both are wrong. neither is right. but one position, irrespective of the history that may have inspired it, is absolutely worse than the other.
is that point clear enough for you?
Amneezy, interesting point about deadly weapons. In fact, deadly weapons, namely rockets, started raining down out of Gaza into Israel in December after a six month cease fire, setting off this entire conflict! And despite all the ensuing carnage unto their own people and their tactical losses, Hamas hasn't stopped! [sorry, no sweet link to SikhChic…but google news has some good stories, unless of course, you think they're whitewashed]
you can’t seem to differentiate “get off this land that was arbitrarily given to us, and stay out” and “death to you and your children and all your piggish disgusting people at all and every cost for stealing our land.” both are wrong. neither is right. but one position, irrespective of the history that may have inspired it, is absolutely worse than the other.
is that point clear enough for you?
Amneezy, interesting point about deadly weapons. In fact, deadly weapons, namely rockets, started raining down out of Gaza into Israel in December after a six month cease fire, setting off this entire conflict! And despite all the ensuing carnage unto their own people and their tactical losses, Hamas hasn’t stopped! [sorry, no sweet link to SikhChic…but google news has some good stories, unless of course, you think they’re whitewashed]
you can’t seem to differentiate “get off this land that was arbitrarily given to us, and stay out” and “death to you and your children and all your piggish disgusting people at all and every cost for stealing our land.” both are wrong. neither is right. but one position, irrespective of the history that may have inspired it, is absolutely worse than the other.
is that point clear enough for you?
Amneezy, interesting point about deadly weapons. In fact, deadly weapons, namely rockets, started raining down out of Gaza into Israel in December after a six month cease fire, setting off this entire conflict! And despite all the ensuing carnage unto their own people and their tactical losses, Hamas hasn’t stopped! [sorry, no sweet link to SikhChic…but google news has some good stories, unless of course, you think they’re whitewashed]
sizzle, it is an established fact that the ceasefire was actually broken by Israel, even CNN of all places reported this. I will happily provide the link if you insist that I do so.