Longing for home, from Palestine to Punjab
Last week marked the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba, meaning catastrophe, when a
n estimated 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. I, and others, have argued elsewhere why the Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination is relevant for us as Sikhs, so I won’t reiterate that here (see Sikh Solidarity with Palestine statement).
Every year Palestinians and their supporters commemorate the Nakba by holding demonstrations, vigils, and educational events. This year saw unprecedented resistance by Palestinians in the Middle East, who mobilized at numerous points across Israel’s borders. Their resistance to occupation and their commemoration of one catastrophe was met with with violent repression by Israeli forces — catastrophe upon catastrophe. 14 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more injured as Israeli troops fired on the massive protests.
In an interview on Democracy Now last week, Fadi Quran, one of the protest organizers stated:
…we, as a youth movement, called for the protest because, as many of you know, there are about seven million Palestinian refugees who just want to go home, and they’ve been unable to go home for the last 63 years. So at the protest, initially what you had is a lot of people who are my generation, 23 years old, carrying or wheeling their grandparents to the border so that they can finally take them back and they can return to a normal life, where they are free, where they live justly, and where they can pursue happiness.
A few days later, President Obama made a big speech on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which, contrary to popular belief, he essentially upheld President Bush’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state (reiterated by the President again a few days later at an AIPAC event), which backs Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and resembles nothing close to self-determination for the Palestinian people. And most certainly contains no possibility of millions of Palestinian refugees going back to their homes.
While under different circumstances (and even more different contemporary realities) than the Palestinians, both sides of my family, along with millions of others from Punjab (and elsewhere in South Asia), were displaced one year prior to the Nakba with partition, with the slicing up of our homeland, Punjab.
Over 10 million people were displaced with partition in 1947
My dad was a baby when his family fled the Sargodha region of Punjab in 1947, and much of his extended family was killed in the communal violence pervading the mass migrations. An estimated 12.5 million people were displaced in the partition of British India, and hundreds of thousands (some estimates say over a million) were killed. As one era of tyranny ended in 1947, a catastrophe of our own was born, setting off decades of continued communal violence, national tensions, and even a nuclear arms race.
As I was thinking and reading about the Palestinian Nakba last week, I found myself wondering why we South Asians so rarely talk about the traumatic impact of partition on our communities and our displacement from our ancestral homes. Is it simply too painful for those who went through it to initiate these conversations? Being born and raised in the United States, it’s honestly not something I think about that often. And I find that a bit troubling. I’ve never been to West Punjab (in Pakistan) where my ancestors are from and where Sikhi was born, and who knows if I ever will go? How much does it matter? What really is Home to me, to us?
It’s amazing how the arbitrary borders of nation-states literally can keep people from their history, their roots, and for many, their homes. One of the key principles of the Palestinian movement is the right of return, which is supported by international law. Palestinian human rights activist Merna Alazzeh writes:
“The old will die and the young will forget” — this was the prediction of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. Sixty-three years later, I still wonder what made him think so. Would the Jewish masses — or indeed any of the other millions of people who suffered the Holocaust — ever forget?
As far as I know, having lived in al-Azzeh refugee camp for most of my life, there has always been much space even in the narrow alleys of the camp for the collective memory of Israeli massacres, systematic displacement and ethnic cleansing. These images are imprinted in the minds of Palestinian refugees both young and old.
…My grandmother passed away last year in March in the refugee camp. However, her dream of returning to Beit Jibrin is still alive and I deeply believe that she is in a place where borders do not exist. Her soul is finally free of the shackles of ethnic division, and she is able to hover over Palestine and our beloved village — our home — Beit Jibrin. She might be whispering secrets to the fig and olive trees there right now. Her dreams of return are still alive.
What is it going to take to free humanity of these shackles of division, oppression and occupation in our lifetime?
59 Responses to “Longing for home, from Palestine to Punjab”
Why has my question been removed Brooklynwala?
It appears you which to stimulate "debate" only if the viewpoints raised agree with your agenda. You disappoint me.
What question?
Which? I meant "wish."
Brooklynwala, your victimhood mongering and desperation to ally yourself with Islamic causes is risible.
Thankfully most Sikhs are not as bewildered as you and don't have a self-pitying victimhood complex that you so hysterically claim to speak on behalf of all Sikhs with. Its actually rather pathetic.
"victimhood mongering"? that's a new one. i'm not sure what that means, but freedom for palestinians is hardly an "islamic cause", palestinians are christians, muslims, and atheists. this has nothing to do with islam. this has to do with human rights, plain and simple. i'm talking about implementing international law for palestinian refugees to finally be able to return home.
furthermore, i do not and have never claimed to speak on behalf of all sikhs. that's a ridiculous assertion. if you (and citizen singh, and many others) want to voice different perspectives than mine and disagree with me, by all means do so. but attacking me personally rather than making an argument of your own is not helpful.
@billa – moving away from seeing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in terms of Jews/Muslims is exactly the point. Could it be that Brooklynwala is providing a voice of the Sikh conscious that connects with all those that oppressed? Most conflicts – be it those that lead to the millions of deaths in 1947, or even that of the Palestinians/Israelis – are of a political nature, NOT essentialist. Essentialist thinking arises from intellectual lethargy.
@Jodha: Oppressed? Those who say they will annihilate Jews from earth? Those who say they won't recognize Israel state even if Israel is ready to recognize Palestinian state? Those who teach in their schools and institutions all bad things about Jews?
The Palestinian consensus for decades has been recognition of the state of Israel. Try reading anything about this issue from a non-mainstream US media source or an Israeli-lobby website. Furthermore, this comparison is ridiculous because Israel IS a state and has been since 1948 whereas the state of Palestine does not exist. This is not a conflict between opposing viewpoints or claims — this is a relationship of power and oppression. People like to characterize Palestinians as a bunch of extremist terrorists, which has little to do with the reality of Palestinian life or even resistance (sound familiar?). Here's some food for thought from the Economist: http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica…
@brooklynwala and Jodha: These cartoons are produced by state run TV in Arab World.
How about do away with your liberal/leftist position of political correctness and argue with just facts?
@ HS – Oppressed people talk big, as they know they are powerless. Please send actual quotes that back up the claims you are making. As far as asinine remarks made about 'annihilating' Jews, there are plenty of links I can send you about Israelis saying horrible things. What is the point of that?
The Palestinian Papers leaked to Al-Jazeera belie your claims about the Palestinians not seeking compromise or even recognition of Israel. In fact the Palestinian people were shocked to learn what toadies and to what extent the PA was willing to go, while the Israeli Government remained recalcitrant. Thus your claims about non-recognition are just laughable.
You never have empirical evidence to anything you say. What are these 'schools and institutions' you speak of? Send me a link to a textbook. Give me some evidence that you have any grounding in reality. So again HS, what's your point?
Hi Jodha,
Quote from the Hamas Charter, on the subject of Allah's promise:
"The prophet, prayer and peace be upon him, said: The time will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews (and kill them); until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim! there is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him!"
Link attached: http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/www.thejerusalemf…
Be aware that in the Gaza Strip, Hamas won the democratic elections in 2005 by a landslide. These people represent the views of the Palestinians. This is not the same as individual Zionists "saying horrible things." This is the organisation's raison d'etre – effectively, kill them all.
If you mean to tell me Al-Jazeera offers unbiased reportage on the I/P conflict, I could only conclude that you have a hidden agenda.
On the subject of schools, I suggest you obtain copies of the textbooks that are used by the King Fahad Academy.
Hi Citizen,
Thank you for the links. Let me attempt to address some of them.
Since you rightly brought up the topic of sources, can you please furnish me with another source for the Hamas Charter? I could not find another source other than Israeli groups.
In addition, it is not clear that Hamas is advocating the 'killing them all' or is merely pasting from a hadith that was written in a particular time and place. I am not a Muslim, so I need not defend their hadiths. My only defense is that of another human group (in this particular case, the Palestinians – be they Christian, Muslim, or Jewish) that is being oppressed and colonized. I will speak against those that are trying to obfuscate their legitimate political demands.
With regards to the issue of news bias, tell me any reportage that is generally not biased on the issue? CNN? FoxNews? BBC? Russia Today? Each have a particular viewpoint, although the American press tends to be even worse than the rest.
With regards to the specifics of the Palestine Papers – I did not address Al Jazeera's editorial bias, but merely their publishing of the leaked documents. Read them yourself (as primary materials) and see if you come up with a different verdict – http://english.aljazeera.net/palestinepapers/
Finally on the subject of schools, I looked up King Fahad Academy. It is NOT a Palestinian school. All schools attended by Muslims are not the same and again this attempt at linking all Muslims together is intellectual lethargy. The mentioned school is Saudi school for children of diplomats in the UK. I remind you that Saudi despots are great friends of the US (especially the Bush Family), UK, and is a tacit ally of Israel. Regardless the textbook and the entire curriculum seems to have been removed – http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6378…
Mistake made and corrected.
Finally, on the issue of Hamas' views as being held by those of all the Palestinian people as you suggest (never mind that the majority of Palestinians do not live the Gaza Strip or even that Hamas' victory probably had more to do with Israeli brutality and the corruption of the Palestinian Authority than necessarily an endorsement of all of their policies), than one would assume the same could be said of the Prime Minister of Israel. No other than former head of state Golda Meir that said denied even the existence of Palestinians. Right-wing Israeli (and some of their Sikh supporters!) try to create the red herring that Palestinian non-state actors deny the Israeli state's right to exist, when it was the actual Israeli Prime Minister that denied that even the Palestinian people exist! Again this is not some random group making blusterous and idiotic comments in 1988, when it was a virtual non-entity, but the actual prime minister!
Hi Citizen Singh,
I appreciate the civil discussion, despite our points of difference. This will be my last response on this thread, but it has been insightful.
On the Jerusalem Fund – Thank you for the information; I was unaware of its work.
On the hadith – I have problems with a number of claims by a number of religions. I choose to be a Sikh and believe that I have had agency in the choice, although I appreciate Waheguru and my family for providing an environment where I could explore Sikhi. To your particulars, I do see it as an issue, but I can also imagine how certain claims on Khalistani websites can be overblown by opponents. Hamas will mature as most political opposition movements have. Even the Palestinian Authority was once the PLO with FATAH being the most important militant wing. Yesterday's 'terrorists' (or freedom-fighters) depending on who controls the microphone are being celebrated by you. I fail to see why this would not be the case with Hamas, if allowed to participate in the democratic process.
On Al-Jazeera – "Two wrongs don't make a right" seems like an out of place statement here. Again, I am not making a comment on their editorial policies, I am merely asking you to take a look at the HUGE cache of LEAKED (like wikileaks) official documents. You can judge for yourself the Israeli government's desire (or rather lack of as the status quo suits the purpose of Likud and the extreme right) for peace.
On King Fahad Academy – The concept of Ummah is and always has been a rhetorical flourish. We have a similar concept in the idea of the Panth. Just because we have a concept of Panth does not mean that EVERY Sikh anywhere in the world is guilty by association of stupidity by any other Sikh anywhere else in the world.
On the textbooks – One can assume all one desires and have numerous concerns, but on some level the issue is resolved now, people apologized, and we move on. If there is a repeated violation at the same school, then one should be alarmist. However, again, back to the original point the King Fahad Academy is a SAUDI institution, NOT a PALESTINIAN.
On the vote for Hamas – One can interpret the election as choosing to embrace 'hatred, division, and violence,' but pretends that the level of violence between the Israeli state and non-state actors is equivalent. It is NOT. It never can be. The violence by certain Sikh non-state actors post-1984 was abhorrent, but was no where in magnitude as that unleashed by the state. This asymmetry is always prevalent. So again while one can interpret the election as you did, political scientists that have actually studied the election have suggested it was a repudiation of cronyism and corruption, frustration with the PLO. Here is an excerpt:
Three reasons lay behind Hamas’ success: Palestinian disillusionment that peace or even meaningful political negotiations with Israel were anywhere on the horizon; appreciation at Hamas’ civil role as service provider during the lean years of the intifada, as well as its vanguard position in the armed Palestinian resistance, widely seen among Palestinians as the catalyst for Israel’s summer 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip; and revulsion at a decade of Fatah misrule of the PA, capped by its failure to bring law, order, economic recovery or political progress in the wake of the withdrawal. http://www.merip.org/mer/mer238/hamas-risen
Should not one consider why Palestinians would reject the PLO despite the appauling conditions they face? The Israeli/Egyptian blockade is a human travesty. Fortunately it seems Egypt is planning to open the borders.
On Israeli Government Brutality – you state that "two wrongs don't make a right", but never have you condemned Israeli Government Brutality. I do believe a two-state solution is the best option. No slaughter would occur and hopefully it will stop the IDF's current ability to slaughter Palestinians at will.
Regardless Citizen Singh of our differences, I appreciate the exchange. Best wishes and Gur Fateh!
hi, thanks for your response.
The Jerusalem Fund is a non profit organization working to raise funds to the aid of Palestinian people. It is not an "Israeli group." The link is not biased, it is the charter reproduced in full.
I am not asking you to defend this particular Hadith. The fact that Hamas select a Hadith that encourages the murder of Jews and enshrines that in their Charter should really be of concern. Do you think this is not a problem? The Charter advocates killing Jews, there is some debate as to whether that means "all" Jews, but I personally disagree with killing people.
Re AJ – Two wrongs don't make a right. The fact that Fox News, Russia Today etc are also biased does not excuse Al-Jazeera's bias.
Re King Fahad Academy – The concept of the Ummah exists to link all Muslims together. I disagree with your dismissal of this as intellectual lethargy – It is in fact an essential feature of their religion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummah
Re the textbooks, I agree that the problem has been resolved, but the fact that the school thought it was a good idea to use them in the first place is of real concern to me. Plus it took a whistleblower (sacked teacher) to uncover this… not good!
Perhaps my earlier post was a little unclear – it is the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip who voted in their droves for Hamas- they chose to embrace hatred, division and violence. I applaud the people of the West Bank for rejecting this approach, despite the hardships they have faced.
As for your assertion that the Gazan Palestinians have backed Hamas as a result of Israeli brutality, again two wrongs don't make a right. I am all for self-determination of the Palestinians, but I do not believe that should occur by the slaughter of Jews. Can we make the comment box a bit bigger please?
as a fellow Sikh, I think was a great article.. I can't imagine how a fellow Sikh could deride it.. Perhaps it's the classic anti-Muslim sentiment that is still rampant in the "old."
And please can you all shutup about Hamas.. Can we perhaps discuss the right for the children of Palestine to play without the fear of white phosphorus or tanks pointing gun sights at their homes? If there was no occupation, there would perhaps be greater opportunity, greater investment in infrastructure and lesser influence by organizations that prey on overwhelming resistant sentiment.
Why are you so keen to frame the boundaries of this debate? Your attempt to close down discussion is telling.
Few comments Dear Brooklywala:–
Firstly Congratulation for having the courage to take on such a major problem the world faces head on:–
1) Sikhs philosophy and prayers is of “SARVATT THA BHALLA” this would include welfare of Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims
2) Israeli –Palestine conflict roots are in Religious and Refugee conflict.
Ans :–Religious conflict : Prayers
Ans :–Refugee conflict : Two co –existing state answer
3) Challenges likely to encounter :–
a. Theological :-Jews – Muslim relationship as told in Quran.
i. Ans : Prayers
b. Israel acts as a safe zone for Jews .After the holocaust Jews insecurities have increased.
i. Ans :The whole world should guarantee Jews the right to live.
c. Major powers in this peace process have found the going difficult .
i. Camp David Accords :–2000
ii. Madrid Conference
iii. Oslo Accords / Oslo II :–1993
iv. Hebron Protocol
v. Wye River /
vi. Sharm el-Sheikh Memoranda
vii. 2000 Camp David Summit •
viii. Taba Summit Road Map • :–2001
ix. Annapolis Conference
x. Arab Peace Initiative
i. Ans : Prayers
4) Your assets : Prayers .
5) Preach the virtues to Jews and Muslims through prayers of
a. Trust .
b. Give and take philosophy.
c. Mutual co-existence .
6) Lastly Punjab and Palestine are not same except that both begin with “P”
This implies that Jews –Muslim relationship is not same as Hindu –Sikh relationship.
Do some time write on plight of “KASHMIRI PUNDITS” also.
(quick question : How do some of you above manage to post such long messages and yet I'm always asked to break my messages up into multiple messages ?) …….Anyway….Message # 1: Quarter of a million Sikhs butchered according to international human rights organisations and yet you're concerned about Kashmiri pandits ? get your priorities right Harinder.
I don't often agree with brooklynwala but i think he's right in this respect. Many of you here might like to look up Jeruselum amd Palestine in the 1940's when it was a British territory ; Palestine. It was a Sikh regiment that guarded the walls of Jeruselum.
Message # 2 : Those Sikhs sent to guard Jeruselum were subject to the same terrorist attacks by zionists from America and Europe that were responsible for the mass murder of British servicemen in the Kind David Hotel. i.e……zionists planted bombs…killed….civilians and British servicemen alike …i.e terrorist attacks….in order to achieve a Jewish homeland. Moral of the story ? plant bombs. kill people…in order to achieve your objective. Then…..after you've achieved your objective, stand in the US congress and make a speech about how your fight is a fight against people that plant bombs and kill people.
Thats a sign of the upside down world we're living in….but if more proof were needed it has been provided by Harinder above : His government sent out instructions to its army describing every single amritdhari Sikh in Punjab as an "enemy of the nation" who should be shot on sight…………and yet Harinders worried about some kashmiri pandits!!
Comparison of suffering
a) Jews killed in WW-11 :–5 million
b) Israel Palestine conflict :– 14,500 casualties (1948-2009).
c) Sikhs casualties 1984 :–2,700-5,500 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_anti-Sikh_riots
As for Kashmiri Pundits it is part of our legacy
May I suggest three obscure little operations you might wanna look into Harinder ?
Bluestar…..Woodrose…..and a personal one for you ; brian transplant.
And oh….just a little tip for you in future reasonings with people : When someone throws independent stats from independent international human rights organisations at you…..its probably not a wise move to counter that with wikipedia and official stats compiled by the people that did the alleged killings. Just make you look a wee bit silly.
Blighty Bhrawan,
Arguing with Harinder is slightly less productive than banging your head to break bricks. Best wishes though, don't say I didn't warn you!
Gur Fateh!
Let me assure you Jodha your suffering of 1984 is nothing compared to what jews have undergone.. Read about the Great holocaust and then we can discuss.
I was 22 yrs in Jalandhar when blue star took place and I Know the casualties. Wikipedia is correct on that figure. As for Wood rose it happened in villages so I have little knowledge about it. If there is a discrepancy about data let SGPC take out a white paper on it.
As for long messages .gettng through the admin net is I guess
"The hand of GOD""
I will also suggest Brooklywala that we must set up "GURUDWARAS" in
1) Israel
2) Palestine
3) Jersualem
They must be made to realize that we are made up of common DNA , protons,electrons ,neutrons & quarks.
Also the whole earth will be destroyed by the SUN one day when it becomes a red giant and
there will be none of the places existing mentioned above over which they fight today.
From Gurudwaras then prayers may be sent to GOD for peaceful co-existence of both communities .
The Jews & Muslims.
@brooklynwala and Jodha: These cartoons are produced by state run TV in Arab World.
How about you do away with your liberal/leftist position of political correctness and argue with just facts?
Dear HS let me tell you my impression :–
Trying to reunite Jews with Muslims will get some one at least 10 Nobel peace prizes.
If you can reunite Jews and Christians you will be given 100 Nobel peace prizes.
Still it is a worthy Goal Brooklynwala. My good wishes are with you.
TLH may not have solutions for complex issues but it is now an indisputably a working thrash pit for ideas, where different view points can produce substance without getting blown away unnecessarily. I admire the admin. with their supperior knowledge, homework and genuine instinct to keep the discussion civil, meaningfull and stop going astray. TLH post readers by and large must be impressed and encouraged how this third rail kind of issue was dared to be laid bare here by Brooklynwalla and then kept on course by Jodha. I was impressed to read what every participant contributed in a way they see the world and this is how it is. Not to change the subject I wish to invite the TLH reader to visit my website where I had a similar post on May 19, 2011 : Leila Khaled- a Revolutionary symbol, with a poetic touch and as always expecting your comments at : http://www.pashaurasinghdhillon.com
Brooklynwala
You might also want to write about the Jews who were forcibly expelled from the Arab countries bordering Israel in 1948. These Jews who number a similar number to the Palestinians were were forced from Israel don't rely on UN handouts. They got on with their lives whilst the Palestinians live off handouts. Rather than deriding the Jews for having the guts to fight for their traditional homeland in 1948 and then taking back their religious places like wailing wall in 1967, Sikhs should be ruing why the Sikhs didn't have such a leadership as the Jews had in 1947. Had the Sikhs had leaders like the Jews had then we would have had our own state from Chenab to Yamuna. Unlike us, the Jews don't have to apply to a foreign government for a visa to visit their holy places. Although as a consolation at least the Sikh leadership in 1947 was aware of what a Islamic state meant for Sikhs and were able to clear our Punjab to make room for Sikhs being expelled from West Punjab. Thank god we didn't have these new liberal left wing right-on 'yes we can' pajamay like Brooklynwala in any kind of leadership position in 1947.
@Bik
"Had the Sikhs had leaders like the Jews had then we would have had our own state from Chenab to Yamuna."
Counterfactuals are NOT evidence of anything and your above proposition is utter fancy. No scholar, intellectual, or even layman could accept that this was even a possibility. Democracy matters, as do demographics.
And then ad hominem attack against Brooklynwala.
There is nothing of value in your comment. Please try again.
Jodha
Your post just confirmed what I have always believed about people like you. You make up for a lack of critical thinking by the use of a voluminous vocabulary.
Yours is a typical response from a left wing liberal. You and Brooklynwala and some of the other writers on this blog are a prime example of what I call the 'Pajamafication' of Sikhi. No doubt many of your ilk in the 1920s also thought of a Jewish state as an 'utter fancy' but the leadership of the Jews as well as world events brought this about. Israel may be a nightmare for Islamophiles like you and Brooklynwala but it represents who a determined people can achieve when they are united in a cause.
Bik,
Please elaborate on the 'Pajamafication' of Sikhi… and send a pair my way.
Naala not elastic please. Thanks.
@Jedi – haha, my feelings exactly. Hopefully Bik is selling these on ebay.
@Bik
Again, nothing but ad hominem attacks. Instead of labels, engage in a dialogue of substance. I wasn't alive in the 1920s and my 'ilk' was in Punjab, quite unconcerned I am sure with what was occurring to the west. The creation of Israel was far more complex than what you describe. I am hardly an Islamophile, but I am a 'human-rights-o-phile.'
You and others are muslim o rights o phile and nothing more than that.In one of your previous article One person used the word vampire Bhapa and I reported that message none of administrators took any action to delete that word.You people have no problem if any sikh uses castist comment against other sikh but you will come out of your graves if anyone say anything against muslims and call it humanity.Stop this drama.
@KDS – we also have full-time jobs. We aren't monitoring every comment, nor to be honest do I even read many of them. The admin team has had discussions about word usages. The alternative is to go a SikhChic type system where EVERY comment must be approved. It is slow tedious and in my opinion not in keeping with freedom of speech. So we have this system and it is up to our ecosystem of readers to raise the level of discussion.
Regardless, I may disagree with an essentialist comment towards Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Bahais, etc, and in my personal capacity I may even respond. It is a COMPLETELY different matter if we censor as a policy every comment that is not in keeping with our goals. Enforcement is also a product of time and energy – and many of us don't always have much time.
Jodha
How many administrators this site have? How many comments this site receive?
and how many do get reported,don't say that You don't even look at reported comments but you do have time to participate in discussions which you are doing
quick stats:
admins – few (just the active bloggers)
comments- 15K+
reports – literally hundreds a day, pretty much whenever someone disagrees with another, haha.
Feel free to report this one too!
Jodha
This is not a matter of laughing.someone used comment castist comment against one caste of sikhs and you are taking it lightly.This site barely receive 10 comments per day and I don't think there will be more than 1-2 comments reported per day.
Anyway if fair means are not possible then I will too either stop posting or use abusive language against others.Lets see how worse anyone can go
hey it was me who made the comments about 'vampire bhapas'. I didn't realise it was you, KDS, that complained about it but the admins did do something about it….they censored the comments. Now I'll probably never get the chance to call the bhapas vampires again…which is a shame…except in a message such as this where the calling of bhapas vampires is the actual topic. I do fail to see what the problem is though. The term bhappa is not derogotory. It refers to the fact that the bhapas tended to speak in the potowari dialect of Punjabi in which nearly all male relatives, including elder brothers, are referred to as bhappas. And you have no way proving that absolutely none of them are vampires. Not without a truck load of garlic and a crucifix.
Blighty
Some Bhapa's may be Vampire and I am not offended by word Bhapa.It is the use of word Vampire.No Sikh site allow use of These type of words against Sikh castes Like Jatts,Tarkhans,Arora or Khatri and Immdiately these words were removed for th sake of unity.How about if I say Idiot jatts or stupid,now don't say I am wrong here so many Jatts are stupis or idiots.Also Badal,amarinder are all Jatts we all know what type of politicians they are .Are they not Vampire? are they not sucking blood of average Jattt Farmer? Then why not use word Vampire Jatt fo.t
^ yeah thats a fair point KDS. I do see where you're coming from. But….staying on the horror movie theme….if the bhappas are vampires then its only fair that I remind people that the jatts are 'Frankenstein' Jatts…….the chamars are 'zombie chamars' and the tarkhans are 'Chucky the evil doll' Tarkhans…..because although they look harmless they are actually really quite evil.
In this movie in which all the evils do battle to see who is the most evilest of them all, I think we can all agree that the blood sucking vampire bhappas will prevail. Mostly coz you can see the others coming whereas the bloodsucking vampires will come at you and suck the blood out of you when you least expect it. Coz some of these vampires can be really clever and cunning.
For the :–
a) Rascist amonst us
b) Fanatics amongst us
C)Casteist amongst us
This is the message from Guru Granth Sahib :–
All people of the world are equal
The Guru Granth Sahib promotes the message of equality of all beings and at the same time state that Sikh believers "obtain the supreme status" (SSGS, Page 446). Discrimination of all types is strictly forbidden based on the Sikh tenet Fatherhood of God which states that no one should be reckoned low or high, stating that instead believers should –“reckon the entire mankind as One” (Akal Ustat, 15.85).
SGGS Page 272 Full Shabad
The God-conscious being is always unstained, like the sun, which gives its comfort and warmth to all. The God-conscious being looks upon all alike, like the wind, which blows equally upon the king and the poor beggar
Dont ignore it .This is my advise to all of you.
BTW was it you or your friend Brooklynwala aka Sunny Singh who gave me a thumbs down rating? Just proves my point about you guys being pajamay.
Jews will live even if Prophet Mohammed and Brooklynwala gang up against them.
I see a lot of “liberal” or “left wing” labels been thrown around in every discussion. It seems it’s an easy way to be dismissive. It reflects a weakness and undisciplined mind. The truth is you need both groups, liberals and conservatives, to challenge the other and make the world better. One thing great about the USA is that has been weaved by both progressive and conservative agendas over hundreds of years. Any country solely run by one ideology is doomed for failure. Of course they’re some things I don’t agree with either sides but consider placing a turbaned Sikh in the middle of two extreme groups. One full of conservatives, for immigration control, limited govt, NRA members, and pro life, etc. And the other pot smokers, for gay marriage, gun control, pro choice, etc. Guess which group is going to call the Sikh “Osama” or a racial slur first?
If I tell you the truth you won't digest it. The fact is liberals use racism as a tool whenever they are loosing an argument and they were the ones who kept slaves. Conservatives aka republicans came about for equal rights and freeing of slaves. Read the history.
While democrats or liberals surely stand for for gay marriage, gun control, pro choice, etc, I can say confidently that they will stand for anything that fetches them votes. Be it illegal immigrants, Muslims or anyone who are willing to vote for them. 3/4th of the people did not want mosque on the 9/11 site, yet you liberals supported them to appease Muslims. Those who didn't support it you threw in the bandwagon of Islamophobia or racism. This is what you guys have been doing and are best at – fear mongering and use race card. Democrats/liberals are sellouts. Period.
HS, something tells me you’re a conservative =) Good for you. I enjoy reading different view points, and I’m sure they’ll be more than a few we agree on. The world would be insanely boring if everyone thought and had the same exact opinions. Looking forward to your contribution.
Yes, people. I took the high road, again. Thank you, SGGS, for showing me the way and making me strong to tolerate others. I know I can’t change others, but I can change myself.
Where was I? Oh Yeah. Have a nice day =)
For brooklynwala school of people here is a truth test for you :–
If you feel so strongly for the people of Palestine then
Marry a Palestine girl /widow and fight a " Intifada" against Israel.
Other wise your support means little for Palestine people.
This makes no sense whatsoever.
The same way this article makes no sense whatsoever for the Palestine people
written by a Internet paper warriors
@harinder – then why write anything? why speak on anything? according to your logic, then one should not comment on anything outside their very local boundaries. If only you would follow your own logic!
'internet paper warriors?' oh god bless freedom of speech (and freedom from having a coherent thought)
I think this picture really gets to the heart of the matter…
http://getdemotivated.com/main.php?g2_itemId=1058…
hahshshajs
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