Personally, as a USA born Theater Director, and as someone who has put on many big events and conferences, and done lots of public speaking, and who has facilitated countless workshops, and who has promoted and publicized all of these things and more- I feel I understand Western media and mentally a bit. And from my perspective I admit that I see the issue of Sikh men wearing turbans and beards to be something akin to "Sacred Advertising". You Sikh men in turbans and beards stick out dramatically, everywhere you go, as representatives of Sikhi.

Sooooooooo, as your Sister, I need to ask any Sikh man who is not keeping all his vows as symbolized by wearing the 5 Ks to please NOT wear a turban and beard. As the world comes to understand Sikhs and Sikhi, people everywhere will learn that if you are in trouble, you should find a Sikh man in a turban and beard and he is under sacred duty to help you as much as he can.

So please, Sikh men, if you aren't up to this Sikh image and commitment, do not wear a turban and beard. Please also do not be seen in public drinking or smoking or gambling or wenching or drugging in a Sikh turban and beard. If you are rooting for Guru Nanak at all, do not give Sikhi a bad reputation. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Now what exactly are these commitments wired into the 5 Ks? What should anyone be able to ASSUME about a Sikh man wearing a turban and beard when she or he sees him, anywhere, in any context, and country, in any situation?

Now I am a beginner, a foreigner to the Sikh path, so let me know if I am wrong here; yet we all know that Sikh men, who are wearing beards and turbans, are representing the Khalsa Panth. These men keep washed and clean (the comb reminds them). These men remain authentic and natural, they let their hair grow to symbolize their commitment to wholesome authenticity and trust in Nature/Creation/Creator. They stay away from alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

And Sikh men who wear turbans and beards will absolutely defend the oppressed. They will NEVER walk by while someone is being victimized. Their sword says "NO!" to simply turning a blind eye to the suffering of others. Sikh men in beards and turbans will help anyone to the best of their abilities if ASKED and they will step in if someone is being attacked or tyranized around them. The Waheguru knows that She/He can count on Sikh men wearing turbans and beards to answer humble people's prayers for assistance anywhere in this world.

Also Sikh Gurdwaras feed anyone who arrives to be fed. If that person can sit as an equal with everyone else, they can have a good meal and no one will try to convert them to Sikhi. This is part of our religion. Langar is a very important Sikh institution as we are all aware.

Now , also as you all know, Sikh men are only allowed to DEFEND not attack. Sikh men only fight defensively. If you have a temper, please wear many Karas like Sikh warriors of old and hear them jingle when your fist tightens or when you raise your arm to strike! The Kara balances the sword. The Kara is the feminine, the sword is so darn male. Maybe it is time to let our Karas keep us surrendered and at peace. This is a woman's opinion, you understand and I feel, very strongly, that it is now the time for WOMEN to rise to equal authority and power with men in Sister and Brotherhood all around the planet.

Last but not least, Sikh men who wear turbans also wear underwear which reminds them that they are committed to controlling their sexual energy. Sikh men wearing turbans and beards need to be safe and trustworthy guardians of women. Sikh men in turbans and beards can be trusted to only see women as Grandmas, Moms, Aunts, Sisters, Nieces and Daughters. Sikh men do not sexually fantasize about real women. We are all allowed to fantasize about fantasy ( like reading romantic, fantastic, adventurous, pulp novels and how kids like cartoons, or some TV and Movies and light escapism) but our REALITY is that Sikhs ideally bond, sexually-spiritually, to one partner this life. This is our way. Sikh men wearing turbans and beards can be trusted by women. Please no exceptions!

Soon the World will know that Sikh men wearing turbans and beards are committed to all these things. All we have to do is actively tell everyone. Men of Sikh families who can not keep the 5Ks, for whatever reasons, will be happily accepted, rather than shamed, for NOT wearing a turban and beard at this time thus avoiding giving Sikhi a bad name. Not everyone is suppose to stand out as a Sikh right now, and many who choose to cut their hair now, will grow it again someday, when they are ready.

But, please, only those who can maintain the Sikh lifestyle should ever wear turbans and beards. Just one Sikh in a turban and beard seen breaking Sikh vows can do huge damage for our Sikh Worldwide PR.

And let us not forget that as soon as we take Armit we need to be meditating and saying our prayers too etc.! Sikhi is not an easy path! We have many vows to keep. Sikhi is not for everyone even if you were born into a Sikh family.

And what about Sikh women? Well of course SELF RULE is the biggest issue for women everywhere in this world so I think Sikh women should do exactly as we want. And if we want to stand out as Sikhs, like our Sikh men who are wearing turbans and beards, then we should wrap a turban too.

But I am NOT going to tell Sikh women what to do. I am rather going to ask myself and my Sisters what we each LONG to do, and then I am going to try to make women's best dreams come true at long last!

If some Sikh men find that this sounds like inspiring work too-making women's best dreams come true- well you are my kind of Bros!

But needless to say, a true Sikh woman keeps all her Ks too. Just like the men.