Don't quit. There ARE many of us who believe in the same vision...we know in our heart of hearts that what we are striving for is a great truth.

Everyone wants to be a hero and swoop down upon the scene - but not stick their head out to fight for what they know to be right -- and instead cater to the fancies of the majority so that they will not be isolated. They claim "A" is being said when we say "B". They don't want to do righteous work but rather popular work. They don't want to take a strong stance because to take that stance takes strength, courage, and is often at the expense of popularity. They want to be the heroes and win the hearts of the masses - but not lead the masses to a greater truth and a more vital existence. The majority is attempting to silence the minority.

Don't quit. I believe in you and what you are saying. We need you.

Your voice isn't just your voice. This is not for you. This is not for me. We are fighting for those thousands of people who died so that we can have the choice to live this lifestyle. This is for the future generations -- the ones for whom we must preserve Sikhism -- so they may have the same choice as us. As our ancestors did for us, we must do for our grandchildren. If that means people want to pierce us with arrows and tell us to shut-up in the most imaginably cruel ways, then so be it. I am willing to sacrifice myself so that just one person can be affected by these words and moved to action.

There were only a few Sikhs left in the world at one time...and from them came all of us…from their sacrifices - we evolved. We too must do just as much for future generations. Because people decided they would rather die...have their bodies cut limb by limb, sawed alive, boiled in cauldrons, have their children mutilated before their very eyes, preferred to go through the most horrific forms of torture rather than relinquish what they stood for. For them we must go on.

I didn't come to this country to see the way of life of my parents, grandparents, great-grandparent die before my very eyes. To see it die on the bed of Pop-culture and illusion and it isn't ironic that in a country where freedom of belief is the norm, we are shedding our beliefs like an old coat. In the old days when a price was placed on a Sikh's head, we survived and here with no price on our heads in the land of free, home of the brave, no torture is necessary, the Moghuls need not place us on the rack, most of us give up and quit far before we are truly tested.

* The majority seeks to silence the minority. * The majority seeks to put words into the mouths of the minority to legitimize baseless assertions that divert from the true issues at hand *The majority seeks to create monsters out of the minority. *The majority fears the strength and character of the minority and seeks to overwhelm it so that it will not be forced to elevate its own commitment to self-improvement.

Let's be tolerant…Let's live in our Mr. Rogers - like existence….

My question: Who isn't being tolerant? Who is hating? Who is?

So why is the point being be-labored? Over and over again. Over and over again. Person after person feels the need to step in and say "let's be nice, let's not hurt people's feeling, you are not better than anyone else, you have no right to critize anyone...etc, etc." I find this redundant, unnecessary - doing the same harm that that they claim comes from those who they are attacking.

Re: Gurbani shouldn't be used in discussions.

my answer: You CANNOT have any discussions on Sikhi without using Gurbani. How can you have a Bible-study class without the Bible?!? Without Gurbani to substiantiate a position, the position is utterly invalid and unfounded. And moreover, a statement made without collaborative evidence from Gurbani is merely an egotistical assertion. And YES brothers and sisters, WE MUST MAKE WINNING ARGUMENTS. We MUST be rigorous in our use of Gurbani and other sources to support our position. Ultimately, without such methods of argumentation, we are simpling advocating personal views that support personal agendas. A view made without logic or supporting evidence is almost always unfounded and has no premise upon which to stand. If I were a scientist and stated that the earth was trapezoidal without evidence, would anyone listen to me, would anyone respect such an assertion? When we are talking about Sikhism, we are not discussing ourselves, so statements on Sikhism cannot be made without proof from our Bani and Hukamnamas. When I state XYZ about Dimple, I can state that without logic, because it only concerns me, but when I espouse a view that is relevant to all of us, to do so without proof, is an oppressive display of ego-gratification . Are we all so knowledgeable about Sikhi, that we don't need to refer to the teachings of the Guru, what sort of lunacy is this? Have the inmates taken over the asylum that we do not see how this is absolutely irrational? When you find evidence for what you are saying in logic, reasoning, or Gurbani, your argument is more compelling and the possibility then exists that it can be applied to the collective and not just for the gratification of your own ego.

Re: Let's be tolerant.

My answer: Everyone HAS BEEN AND IS tolerant. Why are we making accusations of intolerance. Let's discuss this very clearly. The ground is CONSTANTLY being shifted to accusations of intolerance, why is that? This is obviously a majority rules arena. And the majority wants this:

1. Cutting of hair to become acceptable for Sikhs despite the existence of a direct Hukamnama from the great father, Guru Gobind Singh that prohibited this as an option available to those who profess love for Sikhism. 

2. Sardar men should be scrutinized and criticized more closely than anyone else. Their steadfast commitment to the Hukumnana of Guru Gobind Singh Ji is being diminished, unacknowledged. Moreover, it is constantly being asserted that the obstacles they face and the force of their wills is all-together un-extraordinary. 

3. Women plucking their eyebrows and shaving their legs is ok, but Sardars trimming their beards is not. 

4. Sardar men have to prove they are Sikhs over and over on a daily basis from within as well as outside the community- meanwhile I can cut my hair and still call myself a Sikh anytime I please 

5. Gurbani should not be used to make a stand in ones life. Gurbani should not be quoted in discussions about Sikhi. 

6. Bandwidth should not be wasted talking about issues that are important for the growth of us as individuals and Sikhs - but bandwidth SHOULD be wasted to tell people that my name has now changes from this to that and we are having a BBQ. 

7. Members can gossip about their sisters and still be called Sikhs 

8. People can send private hateful emails to group members and still be called Sikhs 

9. People can name names all over the place - point individuals out - and still be called Sikhs

The majority wants to see the minority in a certain light, so they will take every opportunity to twist words around and create that light. We love everyone. A "SIKH" should be the ideal we ALL strive for -- not something we should call ourselves lightly and without action. Becoming a Sikh involves spiritual as well as physical action. Let's all accept that and work towards it.

I am an incredibly egotistical, arrogant, impure person. I am nothing. I am a no-body. Those who share my beliefs all will state the same thing. But in our hearts we are compelled to fight for something that is greater than us - the only thing in the universe that is good. The only thing in the universe that is pure. The only thing in us that is good and pure. We are compelled to fight and retain the ideal of undying effort and strength in the midst of overwhelming opposition.

Come on Joe Sikhs and Sikhnis....bring it on again. Whether you come willingly or kicking and screaming, as humans we have no choice but to reach for that which is good and noble within us. And sooner or later, we will see that pop-culture is a well with no bottom and when we are old and grey, it will shed itself of us and leave us with nothing to face the rest of our lives with. Let the majority be one founded on strength and principles and let that be the star by which we are guided toward our destinations. Lead me to the ultimate truth and I shall be your most steadfast follower.

--- Dimple ---