Humans are primates and at our worst we act like Baboons. Humans tend to set ourselves up in Authoritarian Hierarchies, with the males all competing to be the Alpha Male, leader, the Boss, the Guru, the CEO- or at the very least, Lord and Master of the Home, and sometimes even the Father GOD. Men like this (who sell their souls chasing after $tuff, sex and power) are plentiful, and, of course, we have our share of these sorts within Sikhi.

Yet meanwhile, Sikhi is very impressive, when compared with other faiths, because Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh fought so hard against Baboon Troop mentality! We Sikhs believe that all people are equal and that includes women everywhere. Sikhs don't let individuals dictate to us, we don't admire men who play Guru, Sant, or King. It is against our religion.

Now Baboon Boss men are highly predictable. They will choose personal gain everytime, gathering more money, sex and power to them and feeling cool and superior about it. They don't work well in groups. They dictate to others and have bad listening skills. They can be a violent lot.

We also know that the fastest way to dismantle Baboon Troop dynamics in humans is to empower women. Of course, there ARE women who sell their souls for $tuff, sex or romance and power too. These sorts of women often find Alpha Male types to be actually attractive! But for most women we prefer men who love women, over men who try to install us in harems, or show us off like cars, or control us and limit our scope, education, opportunites for self expression, and our dreams.

Women love men who love and support women. This is natural.

Thus I have faith that when Sikh men desire to be heros and impress the World by doing the right thing, that you will not wait around for Sikh women to fight and claw our way into gender equality. Rather Sikh men can simply legislate women into equality because it is the right thing to do- it makes Guru Nanak smile and women and good men the World over will rejoice in Sikh's potency, grace, love, and courage.

In a sad, depressed and hopeless World, Sikh men (or any other type of men) who are fighting for the love, honor, equality and respect of women everywhere are taking a vastly romantic, idealistic, stance- perhaps even one worth swooning over!

I have had Sikh men tell me that it is up to Sikh women, that we Sikh women should simply rise up and demand whatever we want! This can be worded to seem a sweet and empowering thing to say too- "Go Khalsa Girls!"

But, trust me, it is easier to get women out and voting AFTER women have been granted the legal right to vote, not before.

Sikhs Gurdwaras need to have an equal numbers of women and men as their Directors, Priests and so forth. It is gallant of the Sikh men in charge of our Temples and Centers to simply legislate equal rights into being because it is the right thing to do, especially given the fact that we are Sikhs.

THAT this simple act of legislating basic human rights and equal authority to Sikh women will also generate positive Worldwide PR for Sikhi is just another added blessing- but it shouldn't be ignored either!