It is imperative that in a civilized society, the individual must fulfill certain duties, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Without such contributions, no society or organization is possible. In the USA, ‘Sikhs have brought forth many organizations to serve the desperate needs of the Sikh cause. No one organization has effectively emerged with any positive program which can unite the Sikhs in word and deed, It is apparent that the World Sikh Organization has yet to learn the basic rules of operating, let alone how to make dent in the flow of Sikh politics. There is no cohesive commitment on the part of its leaders to the organization; rather than giving their best to their organization, they seem to take away the best. As a result, the organization remains a miserable skeleton. Sikhs thus seem to destroy their own future and themselves with it. How long will it take before they fully realize what is happening to them? It is truly appalling to see the Sikh civic sense at such low ebb.

God only knows how will develop a proper political sense in the Sikhs, and when will there be unity in numbers and spirit. When will there be development of the programs for the young and enlightened care for the old? Without the fulfillment of everyone’s civic duty, nothing is going to be accomplished. Attitudes construct failure or success. No one is going to hand a good society over to the Sikhs; they must build it themselves, or go without. When would they become equal to the task?

Fair is Fair

World history is a story of mankind’s struggle, collectively or individually, for its fullest expression. The domination of one group ‘over another remains a historical constant that keeps sweeping and reshaping the world. The history of the Sikhs tells us about the Sikh Raj. The Sikhs’ desire to have their own “Raj” again is nothing out of the ordinary. The propaganda of “Hindu masters” branding Sikhs as undesirables needs to be effectively neutralized and, if possible, curbed. The Hindu press in America continues to brutally misrepresent Sikhs, with such headlines as SIKHS ATTACK BARNALA, SIKHS GO ON HINDU SHOOTING SPREE, and overuse of the Phrase “SIKH SEPARATIST” “SIKH TERRORISTS” –MILITANTS TORCH GOLDEN TEMPLE OFFICE, KILL COMMUNIST LEADER: BRITAIN OFFERS TO CLAMP DOWN ON, SIKH SEPARATISTS: EXTREMISTS SLAY 14…etc. Again, “PUNJAB WENT THROUGH ANOTHER BLOODY WEEK WITH TERRORIST KILLING: “60 killed by Sikhs in Punjab”—one could go on and on citing such examples, Sikhs are made out as killers and assassins, as if they had nothing else to do; as if there were no killings of Sikhs by Hindus.

Statistics show that militant Hindus have killed far larger a number of Sikhs than otherwise.

If the Hindu press in America is maintaining such an irresponsible attitude then what do they expect in return? Responsible and objective reporting, on the part of Hindu Press would go a long way in generating congenial atmosphere which would be conducive to ‘the welfare of both communities, particularly in the foreign countries. Responsible reporting can render a tremendous service to both Sikhs and Hindus. This means that the barrage of unsavory and biased language must be properly controlled and judiciously edited.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 25, 1986