We are grateful to the readers of the World Sikh News who called us and endorsed the views expressed in our last editorial to ban the entry of Rajiv, Bhagat and Tytler into the United States, just as Austrian President Kurt Waldheim was, for their crimes against humanity.
A number of readers asked the question and expressed their opinions about why they have managed to escape the treatment which they deserve. An analysis of this question will also provide us with the answers about what we should have done and what we can do now.
We have been unable to interact with the media in an organized manner. Sporadic knee jerk reactions do not work. What we need is small groups of Sikhs in various cities meeting the press and TV people and acquainting them with our problems, as Sikhs in California, Iowa and Maryland have done, to quote a few examples. As a long term strategy, we have to give scholarships and encouragement for our children to join the media if they desire to do so. Sikhs have to join human rights groups in their cities. The concerns of these groups are global and we have to help others before we can ask for their help. They will certainly help us once they are acquainted with the facts.
Colleges and Universities are powerful media of change in public perception. The young people have to be involved in community activities. They interact with an enlightened broad section of the nation in their institution. They should be armed with facts by their parents and, once they know are convinced of the truth, they will go and tell the world about it quite effectively. Efforts of some societies to get children involved even in Gurdwara activities are appreciated.
We must participate in local political process. We have to get involved at the city, county, state and federal level with the politics of our adopted country. When we work with them we can acquaint our representatives with our concerns. Whatever the political inclination of the Sikhs, their involvement is most important. Recent elections have seen ‘Sikh supporters of two candidates on opposite sides of the battle. This is the way it should be.
As we said earlier, we the Sikhs have to learn to unite for the causes of concern to the entire community while maintaining our individuality. Common causes are too important for our petty differences to stand in the way. The Sikh Nation is at a critical juncture of history, we have to unite to face common threats, and to progress together.
Let us not be disheartened with our seeming lack of ‘success at bringing the mass murderers to justice. The: dynamics of change have a momentum of their own. Now more people are aware of the true picture of the Sikh victimization than a few years ago, let us continue to inform the world.
We are the victims. We are the sufferers. We are being discriminated against and we have truth on our side, Truth has always and will always triumph, we remind ourselves of it every time we greet each other with Sat Sri Akal.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 17, 1989
