Sir,
None of the following is in any way intended to be a criticism of the intent effort or dedication of WSN or its staff. But any institution must be ready to honestly scrutinize itself and to accept and learn from the input of its readers.
These are several points I would like to make concerning the contents of WSN:
- Is this the “World Sikh News” or the “What’s wrong with the Indian government News”? Given that one of the major goals of WSN is to promote the liberation of Khalistan why is it necessary to find column after column every week devoted to goings-on in places like Tamil Nadu or Sri Lanka? Especially when these items only seem to be carried in order to prove some further intrigue in the administration of the day.
Apart from the fact this ‘is lowers the credibility of WSN to non-Sikhs (especially journalists) I consider it to be irrelevant and a waste of space. I doubt that there is even one reader of WSN who does not know the Gandhi Singh Shekar regimes have been corrupt inept and Brahmanical. The ongoing news about government dealings with the people and leaders of Punjab already prove that. Therefore why preach to the already converted?
- WSN shows very little interest in regional news. Apart from WSO functions and events in Stockton regional events are usually covered by reprints of releases from various Gurdwaras and local organizations. These are often ineptly written and self-serving or containing interminable lists of names. A quality journal should at least edit these.
Better yet why not try and set up a number of local correspondents preferably young Sikhs (male or female) who have grown up in the West who can write lucidly and have no political ties. I am sure that there are many young Sikhs out there who would be delighted and honored to hold such a position. Let them report impartially on the important events in their community.
WSN could then do columns of regional news briefs (The South New York Southern Cal. Vancouver etc.) and have a reporter in place if an important story occurs. There is no reason why this should cost any money.
- There are huge Sikh communities in UK Vancouver Toronto New York or even in places like Australia or Malaysia. One would never know from reading WSN. Why not take a global view as befits the name “World Sikh News”?
At the very least you could take articles from other local Sikh publications around the world. Edit and reprint them to give Sikhs in North America an idea of how Sikhs live in other parts of the world as well as a global perspective. In my travels I have found that Sikhs tend to be very parochial. If WSN will not give the Panth some perspective on the extra ordinary spread of Sikh communities around the world who will?
- It is time for WSN to acknowledge the existence of “American” Sikhs There are places like Phoenix or San Diego where the co-operation between “American” Sikhs and Punjabi Sikhs is doing great things for the community. Why not do a story on that kind of co-operation? As Gurujohn Singh Khalsa pointed out in a recent letter there is more to the “American” Sikhs than Harbhajan Singh Yogi. WSN should realize this and reach out to this important segment of our community.
- WSN is doing nothing I repeat nothing for the most needy section of the community in North America the Sikh Youth. I can safely say that there are very few people who have spent time with more young Sikhs in different parts of the world than I have in the last few years In talking to hundreds of young Sikhs I have questioned them at length about their perspectives. They see WSN (as well as almost all Sikh organizations) ignoring the problems and concerns of Sikh Youth. Giving a young child some column space to retell a sakhi of Guru Nanak Sahib for the umpteenth time is mere tokenism Our teenagers and young adults need a serious forum in which to be heard.
I suggest you follow the example of a wonderful magazine from New York called “Sikh Generations” and allow young Sikhs space to discuss in an uncensored and frank manner the issues that are facing them.
Drug abuse promiscuous sex the pressure for “dating” wife beating child abuse even teen suicide exist in Sikh communities. Even if WSN continues to pretend that they do not they will not go away. Rather they will grow like a cancer that remains untreated.
I believe it is time for WSN to live up to its name. There is no doubt that the Panth needs a mouthpiece. WSN can fulfill that need but it needs to mature and I take responsibility for the position it claims to hold. Only then can it I really claim to be “the united voice of Sikhs”.
Please inform us what it would take to achieve this
Vikram Singh Khalsa
San Diego California
(The effort has all along been to make WSN as complete and unbiased as possible. The paper has received many suggestions and much criticism but rarely any support. Promises even to send in news reports have not been kept. Editor)
Article extracted from this publication >> March 15, 1991
