CALIFORINIA, as we all ‘know, is a remarkable place. Visitors from other places might point to the natural beauty of our environment or the energy and enthusiasm of our people and, of course, they’d be right. But what I’m speaking of in this case is the remarkable degree, to which California has brought together ethnic communities from around the world.
Virtually every nationality in the world is represented in California. Invariably, people come here because they seek a better life for themselves and their children. Some come for greater economic ‘opportunity, others to escape political or religious persecution. ‘Whatever the reasons that bring people to the Golden state, a strong sense of connection with ‘one’s homeland — and concerns about what’s happening here—are common.
From my mail and from visits from your community leaders, I know this is true for the Sikhs in California. I’ve come to understand the anguish you feel over the turmoil and tragedy that have beset India in general and the Punjab in particular in recent years. I appreciate your frustration over the promises you feel the Indian government has broken promises made when India won her independence in 1947 to grant a degree of autonomy to the state of Punjab, where Sikhs constitute a majority of 60% of the population. And I share your deep sorrow for the thousands of Sikhs who have been victims of rioting and terror. My involvement in politics stems from my experience working as a journalist covering the rise of Hitler and Mussolini. I witnessed firsthand the drift toward intolerance and bigotry. I saw with my ‘own eyes what happens when governments fail to protect the rights of their citizens and even ‘worse when they stand silent or even encourage one group’s attacks on another. And I determined after my Army service to become involved in public life to do what I could to prevent such acts from ever recurring,
Both because of the role we play on the world stage and because people of all ethnic groups and nationalities call America home, we have an obligation to speak up when we feel that the rights of others are being disregarded. I have led such efforts on behalf of blacks in South Africa, Jews in the Soviet Union, and political dissidents in that country as well as in Chile and El Salvador.
Moreover, I have contacted Secretary of State, George Shultz, to request that the U.S, Embassy in New Delhi make clear our strong interest in the safety and the welfare of the Sikhs. In addition, I urged our government to encourage the Indian authorities to pursue a peaceful, political solution to the issues that divide the Hindu and Sikh communities.
India recently celebrated its 39th anniversary as a democracy. That’s an accomplishment all Indians can be proud of. But the foundation of democracy is tolerance, and tolerance means that no people should have to fear for their fives because of their religion or culture; I plan to continue to monitor closely the developments in India on behalf of the Sikhs in California I represent and on behalf of all the people everywhere who are concerned with human rights,
Article extracted from this publication >> October 10, 1986
