November | 2012 |

Fresno, CA, Sikhs at Poverello House (source: Fresno Bee)

Picture of the Day: Fresno, CA, Sikhs feed the hungry

November 19, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This past weekend, Sikhs in Fresno, California, continued their support of a local food bank and shelter called Poverello House: The Sikh community helped prepare food for the homeless Saturday afternoon at the Poverello House in Fresno. The meal also was served by Sikh community members. This is the fourth year in a row that the Sikh community has given money and food to help the homeless in Fresno. Two years ago, the Sikh community provided Poverello House a $20,000 […]

Categories: Picture of the Day • Tags: Baljinder Grewal, California, Fresno, Jasvinder Sandhu, Poverello House

Naveen Kaur educates about her Sikh faith on “Smart Girls with Amy Poehler”

November 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This following video is making the rounds on social media today. Enjoy watching one Naveen Kaur educate about the Sikh faith on the YouTube series “Smart Girls with Amy Poehler“: Amy Poehler, a popular comedian and actor, hosts “Smart Girls” to profile the uniqueness of teens: Smart Girls at the Party, which has some 7,500 subscribers thus far and has generated more than 400,000 views, is geared toward adolescent girls and young teens with the stated aim to “celebrate individuals […]

Categories: TV/Movies • Tags: Amy Poehler, Naveen Kaur, Smart Girls, YouTube

Sikh Coalition announces winners of Diversity Video Competition

November 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This weekend, I will be attending the SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival in southern California. I’m looking forward to enjoying to the showcase of Sikh artists over the next two days, re-connecting with friends, and making new connections as well. If you aren’t attending the film festival, you can still enjoy some short films made by Sikhs. The Sikh Coalition recently announced the winners of this year’s Diversity Video Competition entitled “My Crown, My Faith”. Satdeep Singh’s film Taaj […]

Categories: TV/Movies • Tags: A Day with a Crown, Abril Murillo, Coexist, Diversity Video Competition, James Magazzino, Satdeep Singh, Sikh Arts and Film Festival, Sikh Coalition, SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival, Taaj

Abhay and Amanat Singh honored for role in Oak Creek Sikh temple massacre (source: TMJ)

Sikh children honored for heroic act during Oak Creek, WI shooting

November 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Two children who were present during August’s shooting attack on the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Gurdwara were honored yesterday by the Yell and Tell Foundation for their efforts in alerting people in the Gurdwara: Abhay Singh and his sister Amanat did the right thing when gunman Wade Page showed up at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek and started shooting. The kids ran inside to tell adults about the dangerous situation. Their father, Benny Singh, thought divine intervention played a role […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Abhay Singh, Amanat Singh, Benny Singh, hate crimes, Oak Creek, shootings, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Yell and Tell Foundation

When a Sikh runs: a recap of the Ricky Gill campaign

November 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

It was just over a week ago that we learned of the results of the elections in the United States, including that to represent California’s 9th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. In that race, a Sikh American named Ricky Gill challenged incumbent Representative Jerry McNerney to represent the district in Congress. Rep. McNerney would win this election by receiving almost 55% of the vote. As a Sikh American, I followed the Ricky Gill campaign on this blog. His […]

Categories: Politics, Reflections • Tags: 2012 elections, California, California 9th Congressional District, Jerry McNerney, Ricky Gill, Stockton, Tom McClintock

Director arrested after violence at Yuba City, CA, Gurdwara

November 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After last weekend’s violence at a Gurdwara in Yuba City, California, Sutter County Police have arrested a director of the Gurdwara who is accused of stabbing another individual during the brawl: Mangal Singh Sanghera of Yuba City was booked into the Sutter County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Sanghera is being held without bail on a probation violation, Sheriff J. Paul Parker said in a press release. “The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: California, Gurdwara, Gurdwara conflict, Mangal Singh Sanghera, Sutter County, Yuba City

Oak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy and Officer Sam Lenda recall the shooting at the Oak Creak, Wisconsin, Gurdwara in August (source: CBS News)

Oak Creek, WI, officers recall day of shooting

November 14, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On the CBS Evening News, Oak Creek Police Lieutenant Brian Murphy and Officer Sam Lenda describe the events during the shooting rampage at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in August. Lt. Murphy offers several reflections, including about the shooter who took his own life: “He’s dead. He’s nothin’. The people who remain, the people who carry on, that’s what’s important,” he said. View the video and read more at CBS News.

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: CBS Evening News, hate crimes, Lt. Brian Murphy, Oak Creek, Officer Sam Lenda, shootings, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Wisconsin

Representative Tom McClintock honors Stockton, CA, Gurdwara centennial

November 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, Representative Tom McClintock, of California’s 4th Congressional District, formally acknowledged in the Congressional Record the centennial of the Gurdwara (Sikh house of worship) in Stockton, California: In his statement, Rep Tom McClintock (R-Granite Bay) compared members of the world’s fifth-largest religion to the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower in 1620 “seeking a better future in a free land for their descendants. “It is the very same story of pilgrims like Baba Vasakha Singh and Baba […]

Categories: Events, Politics • Tags: California, Jerry McNerney, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, Tom McClintock

Statement by President Obama on the observance of Diwali

November 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

President Obama offered his felicitations today on the celebration of Diwali: The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 13, 2012 Statement by the President on the Observance of Diwali Today, here at home and across the globe, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists will celebrate the holiday of Diwali – the festival of lights. Diwali is a time for gathering with family and friends, often marked with good food and dancing. It is also a […]

Categories: Events, Politics • Tags: Bandi Chhorh Divas, Barack Obama, Diwali

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Monthly Archives: November 2012

Picture of the Day: Fresno, CA, Sikhs feed the hungry

Naveen Kaur educates about her Sikh faith on “Smart Girls with Amy Poehler”

Sikh Coalition announces winners of Diversity Video Competition

Sikh children honored for heroic act during Oak Creek, WI shooting

When a Sikh runs: a recap of the Ricky Gill campaign

Director arrested after violence at Yuba City, CA, Gurdwara

Oak Creek, WI, officers recall day of shooting

Representative Tom McClintock honors Stockton, CA, Gurdwara centennial

Statement by President Obama on the observance of Diwali