News Bits | | Page 13

Undeniable proof that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is Indian

November 28, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. From the pages of FITSNews: Her family business – where she claimed to have “learned the value of a dollar” – was penalized three times over six years for failing to pay its corporate income taxes on time (and failing to turn over taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks). The company – owned by Ajit and Haley’s mother Raj Randhawa – has also been late paying property taxes. Meanwhile, Haley and her husband repeatedly failed to […]

Categories: Humor, News Bits, Politics • Tags: Nikki Haley, South Carolina

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Guru Nanak, Muslims, and America

November 23, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I often reflect on the parallels between Sikh philosophy and that which inspired the founding of America. Dylan Kaplan writes in the Washington Post about his experience visiting a Gurdwara in Rockville, Maryland during celebrations for Guru Nanak’s birthday, and observes the same: How many countries in the world have a Sikh community that is so committed to bringing different people together that they would invite a Pakistani Muslim to speak on their most religious holiday? The founding fathers would […]

Categories: News Bits, Reflections, Sikhism • Tags: Bhai Bala, Bhai Mardana, Dylan Kaplan, Guru Nanak, Maryland, Muslim, Rockville

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Jon Huntsman, on breaking barriers

November 17, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“We’re breaking barriers in this country all the time. And when people say that because you come from a certain background, that you’re not able to get from point A to point B, I’d say nonsense. That’s not part of the American tradition. … People are worried about the real issues and less about someone’s heritage or background.” — Jon Huntsman, seeking to be the Republican candidate for President of the United States, comments during an interview on being a […]

Categories: News Bits, Politics • Tags: Jon Huntsman, Mormon, Republican, United States

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Religious rights defended in New York

November 16, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“In the past 20 years, New York state has become much more pluralistic. We have more diversity in religious practices,” Schneiderman said at an Anti-Defamation League luncheon Wednesday in New York City. “The growth of our Hassidic and other Jewish communities, of the number of observant Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, has been staggering, and frankly, we need to adjust things in the office of the New York State Attorney General to deal with this new, more pluralistic reality.” — […]

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits • Tags: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CDCR, Eric Schneiderman, John Kerry, New York, New York City, Religious Rights Initiative, Trilochan Singh Oberoi, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

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CA school district recognizes November as “Sikh Awareness Month”

November 14, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education recognizes and acknowledges the significant contribution made by the Californians of Sikh heritage to our state and by adoption of this resolution, seeks to afford all Fremont residents the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared principle of Sikh Americans, their religion and the tenets of their faith, and the important role that Sikh Americans play in furthering mutual understanding and respect […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: ACR 181, California, Education, Fremont, Fremont Unified School District, November, Sikh Awareness Month

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State of California settles with Trilochan Singh Oberoi, but maintains discriminatory policies

October 27, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In 2005, despite meeting all other requirements, Trilochan Singh Oberoi was refused a job as a correctional officer by the State of California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), unless he shaved his beard and removed his turban. The decision of the CDCR was ruled as discriminatory by the State Personnel Board, but the State of California still refused to hire Trilochan Singh. Consequently, Trilochan Singh filed a suit against the CDCR. Today, it was announced that the State has […]

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits • Tags: California, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CDCR, Corrections officer, employement discrimination, State Personnel Board, Trilochan Singh Oberoi

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Long Island, NY Sikhs struggle with Gurdwara issues

October 26, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After the Gurdwara in Plainview, New York was shut down due to code violations, Sikhs on Long Island can’t catch a break, as the second of three Gurdwaras there had also shut down earlier this summer: After fire inspectors went to the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island in Hicksville, it was closed when town inspectors found a kitchen had been illegally installed in the basement and people were living there, [Oyster Bay spokesperson Phyllis Barry] said. The temple had no […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Diwali, Glen Cove, Gurdwara, Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center, Hicksville, Long Island, New York, Plainview

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Guinness lets the air out of Fauja Singh’s balloon

October 25, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Centenarian Fauja Singh’s record-setting completion of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon won’t be record-setting, after all. Guinness World Records will not recognize Fauja Singh’s achievement because he cannot present a birth certificate – a document that was not produced in India in 1911 – to prove the year of his birth. His passport and other documented evidence is not acceptable to Guinness. His trainer, Harmandar Singh, suggests that there is a disconnect in recognizing the status of developing nations: Harmandar Singh, […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Canada, Centenarian, Fauja Singh, Guinness World Record, marathon, Toronto Marathon, Toronto Waterfront Marathon

SALDEF campaigns for support of End Racial Profiling Act

October 20, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Many people would have received a notice from SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) asking to support the passing of Senate bill 1670 – End Racial Profiling Act of 2011. Stand up against Racial Profiling! Tell your Senators to vote for the End Racial Profiling Act NOW! http://t.co/wuULZJrk — SALDEF (@SALDEF) October 20, 2011 SALDEF provides information about the bill and provides an easy way to contact your relevant senators to ask them to support the bill. The bill has been introducted […]

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits, Politics • Tags: Ben Cardin, Dick Durbin, End Racial Profiling Act, John Kerry, Racial profiling, SALDEF, Senate, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: News Bits

Undeniable proof that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is Indian

Guru Nanak, Muslims, and America

Jon Huntsman, on breaking barriers

Religious rights defended in New York

CA school district recognizes November as “Sikh Awareness Month”

State of California settles with Trilochan Singh Oberoi, but maintains discriminatory policies

Long Island, NY Sikhs struggle with Gurdwara issues

Guinness lets the air out of Fauja Singh’s balloon

SALDEF campaigns for support of End Racial Profiling Act