Ishwar Singh | American Turban

Protesters are escorted out of a U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaign event in Muscatine, Iowa, United States, January 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young - RTX23T3Q

The accidental benevolence of Donald Trump

January 26, 2016 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

While in 2012, the Republican Party offered sympathy and support to the Sikh American community, by 2016, this sentiment has ostensibly been disregarded — and even reversed — by the dominating Republican candidate for President who openly disparages a Sikh article of faith. And, there has been little tangible response from the Republican Party or the other Republican candidates to this incident or other similar protests. One wonders how or why this shift occurred.

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, News Bits, Politics • Tags: Arashdeep Singh, Donald Trump, Iowa, Ishwar Singh, Muscatine, Nikki Haley, Oak Creek, Republican National Convention, Republican Party, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, xenophobia

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and the Golden Temple in Amritsar. (source: The Telegraph)

The Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: Honorable mentions

January 24, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

For each of five days, I looked at what I considered as the Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: The Oak Creek Massacre Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana Victories in employment equality The inspiring grace of Balpreet Kaur Sikh Americans celebrate a century All of these stories were significant in relation to Sikh Americans during the year. However, there were several events during 2012 that arguably could be considered among the top five stories (and, while the “top five” list […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: Barack Obama, Darbar Sahib, Democratic National Convention, Dr. Onkar Bindra, FlyRights, Golden Temple, Harpreet Singh Saini, Ishwar Singh, Jay Leno, Jusleen Kaur, Michelle Obama, Mitt Romney, Republican National Convention, Ricky Gill, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, White House

Who do Sikh Americans vote for, and why?

October 5, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The recent higher profile civic engagement of the Sikh American community has been notable in this election cycle. Ishwar Singh, of Orlando, Florida, was invited by the Republican Party to provide an invocation during the Republican National Convention and we also saw a sizable and very visible contingent of Sikhs attending as delegates at the Democratic National Convention. By apparent attendance at the national conventions, it appeared that Sikhs were more supportive of the Democratic Party rather than the Republicans. […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Democratic, Democratic National Convention, Harpreet Sandhu, Ishwar Singh, Jusleen Kaur, Mitt Romney, Republican, Republican National Convention, Sikh American voter preference, SikhVOTE

Picture of the Day: Ishwar Singh provides the Invocation at the Republican National Convention

August 29, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Watch the C-SPAN video of the opening and Ishwar Singh’s invocation here. Read previous commentary on Ishwar Singh’s historic Invocation at the Republican National Convention here.

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day • Tags: Invocation, Ishwar Singh, Republican National Convention

Ishwar Singh discusses his prayer for the Republican National Convention

August 29, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In advance of his historic Invocation of the Republican National Convention tonight, Ishwar Singh, talks about his motivation: I hope that my presence Wednesday on the national stage will play a small part in helping Sikhs – and people of all races, faiths and orientations – be seen as part of the great American family. We Sikhs draw strength from the nonpartisan support we have received in response to the terrible tragedy in Oak Creek. …After Wednesday, I hope that […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Politics • Tags: Ishwar Singh, Republican National Convention

Ricky Gill at a fundraiser in Southern California, August 2012

GOP Candidate Ricky Gill passes on representing Sikhs again

August 28, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In his address to the Republican National Convention today, Ricky Gill, who we can only presume is a Sikh American running for Congress in California’s 9th Congressional District, passed on the unique opportunity to acknowledge our visible minority — whose recent turmoil in Oak Creek, Wisconsin occurred not a month ago — on the national stage. Certainly, Gill’s primary concern should be to represent his district. No one can fault him for focusing on the issues of his geographical constituency. […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: California, California 9th Congressional District, Ishwar Singh, Republican National Convention, Ricky Gill

Local Sikh to give Invocation during Republican National Convention on Wednesday

August 26, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

What if the Republicans or Democrats had a Sikh from WI offer their convention's invocation? What an amazing gesture to the world! #fantasy — American Turban (@americanturban) August 10, 2012 According to CNN, Ishwar Singh, President of the Sikh Society of Central Florida, is to offer the Invocation on Wednesday night during the Republican National Convention. Given the recent discussion about perceptions of Republican voters towards Sikhs, and my own sense (expressed on Twitter above) that having a Sikh provide the Invocation at […]

Categories: Events, News Bits, Politics • Tags: Ishwar Singh, Republican National Convention, Republican Party, Sikh Society of Central Florida