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"President Barack Obama speaks to members of the Muslim-American community at the Islamic Society of Baltimore." (Source: ThinkProgress.org)

Obama addresses cultural attitudes around Muslims

February 4, 2016 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Over his two terms, President Obama has recognized the Sikh community (and seems comfortable in doing so) perhaps more than any other US president in history. In his recent speech at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, he makes reference to the Sikh American community as victims of anti-Islamic bigotry in the United States. However, it was lacking in specific proposals to help counter America’s Islamophobia.

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Interfaith, Politics • Tags: Baltimore, Barack Obama, Islamophobia, Maryland, President of the United States

The "National Gurdwara" on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C. (source: Panoramio)

Washington, DC’s National Gurdwara to reopen

May 17, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh News Network is reporting that the National Gurdwara, the ill-fated Sikh house of worship located prominently in Washington, D.C.’s “Embassy Row”, will be reopening under new ownership after it was formally closed last year due to financial issues for several years. The closing of this Gurdwara in such a prominent location came to the dismay of many in the Sikh community. After several parties expressed interest, the Gurdwara has been purchased by the Jaswant Sawhney Irrevocable Charitable Trust, […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Embassy Row, Gurdwara, Jaswant Sawhney Irrevocable Charitable Trust, Maryland, National Gurdwara, Pingalwara, Washington D.C.

From “kid to kid” in Rockville, MD

April 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Hana Kaur Mangat, a thirteen-year-old from Potomac, Maryland, discusses a movie she and others made to educate about Sikhism called “Sikh Kid to Kid”: “It’s all kids, because it’s directed toward kids,” Hana said. “I think kids would be more intrigued by other kids rather than by having adults explain (Sikhism) to them.” Read more at the Maryland Gazette.

Categories: Profiles, Sikhism • Tags: Hana Kaur Mangat, Maryland, Rockville, Sikh Kid to Kid, Sikhism

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

Sikhism featured in nationally-airing documentary

April 6, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Coming to public television stations around the country is the documentary “The Asian & Abrahamic Religions: A Divine Encounter in America“: “The Asian and Abrahamic Religions: A Divine Encounter in America” explores the beliefs, practices and rituals of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism. Examining the similarities and differences with the Abrahamic religions, how they perceive each other, confront prejudice and stereotypes and how they can understand and respect one another. The primary aim of the documentary is to demystify the Asian religions; […]

Categories: Events, Interfaith • Tags: Asian Art Museam, Bruce La Brack, California, Jasbir Singh Kang, Jerry Krell, Jessi Kaur, Maryland, Narinder Singh Kapany, PBS, Rockville, San Francisco, SCORE, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, The Asian and Abrahamic Religions: A Divine Encounter in America, Yuba City

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Maryland