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“Letters Home” by Preeti Kaur

August 17, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Writer Preeti Kaur pens “Letters Home”, a poem in tribute to the victims of the Oak Creek, Wisconsin shooting. An excerpt: america: enter the gurdwara door is open our bare feet like cracked glass our covered heads bulletproof from ego we turn our backs on bellingham build our gurdwaras from post traumatic cinder of bombed birmingham black church nina simone sings tera bhaana meetha laage to tune of mississippi goddamn gunpowder lines noses of children left behind wailing mummy papa […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Literature • Tags: Gurdwara, hate crimes, Oak Creek, Poetry, Preeti Kaur, Wisconsin

PGA golf pro Arjun Atwal, others to wear saffron ribbons in memory of WI victims

August 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“My family and I knew we had to do something to help the victims of this horrible tragedy right after we heard about it” said Atwal, who is from India and a Sikh. “I know that we can’t bring any of the victims back, but we wanted to help out as much as we can to honor and bring awareness to those involved.” — PGA Tour golf pro Arjun Atwal discusses donning a saffron-c0lored ribbon this week in tribute to […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Arjun Atwal, Gurdwara, Oak Creek, PGA Tour, Wisconsin

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Murdered Sikh in armed robbery was member of Oak Creek, WI Gurdwara

August 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Still grieving and recovering from their attack less than two weeks ago, another tragedy has reportedly befallen the Oak Creek, Wisconsin Sikh community: Multiple media outlets are reporting that a 50-year-old man fatally shot during an armed robbery attempt in Milwaukee was a member of the Oak Creek Sikh temple. Dalbir Singh, 50, was killed about 9 p.m. during a robbery at the Harmony Food Store near 38th and Locust, according to Patch’s media partners at Fox 6. The shooting […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Dalbir Singh, Gurdwara, hate crimes, Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Santokh Singh, Wisconsin

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Wherefore art thou, Ricky Gill?

August 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I have written several times about Ranjit “Ricky” Gill, the Republican Party candidate for Congress in California’s 9th Congressional District. Gill is challenging Democratic Party incumbent Jerry McNerney for the seat. Gill, 25, is the son of Sikh physicians in the Stockton, California area. Much of the donations to his campaign have come from the Sikh community, as well as interests in the healthcare and agricultural industries. The northern California constituency for which Gill is contesting is an area that […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Politics • Tags: California, California 9th Congressional District, Gurdwara, Jerry McNerney, Oak Creek, Ricky Gill, Stockton, Wisconsin

Reflecting on the week that was

August 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This time last week was the day-after of the Oak Creek, Wisconsin Gurdwara shooting, and I found myself still processing through what had happened the day before: It was only yesterday that I was randomly switching channels to watch my one of my favorite cable news shows, but was instead confronted with bold headlines sprawled across the screen: “WISCONSIN,” “SIKH,” “SHOOTING,” “TEMPLE.” It would take me a few moments to absorb. Innocent Sikh men, women and children were being attacked […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Reflections • Tags: Gurdwara, hate crimes, Oak Creek, Totella, Wisconsin

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Picture of the Day: Sikh children in CA reach out to WI Gurdwara victims

August 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Sikhs in San Jose, California, held an art therapy event for Sikh children at the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib San Jose on Sunday. Read more about the motivation behind the event to help children express their feelings about the tragedy.

Categories: Art, Hate Crimes, Picture of the Day • Tags: art therapy, Children, Gurdwara, hate crimes, Oak Creek, San Jose, Sikh Gurdwara Sahib San Jose, Wisconsin

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Reader: Sikhs should abolish the turban

August 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A reader writes: SSakal – The question of the turban as an identification mark of a Singh/Sikh is the key. Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa and gave them 5 ritual markings to carry as an identification: K – Kes (long hair) K – Kanga (comb) K – Karah (bangle) K – Kashera (underwear) K – Kirpan (dagger) Here lies the Truth. The Guru has never dictated, advocated or commanded His followers to wear a sixth article: T – Turban D […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Sikhism • Tags: Dastar, Gurdwara, Guru Gobind Singh, hate crimes, hukamnama, Oak Creek, Rajdeep Singh, Sikh Coalition, Turban, Washington Post, Wisconsin

Helping children understand the WI Gurdwara tragedy

August 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

During the week, I was interviewed by the editor of masalamommas.com Anjum Choudhry Nayyar, in which she discusses the use of social media by mothers to help children deal with the tragic shooting last week at the Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin: Many of us, as moms, can play a role in raising awareness about different cultures and tolerance right here in our own homes. While time isn’t always on our side, common sense is. If we can arm our […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Resources • Tags: Gurdwara, hate crimes, Masala Mommas, Oak Creek, resources for children, Sikh Coalition, Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Gurdwara shootings: charting a path forward

August 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

It has been nearly a week since the shooting at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin Gurdwara. Yesterday, the memorial and funeral services were held for the six victims who did not survive. I pray that the Divine Spirit accepts their souls, and for the recovery of the critically injured. The loss of those from this physical realm can only be truly appreciated by their families and friends. The souls of the departed continue on their journey. In their memory, we must press forward and not […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Reflections • Tags: funeral, Gurdwara, hate crimes, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Wisconsin

“Letters Home” by Preeti Kaur

PGA golf pro Arjun Atwal, others to wear saffron ribbons in memory of WI victims

Murdered Sikh in armed robbery was member of Oak Creek, WI Gurdwara

Wherefore art thou, Ricky Gill?

Reflecting on the week that was

Picture of the Day: Sikh children in CA reach out to WI Gurdwara victims

Reader: Sikhs should abolish the turban

Helping children understand the WI Gurdwara tragedy

Wisconsin Gurdwara shootings: charting a path forward