Hi all,
From: JESSICA DS <[email protected]>
Subject: [Goanet]British Sikhs pay homage to Pope John Paul II Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 19:34:27 -0400
(The pope's expression of "great sadness" at the Indian army assault on theNasci says:
Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984, was an example of the late pope's support,
the federation said in a statement.)
The statement by the Pope was not an expression of support for the sikh extremists storing/hidung large amount of weapons etc. in the Golden Temple for terrorist activities against a duly constituted Govt. at the time! It was just an expression of 'sadness' that the assault happened. No religious or political community should expect a free ride, in committing acts of terror and murder' which were abundant in those days; more so in a democracy, where they had access to various avenues to have their say! When Indira Gandhi told these extremists to contest the elections, they shied away from it; hence they are in no way different from the muslim extremists of today.
(The pontiff also voiced his "universal horror and dismay" at the massacres of
up to 20,000 Sikhs in November 1984 after the assassination of Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards.)
Nasci says:
This should not have happened; It is a great tragedy, which should not have happened. But it did; it only shows that there are many more of Narendra Modi and his gang type in many parts of Hindu India, and not only in Gujerat.
A Melbourne Taxi had a sign on the rear windshield: " India get out of Khalisthan! " When I was alongside this taxi at a signal stop; I wound down my window and asked the Sardar driver: where the hell is Khalisthan? He had no answer. I know now, why there are 'Pat jokes and Sardar jokes'.
(More recently the pope had intervened in the French debate about the wearing
of religious symbols in schools saying it was an "inalienable right" of Sikhs
in France to practice and propagate their faith and said "no government should
interfere with the inner core of any religion.")
Nasci says: If the Pope had said this, then he is wrong! I do not think that wearing of turbans and Khadda and carrying a khukri is any sort of 'Dogma' with the sikhs; I know of many persons who are better sikhs when not following these socio religious fashions! I also knew of many sikhs who used to use their 'turbans' to smuggle watches, gold and what not by hiding the same in their turbans. Perhaps even now, some persons wearing turbans may be abusing turbans likewise. I dare the Indian Police, Customs and other civil authorities to examine cumpulsoriy, all turbans, where need be! I,m sure these extremists will then 'riot' in the name of religious practice. What a hocus pocus!
The sikhs who are not wearing 'tubans and or Khaddas and kukhris will reach 'Heaven' first; less weight, and free from a guilt conscience or sin!!
I do not understand why the 'Sikhs' who are such a nice people / community, cannot get together and disown all these external trappings; and comply with present day world trends. Yes, the French people and Govt. are right in banning these and other so called religious symbols etc in public; I would politely ask the British too, to ban turban wear by sikh drivers and conductors on London and Manchester buses. and other muslims wearing their symbols etc in public. Why not?? To hell with all these public atrocities. Lets have a new world order !
Nasci Caldeira Melbourne Down Under
