To: Wade Michael Page, the man who shot & killed 6 innocent SIkhs in Gurdwara Sahib Wisconsin, USA on 5th Aug 2012
From: All SIkhs
Subject: An Open Letter to You, Our Friend. Sure to move your heart.
Dear Wade Michael Page,
When we raise
our children we instill in them the sacrifices that were made in our
history. How our Guru Ji’s taught us to defend others, to put humanity
in front of all of our actions. Yesterday I had to tell my son about
your hate, I had to explain to him how his small turban may cause him
may make him the target of unjust hate and as a parent I welcome that.
I welcome that my children get strength from these challenges in life, I
welcome that they question who they are, why they are as these are the
foundations of spiritual development. Some may want to shelter their
children from every storm, from every challenge, yet I owe it to my
forefathers who laid down their lives for our identity, to those who
stood steadfast in the face of any challenge.
My dear misguided
friend you felt powerful holding a gun, and firing at innocent people,
you felt that your mission and your message was going to clearly
resonate and create an environment of fear within us. I can assure you
failed badly in this, as the community you chose to target has seen much
worse, has endured even a price on their heads yet they did not give up
their faith, their identity is still intact.
Our message has
always been of tolerance and acceptance, the governments failed, the
media failed to allow the SIkhs to explain their identity, so people
like you made us easy targets to direct hate towards. Our children were
bullied, our community was discriminated against, we were heckled,
attacked and even killed yet we did not fold under this pressure. In a
decade of constant images you and others have made us the face of the
enemy, knowing nothing about us, not knowing the fact that the enemy you
just started fighting a decade ago we had been against since our
existence. The enemy of hate of terrorism of forcing beliefs is what we
have made a living standing against. We upheld religious freedom, we
upheld even those beliefs we did not ourselves believe in yet you did
not educate yourself of the difference.
We even welcome that,
we pride ourselves of standing in the front lines to absorb hate, this
is what our identity is about. It is not mistaken, if you thought we
were Muslim or you did not does not matter to us, as nobody should be
the target of such a crime. Our identity puts us in the forefront of
constantly shaping our resolve we do not feel it a burden, in fact it is
our biggest strength.
Unfortunately this is not the first, nor
do I think will be the last attack on SIkhs because we are an easily
identifiable minority. Each morning when a Sikh has tied a turban, they
have fully known that this distinguishes them from the rest, it makes
them stand out, it opens the opportunity for ridicule, for hate,
discrimination and bullying, yet despite all that they continue to do
so. Such is the spirit of the SIkhs for their article of faith. The
turban is not just a symbol; it is a part of every Sikh that ties them
to something greater, something that connects them to their roots, and
their spirituality.
Wade Page you chose the wrong group of
people, fear is not in our vocabulary. The fact is that out of all the
massacres, nobody tried to attack the shooter, yet in the Sikh massacre
even while you had the more powerful weapon, a Sikh tried to stop you.
SIkhs resolve is robust, and though many in our community try to
assimilate to fit in when tragedy strikes, there are an ample number of
those who use this to strengthen their commitments to their faith.
Aryan nation/KKK whoever is out there, we did nothing to deserve this
sort of hate, yet it is ok, you brought the fight to the right group of
people we have defended others against what you stand for throughout our
history and can continue to do so, you want to see less turbans? You
will only see more now, as this is the way our psyche works.
Your hate and bigotry is water for the seeds of our perseverance. We
don’t just pray for the betterment of all; we are willing to back it up
with action. You wanted to break us, to make us fear, to make us
question our identities, my friend you have only done the opposite.
Wade, wherever you are now, please do try to find Aurangzeb, and
Zakareya Khan and talk to them, discuss with them how you all have
collectively failed to make even a dent on the SIkhs, and while you are
there also let Bin Laden know that his image may have hurt the turban,
but we will never give it up and vow to restore its glory not as a
symbol of fanaticism or hate, but as a symbol of justice, equality and
spirituality.
