amorphous_singh

Well speaking as someone born and brought up in the UK but also as someone who has also spent a fair amount of time in Canada in the last few years and in fact nearly ended up working in at least 2 Canadian Universities (long story - don't ask) I always find that the Candians I come across are barely aware of their own country; of what lies in all it's vastness and of it's history (what there is of that todate). I find them very influenced by the USA, TV is mostly USA, the news is all USA driven (not surprising) and I find them all fascinated by British accents - get over that :-)) Sure they know about Toronto and Vancouver and Alberta and possibly they've heard of Halifax,NS due to the weather reports but outside of this their scope of knowledge about Canada is very narrow. Now I'm not saying that the situation is any different in other countries; but at least we in the UK know the grass is mostly greener elsewhere; but the Canadian's I meet actually do think the grass is green; but after a bit of a discussion it often turns out that this is based only on their own little patch as they've never seen the rest - and I accept that this is one hell of a generalization to make and might well be to do with the type of people I end up taking to. I recall one time that I was discussing poverty and homelessness with a friend when I was in Ontario and she commented that when she had been in London,UK that she was shocked at the number of rough sleepers/down-and-outs etc that there were here. I commented that I had had to step over many a homeless person shivering in the crazy cold temperatures you get whilst walking around Younge and ajoining streets whilst downtown. She didnt believe me as she hadnt seen any in her life. It turned out that this was because her life that had been spent in an enclosed narrow confine (both geographically and socially) meaning that these things hadnt registered and so long as she was seeing happy smiley faces in banal feel good soaps/comedies and getting plenty of donuts and coffee from Tim Hortons and that as far as she was aware that there were no issues in her home town then heck there couldnt be any in any other parts of Canada. So I took to Younge one day, and we stayed there a long time and we saw numerous homeless, crazy people who looked and acted like they should be in institutions and when night drew in and she saw the Toronto packs wandering around in a drunken stupor it was quite enlightening. And when we were actually threatened by a crazy man she was scared to death. My London streetwise skills came in more than handy that day/night. So what the point of all of this - nothing really except to say; sure it's a nice country but you got to cast your net wider sometimes. I actually quite like Canada; but then again I quite like the UK but I see neither of them through rose tinted glasses. One of may favourite authors is Will Ferguson, a Canadian; who writes a lot about Canada as it goes. If you've never read anything by him; then give him a go. Try "Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw" which is subtitled "Travels in Search of Canada". I def. want to go to Victoria after reading his chapter on that - more British and crazier than the British; if he's to be believed. By the way - I accept my comments are generalizations ;-0 No animals were harmed in the posting of this entry. Over and out.

Some pictures from the above protest: Hope to see all of these and many more present at the Sikh Day of Protest on Friday 8th July - see http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=12037 Show you care about Sikh Human Rights and the denial of Sikhs in France to openly practise their religion by attending the Sikh Day of Protest.

Earlier today I attended the "Back the London 2012 Bid Event" at Mile End Park Stadium. During this event Baba Fauja Singh, the 90 year old Sikh runner attempted to set 8 world records. Backed and supported by a team of Sikh runners he managed to break 5 world records and narrowly missed out on one more. The events were as follows: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, Mile (and 1500m), 5000m (and 3000m), afraid I don't recall exactly which records he broke or the names of most of the other athletes, but I managed to take a fair number of pictures. Once the information on records is made publicly available I'm sure someone will share it here. Fauja Singh was trully awe inspiring, it's the third time I've met him (and the second I've had my picture taken with him - yipee) - and he doesnt look a day older than the last time :-) I just wish that more members of the Sikh community had come along to show their support. Anyhow here's a few pics. Some supporters: Fauja Singh has a brief rest between events: A few more supporters: Fauja Singh in action: Another brief rest before the next event: The runners begin to line up for the gruelling 5000m: Some encouragement and a bottle of water: It's a race to the finish - actually the Singh in the black dastaar was already more than a lap ahead and won the 5000m way ahead of the other runners: A well deserved rest: Amrik Singh from Glasgow; who has run in untold marathons around the world, and always with his kirpan on he told me proudly: Some of the kids present - tried their hand (feet?) at the long jump? Some group shots: Congrats from the official who was monitoring the times and world record attempts: At the end every one was invited to take part in a lap of honour: And some people just had to take it seriously!! Guilty as charged - your honour!

Erm ..... amended from a slogan used by Muslims; "One voice - our choice In Turban - we rejoice" Could works as a slogan on the day!

As a slogan the following scans but doesnt quite make sense - the sentiment is there but well ..... at least it scans :-) "G8 - stop French Hate!"

Here's one that should appeal across all religions who are affected by the actions of the French. As always - it's just a suggestion - improve/amend etc: "Stop French religious discrimination" For those of you with French skills - please try some word play on French words Also you might want to search around for slogans that have been used by Muslims etc in their protests against the ban and amend/use as necessary. Google is your friend!

We also need slogans; something that rhymns and scans always works better. Here's one - not too good but I'm sure you can all improve upon it: "Back off Chirac" "We want our Turban Back" Which could work with two different groups chanting the 2 lines one after the other for effect.

Another - improve/amend etc ..... "Stop Chirac's racist war!"

Another - please improve/amend, use as necessary: "Turban ban! Non merci!"

Another - please improve/amend etc as appropriate "French Sikhs denied an education"

Time to pump up the volume. Here's a potential idea for a banner/placard - just something to get started - please come up with better ideas: "Non! To Turban ban in France"

Here' a quick attempt to try and make the last image "less dark". It's only a quick attempt - it is possible to do better. This is after adjusting the colour levels in Gimp (as this is at work I only have gimp-1.2 on Solaris; better results are possible using Gimp-2.2; which I only have at home). Anyhow here you go - and if you want to try it yourself; get hold of gimp (www.gimp.org) for your platform and go to Image --> Colours --> Levels --> and then adjust Output Levels and play with those. It's a bit grainy and the colours might be off but it is a bit lighter than the original:

Please see the very first post in this thread - complete with attached graphic. But just to confirm: The Sikh Day of Protest is Friday the 8th of July; outside the Indian High Commission from 3-5pm. (NB: There are other protests on other days - that have been advertised recently; but the Sikh Day of Protest is as above on the 8th.)

Your thought is correct and I concur 100% with you. The Sikh Day of Protest was announced previous to this announcement. It would have been really good if everyone had joined into together and helped make that a success instead of having a seperate set of protests. However I shall go along on Friday (1st July) and will show my support for those Sikhs who have been detained and tortured in India but I will also be handing out postcards for the Sikh Day of Protest on the 8th. In the same way that I shall be along side this protest (as the cause is the same) I shall be expecting and encouraging them to come along on the 8th and to the lobby day on the 12th. Not sure who Sikh Youth UK (mentioned in the release below) is but the name is very similar to Young Sikhs UK - just to be clear, they are not the same organisation.

Toronto sangat, there has been a great deal of interest in this idea and momentum seems to be gathering. There have been many follow ups (with suggestions etc) on the original thread at http://tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=41205&t=41205 Please take this opportunity to make yourselves heard. I feel like flying over for it myself :-)

Last one ..... promise!

And here's another .....

Such was the level of attendance that many of the attendees had to stand around the sides of the committee room.

Another picture from 11th Nov 2004 Lobby Day. The 2 young Sikh men at the front, nearest the camera are two of the three French Sikhs who presented their case against the French ban on the Dastaar. There was an empassioned and loudly applauded speech from the French Sikhs.

Some of the hundreds of Sikhs who were present at the 11th Nov 2004 Lobby Day - a large proportion of those present were from the Sikh Youth and had come from as far away as Leicester, Wolverhampton and Bristol.

Some other pictures from the Cenotaph, 11th Nov 2004.

Additionally 11th Nov. 2004 was Remembrance Day and along side all the other wreaths that were laid at the Cenotaph in London was one laid by Dabinderjit Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh in remembrance of those who had been slain in 1984. A picture of the Sikh Wreath laid at the Cenotaph in London:

From 11th Nov 2004 - Sikh Lobby Day - London. Picture of some of the MPs present to hear presentations. Many other MPs were present during the day. Prominent in the centre are Rob Marris MP (Lab. Wolverhampton South West) and Dominc Grieve MP Con. Beaconsfield). If you can't spot your MP then contact them now to ensure that they come to the next lobby day on Tuesday 12 July 2005

Looks like Jagtar Singh beat me to the picture posting :-)

Over the next few days I'll try and post a few pics from previous lobby days. Got to locate them now.... *groan* :-)