what?

The essence of Sikhism is not diluted because the people you speak of and the scenarios you described are by no means condoned by our religion. Your post pretty much describes the negative aspects of our culture and people. Don't associate all that garbage with Sikhi. It's just a matter of bad people who think like coconuts. The moment someone "hijacks" Sikhism all value and bliss is lost, especially by those who claim to be a part of particular castes, drink and eat meat in the same household showing beautiful portraits of our Guru's. 115485[/snapback] Sunny...you better read my post again. There is a question that I asked you to answer, you didn't do that. Furthermore, I am not concerned with other religions that indeed have their own bad aspects, I am at this moment in time, concerned with my religion. You say that the actions and scenarios that I speak of are not condoned by this religion...it's happening and nothing is being done about it, people would rather not deal with it and sweep it under that carpet. You say that I am describing the negative aspects of our culture and people... Yes. I am. These aspects are there for everyone to see and they are rife amongst us, which means that there is complacency and ignorance within our religion (yes all the other religions are ignorant and whatever too, but I'm concerned about Sikhism) and these issues should be dealt with and sorted out, if not the religion will falter, is faltering, divisions have already occured, there is in-fighting in gurdwara's all over, because people have lost the essence of Sikhism. It's not all happy and shiny...don't overlook this...it needs to be dealt with. And answer my question...am I wrong?

I have been brought up as a sikh...not to discriminate against anyone by creed or colour. I've been brought up in a fairly strict, yet liberal environment. I'm lucky in that even though I live in a rough area, I don't get much racial abuse. A pretty happy world really. Till I fell in love with a girl from the "wrong" caste. Racial abuse from people within your own religion, because you're from a different caste? In a religion that isn't meant to have castes? I didn't even know much about castes within Sikhism till this episode occured. Now I find out that there are like 10 or more castes. Shook my world to the core. I discovered the lowly views each caste has against other castes. How in the apparently Superior Jatt caste, it's a norm to beat up your wife, your daughter, your sister, your son, drink till you are paralytic...then beat up anyone in your path and refer to your female family members as <admin-profanity filter activated>/slag/<admin-profanity filter activated>/<admin-profanity filter activated>. (Obviously, this isn't the case in every jatt house...but i'm told it is in a very high percentage...one of my best friends is jatt and it doesn't happen in his house, so don't think I'm making assuptions from one single case). So...I'd like to marry this girl, but apparently I can't, due to differences on both sides...(yes, these cross caste marriages do occur more often these days, but how many members of both families are actually happy about it), I can't...and her brother would like to kill me...and her for that matter...even though I'm from a pretty decent background, don't drink, don't eat meat, don't cut my hair, have never had sex with anyone never mind white/black/oriental/asian girls or any of the other normal "he's bad cos of..." reasons So am I completely wrong in thinking that this whole situation and the many like it, is a complete farce and the whole essence of Sikhism has been diluted, hijacked by anyone with an ego, the gift of the gab and a little "knowledge" of the scriptures and a lot of bad vibes within them? It would be less controversial and easier...for me to marry a white girl, then to marry a girl from a different caste...even though the requirements for the Anand Karaj are thus: So...please...tell me..."Voice of the Sikh Youth" What do you think about this? (And no I'm not a coconut, I do know about my religion and I'm not of particularly low intelligence)