Bigotry, Racism And Intolerance

[DalbirSingh]

After the swindon inter religious/interracial marriage many have said the protests were wrong they were racist while we argued from the perspective of dharam faith and religion. Are we bigots and intolerant? If so how do we define bigotry and intolerance? After defining that how do we view that from sikhi.

Bigotry:

Bigotryis the state of mind of a "bigot", a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one who exhibits intolerance or animosity toward members of a group.^[1] Bigotry may be based on real or perceived characteristics, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, region, language, religious or spiritual belief, personal habits, political alignment, age, economic status or disability. Bigotry is sometimes developed into an ideology or world view.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. described bigotry in the following quotation: "The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract

Tolerance

http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Toleration

Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve". Toleration may signify “no more than forbearance and the permission given by the adherents of a dominant religion for other religions to exist, even though the latter are looked on with disapproval as inferior, mistaken or harmful”.^[1]

There is only one verb 'to tolerate' and one adjective 'tolerant', but the two nouns 'tolerance' and 'toleration' have evolved slightly different meanings. Tolerance is an attitude of mind that implies non-judgmental acceptance of different lifestyles or beliefs,^[2] whereas toleration implies putting up with something that one disapproves of.^[3]

Historically, most incidents and writings pertaining to toleration involve the status of minority and dissenting viewpoints in relation to a dominantstate religion. In the twentieth century and after, analysis of the doctrine of toleration has been expanded to include political and ethnic groups, homosexuals and other minorities, and human rights embodies the principle of legally enforced toleration.

http://en.wikipedia....ous_intolerance

Religious intolerance

The mere statement on the part of a religion that its own beliefs and practices are correct and any contrary beliefs are incorrect in itself constitutes intolerance (i.e., ideological intolerance). On the other hand, religious tolerance would mean that each person is free to chose his own faith and no other person would have a right to pass opinions on the faith of an other person. While Christianity may be the faith of A, Islam may be the faith of B. If A or B try to tell each other that the other is on the way to hell then that would be intolerance. Religious intolerance, rather, is when a group (e.g., a society, religious group, non-religious group) specifically refuses to tolerate practices, persons or beliefs on religious grounds (i.e., intolerance in practice). A similar intersection may be found between theantitheist and the theist; either party may hold the other in lower regard due to stance on the existence of a higher power, regardless of other personal qualities.

Ethnic hatred

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ethnic hatred, inter-ethnic hatred, racial hatred, or ethnic tension refers to feelings and acts of prejudice and hostility towards an ethnic group in various degrees. See list of anti-ethnic and anti-national terms for specific cases.

There are multiple origins for ethnic hatred and the resulting ethnic conflicts. In some societies it is rooted in tribalism, while in others it originates from a history of non-peaceful co-existence and the resulting actual disputed issues.

Often ethnic conflict is enhanced by nationalism and feeling of national superiority. For which reason inter-ethnic hatred borders with racism, and often the two terms are conflated.

On the opposite side, ethnic conflict may stem from the feeling of real or perceived discrimination by another ethnic group, see "reverse racism".

Ethnic hatred has often been exploited and even fueled by some political leaders to serve their agenda of seeking to consolidate the nation or gain electorate by calling for a united struggle against a common enemy (real or imaginary).^[1]

In many countries incitement to ethnic or racial hatred is a criminal offense.

http://en.wikipedia....i/Ethnic_hatred

Racism

Racism is behavior or beliefs motivated by racial stereotypes, it generally includes practices of racial discrimination, and ideologies of racial supremacy and hierarchy. Some sources emphasize that racism involves the belief that different racial groups are characterized by intrinsic characteristics or abilities and that some such groups are therefore naturally superior to others, ^[1][2] or follow practices that discriminate against members of particular racial groups,^[1] for example by perpetuating unequal access to resources between groups.^[3]

The definition of racism is controversial both because there is little scholarly agreement about what the word "race" means, and because there is also little agreement about what does and doesn't constitute discrimination.^[4] Some definitions would have it that any assumption that a person's behavior would be influenced by their racial categorization is racist, regardless of how seemingly benign such assumptions might be. Other definitions would only include conscious malignant forms of discrimination.^[5] Among the questions about how to define racism are the question of whether to include forms of discrimination that are unintentional, such as making assumptions about preferences or abilities of others based on racial stereotypes, whether to include institutionalized forms of discrimination such as the circulation of racial stereotypes through the media and whether to include the socio-political dynamics of social stratification that sometimes have a racial component.

"Racism" and "racial discrimination" are often used to describe discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent of whether these differences are described as racial. According to the United Nations conventions, there is no distinction between the terms racial discrimination and ethnicity discrimination.^[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism

[DalbirSingh]

Here is gurbani address to the above:

ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ ॥

प्रभाती ॥

Parbẖāṯī.

Prabhaatee:

ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥

अवलि अलह नूरु उपाइआ कुदरति के सभ बंदे ॥

Aval alah nūr upā▫i▫ā kuḏraṯ ke sabẖ banḏe.

First, Allah created the Light; then, by His Creative Power, He made all mortal beings.

ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥

एक नूर ते सभु जगु उपजिआ कउन भले को मंदे ॥१॥

Ėk nūr ṯe sabẖ jag upji▫ā ka▫un bẖale ko manḏe. ||1||

From the One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is bad? ||1||

ਲੋਗਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥

लोगा भरमि न भूलहु भाई ॥

Logā bẖaram na bẖūlahu bẖā▫ī.

O people, O Siblings of Destiny, do not wander deluded by doubt.

ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

खालिकु खलक खलक महि खालिकु पूरि रहिओ स्रब ठांई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

Kẖālik kẖalak kẖalak mėh kẖālik pūr rahi▫o sarab ṯẖāʼn▫ī. ||1|| rahā▫o.

The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. ||1||Pause||

ਮਾਟੀ ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਜੀ ਸਾਜਨਹਾਰੈ ॥

माटी एक अनेक भांति करि साजी साजनहारै ॥

Mātī ek anek bẖāʼnṯ kar sājī sājanhārai.

The clay is the same, but the Fashioner has fashioned it in various ways.

ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਮਾਟੀ ਕੇ ਭਾਂਡੇ ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਕੁੰਭਾਰੈ ॥੨॥

ना कछु पोच माटी के भांडे ना कछु पोच कु्मभारै ॥२॥

Nā kacẖẖ pocẖ mātī ke bẖāʼnde nā kacẖẖ pocẖ kumbẖārai. ||2||

There is nothing wrong with the pot of clay - there is nothing wrong with the Potter. ||2||

ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਸਚਾ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕਛੁ ਹੋਈ ॥

सभ महि सचा एको सोई तिस का कीआ सभु कछु होई ॥

Sabẖ mėh sacẖā eko so▫ī ṯis kā kī▫ā sabẖ kacẖẖ ho▫ī.

The One True Lord abides in all; by His making, everything is made.

ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ਸੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ਬੰਦਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਈ ॥੩॥

हुकमु पछानै सु एको जानै बंदा कहीऐ सोई ॥३॥

Hukam pacẖẖānai so eko jānai banḏā kahī▫ai so▫ī. ||3||

Whoever realizes the Hukam of His Command, knows the One Lord. He alone is said to be the Lord's slave. ||3||

ਅਲਹੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਲਖਿਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਗੁੜੁ ਦੀਨਾ ਮੀਠਾ ॥

अलहु अलखु न जाई लखिआ गुरि गुड़ु दीना मीठा ॥

Alhu alakẖ na jā▫ī lakẖi▫ā gur guṛ ḏīnā mīṯẖā.

The Lord Allah is Unseen; He cannot be seen. The Guru has blessed me with this sweet molasses.

SGGS ANG 1349-1350

[DalbirSingh]

ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਕੋਊ ਰਾਫਜੀ ਇਮਾਮ ਸਾਫੀ ਮਾਨਸ ਕੀ ਜਾਤਿ ਸਬੈ ਏਕੈ ਪਹਿਚਾਨਬੋ ॥

Someone is Hindu and someone a Muslim, then someone is Shia, and someone a Sunni, but all the human beings, as a species, are recognized as one and the same.

ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੀਮ ਸੋਈ ਰਾਜਕ ਰਹੀਮ ਓਈ ਦੂਸਰੋ ਨ ਭੇਦ ਕੋਈ ਭੂਲਿ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਮਾਨਬੋ ॥

Karta (The Creator) and Karim (Merciful) is the same Lord, Razak (The Sustainer) and Rahim (Compassionate) is the same Lord, there is no other second, therefore consider this verbal distinguishing feature of Hindusim and Islam as an error and an illusion.

ਏਕ ਹੀ ਕੀ ਸੇਵ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਕੋ ਗੁਰਦੇਵ ਏਕ ਏਕ ਹੀ ਸਰੂਪ ਸਬੈ ਏਕੈ ਜੋਤ ਜਾਨਬੋ ॥੧੫॥੮੫॥

Thus worship the ONE LORD, who is the common enlightener of all; all have been created in His Image and amongst all comprehend the same ONE LIGHT. 15.85.

ਦੇਹਰਾ ਮਸੀਤ ਸੋਈ ਪੂਜਾ ਔ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਓਈ ਮਾਨਸ ਸਬੈ ਏਕ ਪੈ ਅਨੇਕ ਕੋ ਭ੍ਰਮਾਉ ਹੈ ॥

The temple and the mosque are the same, there is no difference between a Hindu worship and Muslim prayer; all the human beings are the same, but the illusion is of various types.

ਦੇਵਤਾ ਅਦੇਵ ਜੱਛ ਗੰਧ੍ਰਬ ਤੁਰਕ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨਿਆਰੇ ਨਿਆਰੇ ਦੇਸਨ ਕੇ ਭੇਸ ਕੋ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਉ ਹੈ ॥

The gods, demons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Turks and Hindus… all these are due to the differences of the various garbs of different countries.

ਏਕੈ ਨੈਨ ਏਕੈ ਕਾਨ ਏਕੈ ਦੇਹ ਏਕੈ ਬਾਨ ਖਾਕ ਬਾਦ ਆਤਿਸ ਔ ਆਬ ਕੋ ਰਲਾਉ ਹੈ ॥

The eyes are the same, the ears the same, the bodies are the same and the habits are the same, all the creation is the amalgam of earth, air, fire and water.

ਅਲਹ ਅਭੇਖ ਸੋਈ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਅਉ ਕੁਰਾਨ ਓਈ ਏਕ ਹੀ ਸਰੂਪ ਸਭੈ ਏਕ ਹੀ ਬਨਾਉ ਹੈ ॥੧੬॥੮੬॥

Allah of Muslims and Abhekh (Guiseless) of Hindus are the same, the Puranas of Hindus and the holy Quran of the Muslims depict the same reality; all have been created in the image of the same Lord and have the same formation. 16.86.

ਜੈਸੇ ਏਕ ਆਗ ਤੇ ਕਨੂਕਾ ਕੋਟਿ ਆਗ ਉਠੈ ਨਿਆਰੇ ਨਿਆਰੇ ਹੁਇ ਕੈ ਫੇਰਿ ਆਗ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਾਹਿਂਗੇ ॥

जैसे एक आग ते कनूका कोटि आग उठै निआरे निआरे हुइ कै फेरि आग मै मिलाहिंगे ॥

Just as millions of sparks are created from the fire; although they are different entities, they merge in the same fire.

ਜੈਸੇ ਏਕ ਧੂਰਿ ਤੇ ਅਨੇਕ ਧੂਰਿ ਪੂਰਤ ਹੈ ਧੂਰਿ ਕੇ ਕਨੂਕਾ ਫੇਰ ਧੂਰਿ ਹਿ ਸਮਾਹਿਂਗੇ

Just as from of waves are created on the surface of the big rivers and all the waves are called water.

ਜੈਸੇ ਏਕ ਨਦ ਤੇ ਤੰਰਗ ਕੋਟਿ ਉਪਜਤ ਹੈਂ ਪਾਨਿ ਕੇ ਤਰੰਗ ਸਬੈ ਪਾਨਿ ਹੀ ਕਹਾਹਿਂਗੇ ॥

Similarly the animate and inanimate objects come out of the Supreme Lord; having been created from the same Lord, they merge in the same Lord. 17.87.

Sri Dasam Granth 51 of 2326

[Singh559]

No we're not racist biggots of course, but I think the protest may have been handled in a more Gurmat manner. They did a good job and such marriages should be stopped because it's turning matha tek (bowing your head in front of the Guru) as a mere ritual. This is an attempt to prevent the ritualization of Sikhi and set an example that people (including sehajdhari Sikhs and those who believe in Guru Granth Sahib) to understand what Anand Karaj is and what promises you're making.

If the guy wasn't a Sikh, why was he getting Anand Karaj done? Can you answer this DalbirSingh? Was it just to make the family of the girl happy? Isn't that just them being in denial? Would like an answer.

Yes, we are all One, but going against turning Anand Karaj into an empty ritual doesn't go against any of the Gurbani you posted from Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib.

[Pyara]

I must admit, the nature of some of the posts I am reading on sikhsangat.com and some facebook postings I have come across post-Swindon do suggest the above.

I am surprised why the mods on sikhsangat have allowed some of the postings on the recent threads mocking race and ethnic origin. Also the continuous demonisation of the family from Swindon is now turning into nothing more than cyber-bullying.

I stand strong on safeguarding the maryada of the Anand Karaj but draw the line on these immature racial slurs. Mods need to act quicker and recognise when a post is openly racist or mocking an individual group of people.

[SarabhaPanjab]

I must admit, the nature of some of the posts I am reading on sikhsangat.com and some facebook postings I have come across post-Swindon do suggest the above.

I am surprised why the mods on sikhsangat have allowed some of the postings on the recent threads mocking race and ethnic origin. Also the continuous demonisation of the family from Swindon is now turning into nothing more than cyber-bullying.

I stand strong on safeguarding the maryada of the Anand Karaj but draw the line on these immature racial slurs. Mods need to act quicker and recognise when a post is openly racist or mocking an individual group of people.

True, well said, mod need to step up and quickly remove racist/childish and unproductive posts.

This issue is to preserve the Sanctity of our beautiful Sacred Anand Karaj ceremony as a whole, find solution to the daily abuse of Anand karaj from all communities, including the biggest culprit our own.

We need a clear, concise and firm message that; Sikhs are not defined by skin tone, nationality, place of birth, gender, language spoken,or their first name.

A Sikh comes in all colours and nationalities.

A Sikh respects all major purathan faiths, and has always been on the front line to defend the rights of others.

[Shamshere]

Yes we can be racist. Whether that's to black people here or to bhaiyas and other migrant workers in Punjab.

But in general we're quite tolerant.

[Pyara]

Yes we can be racist. Whether that's to black people here or to bhaiyas and other migrant workers in Punjab.

And that's probably why today the Dera-vaad culture is so predominant in the land of the Gurus!

It's bigotry that drives the migrant in Punjab to the charan of the dehdhari or church where he feels accepted

[N30S1NGH]

If we think about punjabiyat culture itself is quite racist to begin with..racism in punjabiyaat culture definitely has the influence from hindu caste system. Punjabiyaat culture have shoved Gurmat into small close end tunnel by superimposing its own view on Sikhi...you will see its effect not on a large scale but its still there in the panth but more evidently so for eg- singh sabha gurdwaras full of jatts- non jatt cannot be member in the committe, ramgharia gurdwara- same stuff, ravidas gurdwaras- same stuff, jatha engaing in karam kaand rituals and discrimating like pandits, discrimation within mahant system- udasi, nirmale, nihangs jathedaris- seperate amrit for mazhbhi sikhs, during amrit sanchar if muslim wants to convert to khalsa panth they have to bury him under sand to purify his "tats" also have muslims eat pork before converting..may be during those times make sense- precaution against inflitration but making it into permanent maryada and hold any value at this current age is going against gurmat.

[Pyara]

If we think about punjabiyat culture is quite racist to begin with..racism in punjabiyaat culture definitely has the influence from hindu caste system. Punjabiyaat culture have shoved Sikhi into small close end tunnel by superimposing its own view on Sikhi eg- singh sabha gurdwaras full of jatts, ramgharia gurdwaras, ravidas gurdwaras, discrimation within mahant system- udasi, nirmale, nihangs jathedaris- seperate amrit for mahbhi sikhs.

And ironically we proudly tell non-Sikhs the stories of diverse equality when in 1699 a khatri from Lahore, jat from Hastinapur, tailor from Dwarka, water carrier from Jaganath Puri and barber from Bidar initiated the Khalsa Nation. But behind closed doors, after over 300 years, we are still disgusted with one another because of our ethnic, caste or national origins...