What happens in the next few days is vital

[jagjit_waheguru]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Pyare jio, I am sorry to dampen anyone emotions of any victory, because there is none. Whether the play is cancelled, or whether it is staged at another venue, we still have alot of seva to do.

We need to look at BBC news, and it shows a sikh leader who speech had good content, but was not articulate. The opposing (muslim- I think) woman who spoke for freedom of speech was articulate. Plus the BBC showing the full press statements of the Rep are giving them good communication, but we have very little. As sikhs we are still not getting our message across.

Today, and the next few days, there is intense media interest in sikhs and this play. We can use this opportunity to do alot of good parchaar, or as is happening now, we can lose spectacularly by being shown as fanatics. We as sikhs need to be far more prominent and mature with our vioces on TV, radio debates and messageboards. The next 3 days are vital, after that it will fizzle out, unless another theatre takes on the play. If this is the case, we need to play a media campaign aswell as disciplined protests.

The completely irresponsible writings of a poor writer has led to alot of emotions. As sikhs we have always felt we are very tolerant. From today, and for the next few days the media campaign is essential to show this, and counter the blatant cryings of censorship. The Birmingham sikh spokespersons have been very sensible in thier statement stating that we are not happy with the play being cancelled. We never asked for that. We just asked for any links or connatations towards the sikh religion and its gurdwaras to be removed and set in

a community centre. This clearly shows we are not censoring anyone, but being accomodating. However the actions of the Rep and possibly another Theatre are showing they are being completely "fanatical" in their willing to show this play only in their way, no matter how false its protrayal and content. This is completely irresponsible. Freedom is speech is a right that sikhs have always supported, and even the 9th Guru gave his life for. However the freedom of speech should be factual in nature. However clearly in this case it is sensationalist, and intentionally set of creating publicity by causing as much controversy as possible.

PLEASE REMEMBER - no one has won and everyone has lost. Wounds have been created for no reason at all, from an immature writer. Lets now show a Gurmat response in terms of media representaion from sikhs on TV, radio debates and especially messageboards on new channels.

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

[Khalsa04]

Excellent response jio.

Fateh.

[gatkagrl]

i heard something about Sikhs and free speech on BBC today but i could only catch the ending of the story.......can someone please explain whats going on??