Sikhs /Sikhi in UK vs USA

[Premi5]

@GurjantGnostic

@californiasardar

what do you think are the main differences in the way Sikhs are viewed in your country vs UK?

over here, most of the older generations know something about Sikhs  - not everyone for sure, some think we are Hindus or confuse us with Muslims (!) or Arabs(!)

The USA has little connected empirical history with Sikhs and Sikh populations have been generally more spread out.

Also, you have significant white convert population.

Outside of educated types, do you think most Americans don’t know about Sikhs and if so, do they think when they we a turban it is a Muslim? 
 

serious question, as I know Sikhs have experienced significant hate crimes and murders in the US

[GurjantGnostic]

1 hour ago, Premi5 said:

@GurjantGnostic

@californiasardar

what do you think are the main differences in the way Sikhs are viewed in your country vs UK?

over here, most of the older generations know something about Sikhs  - not everyone for sure, some think we are Hindus or confuse us with Muslims (!) or Arabs(!)

The USA has little connected empirical history with Sikhs and Sikh populations have been generally more spread out.

Also, you have significant white convert population.

Outside of educated types, do you think most Americans don’t know about Sikhs and if so, do they think when they we a turban it is a Muslim? 
 

serious question, as I know Sikhs have experienced significant hate crimes and murders in the US

The closest Gurudwara to me is still a burned out hulk, from when it was arsoned after 911 for being a "mosque". 

[Redoptics]

7 hours ago, GurjantGnostic said:

The closest Gurudwara to me is still a burned out hulk, from when it was arsoned after 911 for being a "mosque". 

Can't you get your fellow Sikhs to do some seva, and rebuild? 

[GurjantGnostic]

4 minutes ago, Redoptics said:

Can't you get your fellow Sikhs to do some seva, and rebuild? 

There was a second Gurudwara built up the road after where most Sangat go. 

The original Gurudwara is still run, burned out, just from their adjacent tiny buildings. It's a much smaller situation. 

I saw beautiful plans for what they want to build there. As soon as covid passes a bit, I hope they break ground on the new Gurudwara. 

The burned out one seems..hallowed....I wish they could keep it and put the new one next to it but I don't think land space will allow. 

[Redoptics]

4 hours ago, GurjantGnostic said:

There was a second Gurudwara built up the road after where most Sangat go. 

The original Gurudwara is still run, burned out, just from their adjacent tiny buildings. It's a much smaller situation. 

I saw beautiful plans for what they want to build there. As soon as covid passes a bit, I hope they break ground on the new Gurudwara. 

The burned out one seems..hallowed....I wish they could keep it and put the new one next to it but I don't think land space will allow. 

Well at least that's something, they are looking to build something new, hopefully no rukas over who runs it 

[GurjantGnostic]

6 minutes ago, Redoptics said:

Well at least that's something, they are looking to build something new, hopefully no rukas over who runs it 

The Nihangs that own the house and little property seem to have it on lockdown. It's a smaller more insular community. 

[Dsinghd]

There isn’t much community in America like the U.K. Everything is far off.

[GurjantGnostic]

3 hours ago, Dsinghd said:

There isn’t much community in America like the U.K. Everything is far off.

I get that feeling. I feel like it's because Sikhs face more ignorance and threat here. 

[Ranjeet01]

A community develops around certain infrastructure. 

A Gurdwara is the centrepoint with Sikh businesses around as well as a certain percentage of the community that have proximity to each other. 

The UK being more compact, it is easier to do.

The US being more spread out, there are other challenges. 

The UK is not a fair comparison with the US because it can be comparing apples and oranges. 

Canada would be more comparable. 

[Ranjeet01]

Forgot to add:

Sikh communities in the UK largely built around employment.

For example, Southall's Sikh community originally was based around a rubber factory. 

If Sikhs in the US had migration around a large employer in a particular town then a community would develop around that.