In Sikh Response to Hateful Beating, A Lesson for Us All

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/groundbreaking-report-calculates-damage-done-fracking-1380897256

Last month, after dropping off his wife and infant son at home, Dr. Prabhjot Singh went for an evening walk with a friend near Central Park in New York City. Minutes later, he was attacked by a group of young men who grabbed his beard and beat him while yelling "terrorist!" "get him!" and "Osama!"

The attack resulted in several lost teeth and a fractured jaw. At a press conference two days later, when asked what he might say to his perpetrators, Dr. Singh replied:

Even more important to me than my attackers being caught is that they are taught. My tradition teaches me to value justice and accountability, and it also teaches me love, compassion and understanding. This incident, while unfortunate, can help initiate a conversation to create greater understanding within the community.

In the wake of Oak Creek and the attack on Dr. Singh, I have witnessed SALDEF, their affiliates, and the greater Sikh community embrace their crises with a clear message in alignment with their values of seva (selfless service), nimarta(respect and humility), sanghat (community), and most especially chardi kala(maintaining optimism and high spirits, even during times of adversity).

They prayed for their perpetrators, seeking not revenge but compassion and awareness. They did not speak against Muslims, with whom they are mistakenly identified, but advocated for respect and understanding of all faiths. They did not surrender to rage in defense of their freedom of religion and expression, but welcomed questions about their faith. These are actions and values that are inherently Sikh. They are also inherently American.

[Enthusiast]

1. Is there any question that the perpetrators are ignorant, bigoted right wing assholes?

No question.

[skepticscott]

2. Thought experiment

Which is more likely...that the perpetrators are Christian, or atheist?

[Enthusiast]

8. They imagine themselves to be Christians.

But I imagine them to be Christians in name only.

[skepticscott]

9. Apparently you didn't get the memo

that the "No True Christian" argument is intellectually bankrupt.

Try again.

[Enthusiast]

10. Your memo is bankrupt.

Anyone can claim to be anything. That doesn't make it so.

[skepticscott]

11. Oh, please..share your wisdom

Give us THE list of the things someone has to do, say, confess to and believe in order to be "True" Christian. And then give your irrefutable evidence and arguments as to why no one who doesn't do every one of those things can possibly be considered a "True" Christian.

Failure to respond with an actual list, and attempts to deflect from the need for one will be considered proof of your intellectual bankruptcy.

[Enthusiast]

12. Your judgment of intellectual bankruptcy is beyond reproach.

"will be considered proof".

[skepticscott]

13. Why is no one surprised

that you don't have jack to back up your statement? Just more dodges and deflection, as is endemic on this board.

"No True [insert anything]" is a horseshit argument. Always has been. Always will be. But feel free to use it as much as you need to if it makes you feel at home here.

[Enthusiast]

15. What are you saying I am dodging?

Are you trying to start something? WTF?

[skepticscott]

16. Your post #8 stated

Last edited Sun Oct 6, 2013, 09:25 PM - Edit history (1)

that the people involved are "Christians in name only". You were asked for the criteria that someone has to meet to be a "True" Christian, not just one "in name only". You dodged that request, and didn't provide squat (because, as every intelligent person reading this knows, you have none that pass the laugh test, other than your own purely subjective and invented opinions). Which, unless someone (like maybe, Jesus) has appointed you personally as arbiter of who is and isn't a "True" Christian, are irrelevant and worthless.

[cbayer]

14. No question at all. It looks like it was a rather large gang and

was driven by their hate, but I don't see that they have been identified.

What was nice to read is that people in the neighborhood came to his assistance and possibly saved his life.

He is the opposite of those that attacked him.

[cbayer]

3. Your link goes to an article about fracking.

[rug]

4. I think this is it.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/in-sikh-response-to-hateful-beating-a-lesson-for-all-of-us

[cbayer]

6. He is a really inspirational man.

Looks like he was attacked by a rather large gang, but that many others in the community helped him.

[rug]

7. Here's his uncut press conference.

[rug]

5. K&R

I think this is the link you want to put in.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/in-sikh-response-to-hateful-beating-a-lesson-for-all-of-us