The Kaur Foundation

Dedicated to ensure people experience the Sikh Renaissance. Dedicated to ensure people understand Sikhi. Dedicated to provide knowledge. (Art above by Baljinder Kaur: baljinderkaur.tumblr.com)

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Sikh Spotlight: Khalsa Aid

By: Jernail Dhillon, KF Intern

Photo: Khalsa Aid

Khalsa Aid, founded by Ravi Singh, is an international, non-governmental funded organization that works to deliver humanitarian aid to areas affected by conflict and natural disasters. Khalsa Aid operates on the Sikh belief to “recognize the human race as one.” With this virtue in mind, this organization has been dedicated to serving humanity, similar to the selfless humanitarian efforts Sikhs have committed throughout history. The humanitarian efforts by Sikhs are not a new phenomenon, rather it’s a practice that was instilled in the Sikh faith at it’s start 500 years ago. 

Through Khalsa Aid, Sikhs and other volunteers from outside the faith stand for the justice of the disadvantaged and needy. The Khalsa aid team is often early to arrive at disaster fronts to help those in need. For example, the organization works with refugees in Yemen and Syria, helping them escape dangerous situations, creating shelters, and providing medical attention daily. They have also worked in places affected by natural disasters like Haiti, Assam and Nepal. Since the organization’s start in 1999, volunteers have helped millions of people all around the world.

Khalsa Aid is focused on showing humility and practicing selfless service, not just for the Sikh community, but also for those in need around the world. This organization works globally to practice a core Sikh belief “Vand ke Chako”--giving back to the community and lending a hand to those who are less fortunate.

For more information, check out Khalsa Aid’s website and YouTube channel:

https://www.khalsaaid.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95AsCSj7WWA 

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Our hearts go out to the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy

Sikh Americans have suffered from the pain of senseless killing of innocent people in prayer. The mass shooting at the Oak Creek Sikh temple in Wisconsin in 2012 caused the Sikh community a great deal of anguish. As a result, the tragic loss of life at the Tree of Life Synagogue has hit a raw nerve with Sikh-Americans. We understand the pain of our Jewish brothers and sisters, and we stand in solidarity with them.

Kaur Foundation will continue its work in eradicating hatred and intolerance. Respect for all traditions and tolerance for diversity is a fundamental Sikh principle. It is only education that will eliminate ignorance. And it is within ignorance that bigotry is often rooted.

Educators, you have a major role to play. You are shaping the next generation. Disseminating positive information about different traditions and fostering bonds in a diverse classroom will raise conscious and caring Americans. KF supports and applauds your efforts.

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Vaisakhi

Each year, on April 13th, Vaisakhi is celebrated across India as the harvest festival. For Sikhs it has a very special significance. On the Vaisakhi of 1699, Guru Gobind Singh formalized the faith-tradition started by Guru Nanak in the fifteenth century. The Guru established an egalitarian order and commanded his followers to do away with the widely practiced caste system that was a powerful, divisive force in India. He commanded all men to take on the last name of Singh meaning courageous as a lion, and women to adopt Kaur, graceful like a princess. He ordained the Sikhs to wear the five articles of faith: unshorn hair, a wooden comb, a steel bracelet, short drawers, and a sword to be used for self-defense and to stand up against tyranny. He gave them a code of conduct that respected women, the rights of animals, and commanded them to live a healthy life that shunned tobacco, alcohol and any mood-altering substance. His followers were now known as the Khalsa, or the ones with pure consciousness. Vaisakhi is observed by the Sikhs as the birthday of their faith, and festivities and celebrations are held in gurdwaras all over the world today.

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Our response to Roseanne Barr’s racially insensitive tweets

This month, Roseanne Barr’s racially insensitive tweet has been front and center. While damage control efforts were underway soon after the hateful messages went out, the biggest question we had was “why?”  

Explanations are offered--Barr claims sleeping pills were to blame. And an apology is issued after the cancellation of her show. But is this be enough to “fix” the damage done? And does that say something about the state of our country?  

Barr is not the first nor the last person to put a statement on social media coiled up in division and racial intolerance. It’s just another version of the same narrative: A visible minority is once again negatively impacted and disrespected.

An act like this is equivalent to a bullet leaving the barrel and the shooter apologizing afterwards. The damage is done, the pain is felt and a desperate apology is given to clean the slate as if nothing happened. We’ve become desensitized to intolerance.

Social media platforms are meant for sharing thoughts and communication. They are great modes of communication however, people are using this tool to fire at others without regards to the repercussions -- say what they want, without worrying about the impact. It is a challenge for our educators and parents who are trying to instill values and prepare future citizens.

The role of the educator and parent is very crucial in maneuvering through the social media maze. Social media literacy is crucial because without it, hate speech and fake information become a part of the consumer. This education comes through continual communication about the basics -- respect for yourself and others.  

Kaur Foundation has been developing tools to assist educators and parents on opening dialogue about respect. These tools can build understanding around a visible minority, the Sikhs, in a way that hopefully reduces negativity and hate speech in the future. This type of tool encourages conversation and engages the students in a more responsible manner.

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Sikh-ing Change

As a Sikh student in the U.S., I’ve gotten used to the puzzled faces people give me when I tell them who I am. Fortunately, I’m mentally prepared to answer that question. I have been since the age of 5. Before sending me into the “real” world, my parents provided me with a short checklist to run through in my head when clearing the mystery around my religious beliefs.

I don’t cut my hair. I wear a steel bangle. I believe in one God. Sikhism is the world’s fifth largest religion.

While that list of facts resonates with some, most are confused all over again by the following week.

This is because Sikhism is often not taught in schools. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all covered in social studies from fifth grade onwards. In fact, I remember crafting trifolds and charts about “The Big 3” several times throughout my elementary, middle and high school educations.

Don’t get me wrong, we should be learning about these popular religions in American schools. After all, the U.S. is made up of so many types of people who participate in various religious practices and originate from thousands of different cities and nations.

We should know who are fellow classmates are. This is how America will rid itself of its most decaying disorder: racism.

The problem with our education system is that everyone is not represented. According to a study done by the Sikh Coalition, 54 percent of Sikh students in this country have experienced bullying or harassment in school. As a former student in a public school, I feel a Sikh-centered unit in history classes could drastically improve those statistics.

Sikhs are a large enough part of the U.S.population to be recognized as a world religion in a history class.

I should not have to be used to people’s puzzled reactions to “I’m a Sikh.” Sikh students should not have to accept that there will be lack of representation of their culture in their education.

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Booth #202

Kaur Foundation joined hundreds of institutions and educational groups in the National Council for the Social Studies exhibition hall at the Moscone Center on November 17th and 18th for the annual conference for teachers, curriculum advisors and other visitors.  The bustling hall was full of life as educators traveled from booth to booth to learn of new methods to enhance their classrooms.  

Kaur Foundation’s board members and volunteers set up shop in section 202 with a bright display of pictures and goody bags. Cultural Safari, an engaging video resource about the Sikh faith developed by the organization, played in the back.

Dozens and dozens of educators marked Kaur Foundation’s booth on their maps and arrived with plenty of questions about Sikhism, as well as the curricula and teacher trainings that Kaur Foundation offers.

We were so excited to see such a high level of interest and enthusiasm from educators. Many eagerly asked about how their classrooms could incorporate lessons about Sikhism, and how they might develop social studies into a more diverse area of study at their local schools and districts.

A frequent comment educators made was that despite their school’s current standards which excluded Sikhism from the curriculum, they hoped to add information about the religion to their own lesson plans. Many teachers said they wanted their students to be well-rounded, global citizens, which would not be possible without exposure to a wider range of content. This is actually a situation we are working hard to change by creating constitutionally-sound textbook chapters and resources, in addition to providing teacher training and educating the general public about the basic tenets of Sikhism.

Volunteers and members of KF were not only there to present materials, but were also around to teach school leaders from around the nation about the importance of diversity education and the need for modules on the Sikh religion. We even demonstrated turban tying on several instructors and guests who were interested in the process.

In addition to raising awareness about the Sikh identity, our education director Dr. Pritpal Kaur Ahluwalia led a workshop on “Diversity and Dialogue through the Sikh-American Tradition” for conference attendees on Saturday. We also held a half-day clinic for teachers on Thursday called “Exploring Sikhism.”

Teachers were drawn to the clinic and workshop for a variety of reasons. Some had heard about Sikhs but didn't know much about them and wanted to find out more. Some had Sikh students and wanted to know how they could best understand and support them. And others wanted to explore curriculum materials for new courses on world religions that they were hoping to offer.  

These workshops were attended by educators nationally who will now be better equipped to teach about Sikhism in their classrooms. Teachers said they found the sessions informative and engaging, and stressed how much they learned. They were happy to be exposed to new and exciting ways to introduce the Sikh religion and culture into their classrooms.

As a volunteer, I really valued the time I got to spend with educators throughout the weekend, and was excited to share the organization’s carefully developed resources that encourage diversity in the K-12 education system. I hope to return to many more NCSS conferences and social studies discussions to ensure the inclusion of Sikhism amongst other religions in classrooms.

To learn more about Kaur Foundation or to donate to the cause, please visit kaurfoundation.org.

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Sikhi and the Environment

2015 saw global temperatures that exceeded the averages of the 1800s. The rate that the sea level has increased in the past decade is nearly double the rate of the last century. And since 1970, global carbon emissions have jumped nearly 90 percent. Clearly climate change has grown to become one of our world’s greatest challenges--a major result of human activity and development.

As global warming becomes a more noticeable problem in our everyday lives, many people and governments all over the world are teaming together to fight its negative impacts.

And for the Sikh community, that begs the question: what is our role in all of this? What relevance do Sikh values share with environmentalism?

Although not frequently acknowledged, respect for nature is a very common theme in both Gurbani and the Gurus’ lifestyles, notably the seventh Guru’s, Guru Har Rai Ji.

Guru Har Rai Ji established Kiratpur Sahib as a center for parks and gardens in an effort to display the importance of nature in our daily lives. He planted many fruit, vegetable and herb plants throughout the town, and taught his followers how each could be used for cooking and medicinal purposes. The idea of submersing yourself in an environment of nature was intended to teach humans how to co-exist. A Sikh should be aware of his place in God’s creation, respecting other humans, in addition to all the other creatures in his surroundings. For one to achieve true harmony with God, it is essential to work towards harmony with His creation.

Another major theme that this behavior communicates is compassion. If God is within His creation, why would we do anything to harm it? In Asa Di Vaar, Guru Nanak Dev Ji writes “He fashioned the creation. Seated within the creation, He beholds it with delight.” The Creator is in the creation. Using the tool of compassion, human beings are capable of preserving the environment around them.

Using this logic and their environmentally conscious neighbors as motivation, members of the Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) of San Jose, have worked towards creating a “Green Gurdwara.” This Gurdwara is doing all it can to achieve its goal of 100 percent renewable energy. Gurdwara planners have carefully thought out each of their environmental efforts. One of the most successful and recognized additions is the shaded parking lot. The roof is home to solar panels which provide a great deal of electricity for the Gurdwara’s functions. Because of the high concentration of sunlight in that area, the panels are highly efficient. Lastly, the roof of the parking lot creates shade for visitors, and keeps their cars cool during the day.

Another example of environmental protection at the Gurdwara is its use of reusable steel plates. Unlike many Gurdwaras around the world, San Jose serves langar (a vegetarian community meal prepared and served by volunteers free of charge at every Gurdwara around the world), on dishes that can be washed and used again, as opposed to styrofoam, plastic, or paper goods. This is incredibly important as styrofoam, the primary choice of plates and cups in langar halls, is incredibly difficult to recycle and is non-biodegradable. Additionally, it can cause health problems in humans. With the amount of congregation that the Gurdwara receives, it is much more sustainable to use a material that can be washed and re-used again.

Finally, a great benefit of the Gurdwara is that it is located near a bus stop. Many visitors to the Gurdwara take the bus because of this proximity, which reduces the amount of carbon emissions that come from cars.  

On November 16th, Kaur Foundation will be holding an event at this historic Gurdwara which is doing so much for the environment.  This is in collaboration with the National Council for the Social Studies to kick off their annual conference.  This year’s theme is ‘Expanding Visions / Bridging Traditions’ - join us there to learn more!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-at-the-gurdwara-expanding-visions-bridging-traditions-tickets-35547860608

Historically, Sikhs have always worked to protect the weak. Today, the environment needs help. Between agriculture, industry and wastage, our natural resources are being squandered for our selfish needs. Sikhs have a duty to respect their surroundings, and work towards reversing the damage that exists. By reducing the waste of Gurdwaras and replacing the current systems with more sustainable processes, the carbon footprint can be diminished - an important first step in battling this global destruction, which all communities can take inspiration from.

By Simrin Kaur.  

Kaur Foundation intern.

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KF response to recent attacks on the Sikh community.

The Sikh community is once again the target of senseless violence. On the morning of July 23rd Subhag Singh left his home in Fresno and never came back. His mauled body was later found in a creek. On July 25th Simranjit Singh was brutally killed after racial slurs were cast at him and his colleague while they were working at a gas station in Sacramento. On July 18 th Simranjit Singh Grewal, a Sikh-American woman was injured when a rock was thrown at the windshield of her car.

The Sikh community is shaken up by these unprovoked incidents which have all the appearances of hate crimes. Subhag Singh’s family is bereft. The parents of Simranjit Singh will never experience the joys of seeing their son celebrate joyous milestones in his life. Simranjit Grewal has serious hip injuries.

Such incidents have a devastating impact not only in the Sikh-American families, but also breed a culture of intolerance and hatred that is contrary to the very principles on which our great nation has been founded.

Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences go out to the families of the brutally killed Sikh men.  At Kaur Foundation, we also feel the urgency to proactively work at the root of the problem; bigotry that stems out of ignorance.  America has been the home of Sikh-Americans for over a hundred years. The Sikh community is a vital part of the diverse American fabric. Yet the average layperson remains ignorant of the culture and contributions of their fellow Sikh-Americans.

Kaur Foundation has been collaborating with School systems and educators nationwide to bring Sikh studies in K-12 curriculum. We believe that education starting at the grass-root level is the only lasting solution to combating hatred and bigotry that stems out of fear and ignorance.

We applaud our partners in education who are walking every step with us to make the dream of a safe America a reality for everyone.

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Discovering Sikhs - a conclusion.

As my journey in discovering Sikhs is coming to a close, I wanted to share my experience and knowledge I’ve obtained within the last six weeks. My initial awareness of Sikh religion was very minimal. I’d only encountered a select few Sikh people before connecting with the Kaur Foundation. 

Throughout this process I’ve become more self aware of the variety of cultures around me. In today’s America, its imperative that the cultural education process begins within us. Whether it’s a co-worker, a classmate, or a friend, take the time to be open to the cultures that differ from your own. Not only do we gain a better understanding of those around us, we can share our knowledge and educate others. Together we are able to bridge communities and strengthen our relationships. 

Although my journey has ended, I encourage others to take part of discovering Sikhs. It’s truly been a humbling experience discovering the Sikh community. The Kaur Foundation has given me the ability to connect with others and embark on a cultural awareness to share with others. 

Marcella.  Kaur Foundation Intern.

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Celebrating ‘Vaisakhi Day’ In School - Steps to Ensure Success!

- Speak to your social studies teacher ahead of time and ask for a half hour of class time on April 14, 2017 or any other day in April.

- Arrange for a special area or classroom with your teacher where you have access to a TV screen and a DVD player / internet. Your child/student’s school’s media room or auditorium will have these and will be able to fit a class or two of students. Present it as a fun and exploring a new culture activity – on a special day for Sikh Americans.

- Arrange to invite the media specialist, librarian, any other teacher/staff and administrators – Principal and others, as you are able to, for this cultural diversity presentation.

- Let the teacher you are interacting with know that you will bring samosas* as part of this Vaisakhi presentation/celebration. You may take brownies/cupcakes if you wish, but do make sure to take the cultural treat.

- The Cultural Safari DVD can be viewed at https://www.culturalsafari.org/for-educators then click on 'Training Tools'.  Alternatively you can email us at [email protected] and ask for a copy of the DVD and Teacher’s Resource Guide to be mailed to you for your school. Present it to the highest ranking educator/administrator so it can be placed in the school library to be used as an educational resource.

- Once the class/audience settles down, welcome them to a cultural journey with the Cultural Safari, an award winning documentary that is part of school curricula in several school districts.  

- Start by asking for a show of hands in response to the following question:

How many in the audience know who the ‘Sikhs’ are?

Then go on to establishing that there are so many different cultures and communities that come together to make America a great country, and today they will be learning about one of these communities/peoples – the Sikh Americans.

- Start the DVD, let them know that this is a 17 minute piece, and you will be available for Q&A after. This is usually a good time to take some pictures or short videos of the audience as they watch.**

- Once the DVD is done, you want to address any questions/comments the audience may have. (for about 10 minutes). Some questions you may start with are:

How did you like the DVD?

Is there anything about the culture that you found similar to your own

Etc.

- If you would like to make the presentation more interactive, you may encourage your child/student to display any cultural talent that he or she wishes to share with his her class. Ex: playing tabla/harmonium, or showing some bhangra steps.

- If possible, it is recommended that you send a picture along with the enclosed short write-up to your local newspaper.  This information sharing is beneficial to the community as a whole.

- This year we are running a special social-media campaign! Post your pictures and videos from the presentation through Twitter to @KaurFoundation.  The first ten posted will receive a $50 reward and a certificate of participation from Kaur Foundation!

* The samosas are an appreciation and Vaisakhi treat for the teachers and school staff. It is recommended that you take small disposable plates and napkins with you, to create the most professional appearance.

** It is recommended that you take a camera/video recorder with you to capture this monumental Vaisakhi day celebration where you were able to share our rich culture and heritage in the learning environment of a school, moving our community forward. Please make sure to inform the teacher ahead of time that you will be taking a few pictures.

With Chardi Kalaa and many thanks for your participation in making this awareness campaign for Sikh Americans a success, nationwide.

It is the responsibility of one generation to plant the seed… so the next can get the shade. - The Kaur Foundation

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Discovering Sikhs - a statement

While it’s been incredible learning experience visiting local Gurudwaras and meeting some people from the Sikh community, I feel it’s important to make a statement on the struggles the Sikh communities face every day.

We live in a world where prejudice and terrorist attacks are becoming more prevalent in society. Although it may be easy to just look at incidents that impact our own communities, it’s vital to have some compassion to other communities. Hate crimes especially don’t just impact one community but everyone in marginalized communities.  

Earlier this month, a Sikh man was shot in front of his home. The Seattle news reported the suspect stated “go back to your own country” before shooting the Sikh man. This illustrates the level of misinformation that is within the United States. Those who don’t fit within the societal constructs are often targeted just because they haven’t been educated on the cultural differences nor educated on the similarities that bridge us together. If there’s continually hate for cultures that others don’t understand there will be a continuous infliction of hate crimes within our communities.

It’s important to take a stand together and work together to better relationships, communities, and societies. As the Kaur foundation was founded after the 9/11 attacks in order to promote this awareness of the Sikh community, the fight is still continuing.  It’s vital to continue to education of the Sikh community. Throughout this journey I’ve been able to witness firsthand the amount of love the Sikh community want to share. The people I’ve met have opened their doors to everyone who wants to learn more about the faith and culture. It’s something that everyone should implement more and try to learn from.

Marcella.  Kaur Foundation intern.

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Part III: Discovering Sikhs

Throughout this journey, I’ve encountered places and individuals that I have never truly understood without the assistance of the Kaur Foundation. Being able to highlight some Gurdwaras that bring Sikh communities together has been my favorite part of this journey so far. 

As someone who doesn’t necessarily try new foods, visiting Gurdwaras to taste their cuisine is something I was scared but also curious about learning more of the Sikh Community. 

After my recent visits to Gurdwaras the one thing that has remained consistent is the acceptance of the people. After services, I notice family members joining together in another room, known as the Langar Hall. Families and strangers all come together to sit and share a free meal. As the food is vegetarian based meal with a familiar dish of curry - it’s free to community members to enjoy after service. 

The more I’m invited into the Sikh community, the more I’ve learned about the kindness and generosity of the people. It’s a community that prides themselves in their faith and family.​ I believe any individual looking to broaden their knowledge of their neighbors or be more culturally aware should start with attending a service to a Gurdwara.

Follow, read, and await Part IV: Discovering Sikhs!

Marcella, Kaur Foundation intern.

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Part II : Discovering Sikhs

In this journey in discovering the Sikh community I wanted to gain better sense of the customs of traditional Gurudwaras. This lead me to Gurudwara Singh Sabha Buena Park, where I attended a Sunday service. In contrast to my first experience (at the Hollywood Sikh Temple) this particular Gurudwara was surrounded by music, laughter, and sense of community. 

Although I wasn’t particularly familiar with my surrounding nor was I dressed in the traditional clothing, there were many individuals offering assistance. There was a man in particular who watched me struggle keeping my scarf around my head and offered me guidance, and stated to speak to me in Spanish! I thought it was incredible the lengths he was going to make me feel welcomed at his place of worship. 

There were individuals who walked in to pray for a few minutes and others who were there for the entire duration of the service. Although I didn't know what to do necessarily, a young girl offered me some advice. She stated, “Just walk up to the front, bow your head in respect, and sit to mediate to give thanks to God in your own way”. After taking her advice and sitting peacefully with the beat of the drums and the voices of the singers, I felt connected to the individuals within. 

My experience at Gurudwara Singh Sabha Buena Park confirmed my previous belief of Gurudwaras being a place where people of all faiths are welcomed. My encounters with these individuals illustrates the kindness within the Sikh Community. 

Follow, read, and await Part III: Discovering Sikhs, as I visit another Gurudwara and taste the local cuisine!

Marcella.  Kaur Foundation Intern.    

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Part I: Discovering Sikhs

With the help of the Kaur Foundation I’ve been able to gain a better sense of the Sikh community and their mission to educate and promote culturally awareness. In my journey of discovering Sikhs, I decided to take a look at a local place of worship and the first Gurudwara established in Los Angeles, CA.

Inside the Hollywood Sikh Temple

As the 3rd oldest Gurudwara in the United States, the Gurudwara of Vermont Hollywood settles in the residential neighborhood of Los Feliz. As this specific Gurudwara is open every day at 04.45 to 21.00, I had the opportunity to visit one morning after a stressful work week. Although there was no service at the time of my visit, I enjoyed being able to explore the Gurudwara without fear of disturbing others. There is no promotion of the Sikh religion but rather a place for individuals in the community to come together and reflect spiritually.

As I visited a Gurudwara for the first time I didn’t know what to expect nor did I know how I would feel. In my experience, the Gurudwara is a place where people of all faiths are welcomed.

Follow, read, and await Part II: Discovering Sikhs, as I join a service and give my feedback on the experience.  

Marcella, Kaur Foundation intern.

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Meet Marcella - KF’s new intern!

It’s 2017 & the fight to provide equality and inclusion for all still continues strong in America.

The Kaur Foundation’s mission to promote awareness, understanding and inclusion of culturally diverse communities, acts as a bridge of knowledge to unite those with conflicting viewpoints between differential groups.   By embracing the diversity of faiths, cultures, and heritages that live within our communities and by engaging in cultures that differ from your own will help aid in cultural awareness.

This is why I decided embark on a journey of discovering Sikh communities.

Please follow along, while I take trips to local Gurdwaras and Community Centers to provide insight of the faith and families. The final installment of this series will include an overview of what I’ve learnt and how the Sikh community has helped broaden my perspectives.

As a third generation Mexican American, being able to embark on this cultural adventure, in my backyard of Southern California, is what makes America a melting pot of identities.

Over the next few months, follow, read, and engage with me on this Journey to Discovering Sikhs!​

Marcella 

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Know your Neighbor

This week I came across a Coalition called ‘Know your Neighbor’.  http://knowyourneighbor.us/

It’s website highlighted that we live and work with one another - but do we actually KNOW each other? It reminded me of Harvard Pluralism Project’s definition that pluralism is not mere diversity, but engagement with that diversity.  

One of Kaur Foundation’s resources, the ‘Identity Explorer’ challenges us to look deeper at identity and is a tool to help us getting to know our neighbor.  It asks us to look at the assumptions we make about someone at face value - we may know someone’s name, their job, their marital status, and religion.  But the Identity Explorer encourages us to build relationships and look deeper on the inside - what are someone’s values, their experiences which have shaped them, what are the meanings behind their cultural and religious traditions?

We too often judge a book by its cover.  In the New Year, we could take simple steps at home, in the classroom and in the community.  We can challenge ourselves to get to know our neighbor.  We can make one new friend, we can ask one new question, we can be willing to be more open and share more about ourselves.  

Kaur Foundation asks you to make these steps, and to continue supporting our efforts in enabling such encounters in classrooms across the nation.   You can visit the Know your Neighbor website today to make the following pledge:

Our strength as a nation comes from the ability to hold true to our own faith and values while defending the religious freedom of our neighbors. I pledge to get to know my fellow Americans of all traditions and systems of belief and to share my own. Moreover, I will speak out against hatred and misinformation against others when I encounter it.

Pritpal Kaur

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The month that was November 2016

November 2016 proved to be one of the most dramatic months of the year - and the dust still hasn’t settled.  

In the aftermath of Donald Trump being elected president, emotions soared and protests began.  One of the quotes which haunted me the most was from Van Jones on CNN:

“It’s hard to be a parent tonight for a lot of us,” Jones said. “You tell your kids, ‘Don’t be a bully.’ You tell your kids, ‘Don’t be a bigot.’ You tell your kids, ‘Do your homework and be prepared.’ And then you have this outcome, and you have people putting children to bed tonight, and they’re afraid of breakfast. They’re afraid of ‘How do I explain this to my children?’”

How would you want your child to feel when they go to school in the mornings?  You would want them to feel safe, included, accepted and respected.  You would want them to feel proud of their identity and proud of being an American.  But now, being a minority in America for so many people, means living in fear and anxiety.  

Van Jones’ statement cries out for the importance of work by organizations and non-profits such as the Kaur Foundation.  We are reminded that we all have a responsibility to stand up against bullying and bigotry.  This is not something that we can take for granted or assume.  We are reminded that we all have to cultivate a pluralistic society and respect for diversity.  We are reminded that we all have to stand together in solidarity and fight for the values that we believe in.  Parents and educators play the most critical role in changing attitudes and behaviors which will shape our society to come.  Otherwise, the next generation of children could grow up in a frightening world.

As Thanksgiving comes to a close and we look towards January 2017, as a Sikh I took solace and inspiration from Bandi Chhor Divas which Sikhs celebrated at the end of October - it is a message of the triumph of hope over despair, of good over evil, of light over darkness.  It is a flicker of light that signals that we can and will create a better future.  

Pritpal Kaur