Sikh shooting highlights intolerance

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August 13, 2012

Sikh shooting highlights intolerance

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Mon Aug 13, 2012, 03:25 AM EDT

The recent shooting deaths of six victims at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin brings to light once again the struggles we face over achieving tolerance for beliefs other than our own, which is a foundation of our nation's creation.

In this case, those of the Sikh faith were targeted in their own house of worship, whether mistaken by the shooter for Muslims or because they wear distinctive turbans and beards as part of their faith. They were seen and treated as something other than rightful American citizens guaranteed the freedom to practice their religion.

According to a story by Slate, Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak in the 15th century in Punjab, which now spans parts of Pakistan and India. Sikhs believe humans have immortal souls, which are reincarnated in different forms depending on one's actions and God's will.

There are about 25 million Sikhs worldwide and about 700,000 in the United States, according to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Above all else they seek truth and peace.

The shooter accused of the attacks -- 40-year-old U.S. Army veteran Wade Michael Page -- was shot by police, then committed suicide, that day.

While we may never know his motives, media reports have said Page was a white supremacist who felt action was needed against any that did not fall in line with the betterment of white, Christian males.

It is hard for most of us to understand how someone could do this. Some in the Sikh community wondered aloud, "What did we do wrong?" after the shooting.

But this is not the first attack on Sikhs in this country. In the wake of 9/11, we know Muslims were targets of violence and scorn because they happened to practice the same faith as the attackers. Searching for a target to focus their anger on, many Americans went after a group that generally stands for peace and kindness to others.

Those of the Sikh faith also faced persecution. According to Washington, D.C.-based think tank Sikh Coalition, there were at least 300 reported incidents of attacks against Sikhs in the months after 9/11. They were painted, like Muslims, as terrorist and un-American.

Many of us hoped that in the years since those horrific events of 9/11, we as a nation would have edged toward more tolerance for those who seek what so many of us do: A safe place to live and pray in peace.

We still hope for that.

It is vital to acquire knowledge and understanding of other faiths and cultures. And we must work to root out the injustice and intolerance that led to such acts of hatred and terror against some of our own.