Sikhs in the United States have complained of “racial profiling” after a Sikh businessman was made to leave the screening line at an American airport and forced to remove his turban for a security check. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) avers that Sikhs are not being specifically targetted and that they were only enforcing a new policy, launched on August 4, that allows them to subject travellers wearing headgear to additional scrutiny. However, leaders of the Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group, say the US government has “equated our most precious article of faith with terrorism”.
Questions: Are Sikhs right in complaining about the new law which was enforced without taking the 280,000 strong Sikh community into confidence? Should security agencies have the freedom to evolve laws as they deem fit to fight the war on terror, regardless of religious sensibilities? On the other hand, if a white man wearing a hat can also undergo the same scrutiny, does the Sikh have any reason to complain merely because his turban is a religious symbol? Is nothing sacred in the era of terror, and is racial profiling here to stay?
Dear All,
Sikhs should consider an even more holier symbol of faith that lurks beneath the turban called brain! In fact, I would suggest Sikhs should be the first ones to understand how easy it would be for terrorists to sneak ‘weapons’ using a turban. Things like plastic explosives, small knives, wires, and so on. One such act by other terrorists, then all turbans will break loose! All Westerners will be running for cover the moment they see a turban as also Indians like me. In fact we have a Sikh colleague over here who looks like Bin laden in his prime with a magnificent turban. I would never willingly go out for lunch with him because I fear I may be shot because of his dangerous attire. I am being sensible that’s all.
I would counter the Sikh argument by claiming that my symbol of flying faith demands that we unwind all turbans in the vicinity:)
I think the Sikhs are wrong in cribbing about racial profiling. If you make an exception to the turban, what prevents a terrorist from concealing explosives in the turban? Safety should come before religious sentiments.
Doddi Buddi’s comments are in poor taste and said with a lousy tone. It does not matter whether he is right or wrong. He just sounds like the many cowards on the net we see more and more these days.
I think ok that a turban is checked. However, I respect the concerns of the Sikhs and appreciate that they have gone through the process of discussions.
Well, Trang the brave net nanny!
So be it. I never meant my comments to be in good taste! I respect the concerns of Sikhs too but in my own humble way! Let us have a show of hands…
What do you mean when you say, “a turban is checked?” against what?
Trang the brave turbanator,
Are you brave enough to walk the turban talk among the folk who fly the friendly skies in the US? Well my garment-smothered-head friend, I have news for you: if a passenger complains to the captain (pilot) saying “I don’t like the looks of this towel head.” guess what, you will be off loaded before you can even say “Sat….”
A sideshow
I have met many ‘brave’ Punjabis over here who keep saying how well they get along with their other ‘Punjaban’ across the border because they look the same, smell the same, dance the same, speak the same ‘lingo’ and heck cook the same ole chicken the same way…In sub text that means, you Southies are tampering with our genetic pool and all that Herren volk shit….Well my “Punjaban” friends, guess what, you were happy to come into India with your heads on your shoulders! Now, start integrating into the Indian society.
Somebody can carry plastic knives in his or her underwear. Will the person be asked to remove underwear before everyone else.
http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=8613
So there was some ridiculous scare causing the evacuation of a store because some people had put some white powder to mark a running trail. The author makes an interesting observation:
“If they had biked back to the scene wearing brown skin and attempted to make their way through the crowd to talk to the cops, they probably would have been shot.”
DB, maybe you should go out with the sardar for lunch, if a crowd of white people start a lynching, he may be your only hope of defense!
X Guy,
Please remove the towel on your head–the cotton is seeping into your brains!
Lynching is a slow process. I am referring to instant justice–with a fire arm. May be you can run with the towel hounds? I don’t know. I am adult enough to see that I don’t need to be the fall guy in some one’s religious war.
May be you should see Dr. Haneef about your medical condition?
Baghel,
You sound like the very soul of reason! Yeah…sure within the bounds of decency you will be made to disrobe. Unless you have a peculiar wish of carrying a plastic eating instrument in your nether garments…and then want to be rudely examined by the security at the airport?
DB,
Let me get this straight – you are paranoid that someone will shoot you with a gun if you went to lunch with a Sikh guy at work? In the US of A (which part BTW)? You must be joking, no? I thought you were – and hence the (obvious) sarcasm about lynching and the Sardar defending you. I guess if you live in some part of the world where you fear that people will shoot you just because you went to lunch with a Sikh, get your ass out of there! There are nicer places.
And I see you still obsess over Haneef :) Still mad that he wasn’t hung? Get over him – he is yesterday’s news – he entertained us (esp. the reactions from you cheddis) and is nobody now.
On a side note – an article on the ‘braveness’ of the Sikh (compare that with yours – and leave out the people of Coorg, they are meat eating, gun toting people who you wouldn’t like anyway):
http://www.exile.ru/2007-July-27/war_nerd.html
And I would really recommend chicken cooked Punjabi style to you. Or pork Coorg style. Try it (if you haven’t) – Delicious!
Baghel,
:)
DB,you rock!
The turban identity was a creation of british colonial officers and historians like cunningham.The distinct jat sikh identity was also responsible for the partition of punjab and bloodshed in the 80’s.The Akali politics is quasi seccessionist and fascist.
Are not vokkaligas farmers.Do they agitate like the jat sikhs?
‘X’ Guy,
May be you were born yesterday and you believed in all the British nonsense about martial races and shit…:)
You have no capacity to understand humor! Since when did guys eating meat and swilling liquor were considered brave?! If it pleases you I have eaten Punjabi ishstyle chicken, Muslim ishstyle biriyani, Coorgie style pork…I like the Kodavas very much and thankfully apart from the silly rain coat they wear on occasion as traditional dress, they are warm witty and intelligent folk. Gun toting folk? Yeah nice,,,In fact all Malnad farmers have guns in their houses! Kodavas do not have a monopoly on guns you know…
With the turbanators I have a problem because of the silly claims that have been advanced as ‘religious beliefs’. I oppose ‘braindeadness’ in all forms.
Use Google and find out where turbanators were killed in USA –use ‘hate crimes’ to search…
LOL. Doddi. You are really a coward and unreal. In case you address me, please come back and read this post of mine. Mark it among your favorites. I have nothing more to say to you. Because thats the limit with someone like you. Have fun, while you can.
DB,
You are the brain dead one if you dont believe that the Sikhs dont have a glorious military history (against the Mughals/Afghans, then with the British Army, and since independency the Indian Army).
In any case that was the side note.
The post was about your cowardice… How you avoid a Sikh gentleman at work during lunchtime since you are terrified a white guy will shoot you (I still cant believe this one!). And you shoot your mouth off against the whole Sikh race! So who do you go out with at lunchtime? Since the white guys wouldnt like your ‘Indian looks’ and you are terrified of sikhs and muslims, must be alone.
BTW you are humorous. Kinda like musuri krishnamurthy in those cowardly ‘mama’ roles.
BTW in the google search just extend it to ‘hate crime against Indians’.
Trang,
Here I am addressing your Lordship NannyPenny..Is this some secret joke only you are privy to? Let us see how brave are you? Let me answer that–you eat pork and chicken Punjabi style and you drink. Wah wah….and you can presumably lift a gun…LOL
KL
I think we will see Akalis again wanting a separate homeland. Then we may see more turbans and hence more Chinese companies supplying turbanator kits like motor-driven turban winders and so on:)
Thank you. Vokkaligas by definition are farmers. In Kannada Vokkaliga means some one who tills the land. These days it means Gowdas (Devegowda, SM Krishna and others) in old Mysore area.
DB,
i know that vokkaligas are farmers.Though in the recent past,their history has been quiet different from sikhs.
What i meant was,they are not agitating like jat sikhs on meaningless issues.I have empathy for farmers and farm labourers in any part of india.I also have some empathy for “sons of the soil movement”.
But thambis and turbanators take it too far.They are neither humanists nor rational nor egalitarian as they claim.
‘X’ Guy
I never said Sikhs were not brave. Lot of other communities were brave as well. In fact the first Victoria Cross was presented to an ordinary Hindu sepoy from Rajasthan:) It is the singular myth that has been created that they alone are a martial race and shit.
My lunch time is my own affair. There is no bravery in going to lunch with a colleague who smells like a dead horse on a hot humid day thanks to his turban and other spiritual knick knacks. That is not my idea of lunch as also suspicious glances received by fellow diners this Bin-Laden lookalike is up to something..Rather than embarrassing myself with a hirsute companion I have quietly chosen pragmatism over Sikh bravery of wearing 10-meter headgear in hot weather!
As far as Muslims are concerned, I would not be embracing Dr. Haneef like you might do. Once again, it is a preference of superior taste in company vs the common touch at which you excel, I suppose.
I think Musuri was very funny! Thank you for the compliment!
In the recent story about turbans,, I strongly believe that no turban or a head dress or baseball cap plays a major role when security is in question, in any religion. For example, once in going to church in Anglican or Roman Catholic Churches we were once instructed to remove all head gear.. With that said and done,, what is wrong with these people that say that they have been disrespected and ashamed when asked to have their turbans patted down!! If they feel that they have been violated then they should go back to where they originally came from!!
Back to the sand dunes of middle east and worry about there own country and beliefs… In closing, I do support the security guards in doing their jobs to that last letter!!!!!!
Non religion oriented,
Sikhs aren’t muslims and dont come from the sand dunes of the middle east. They come from the state of Punjab in India. Just shows how dumb an Anglican/Roman whatever you are. Why dont you worry about your own country and beliefs instead of invading the sand dunes of the middle east? How about we start strip seaching all you Anglican/roman whatever at airports everywhere. After all even people like you have to travel once in a while. Obviously you are some kind of religious nutcase.
Doddi Buddi
You have the typical Jan Sangh/RSS Brahmin cowardly mindset. You will bend over backwards and take down your pants to save your skin in real life situations but acting like low life a-hole here in Net anonymity. It is the Hindu fascist forces who unfortunately control the Hindu Indian Government today and were responsible for betrayal and treachery of the Sikh nation. You guys were slaves for last 800 years , it is the sacrifices of brave Sikhs which freed you guys and millions of your women who were routinely taken away and auctioned in Afghanistan and Baghdad. Sikhs will free themselves and NO power on earth can stop that. Sikhs are suffering because they don’t have their own country with armed forces to defend them.
Anonymous Guy!!
To make this short enough for you to understand!!
If I was a security guard for customs for border crossing or entering america by sea, land or air.
I would not make any exceptions as to how security checks would be done.
Regardless of what belief or religion, race/color/nationality.
Even if it meant to have you/them stripping down or removing his/her head gear.
Even have you/them bending over and spreading those cheeks!!
Since we are talking about National Security. Failure to comply to being searched at security check points would be a refusal to enter any country at any point.. In simple terms go home!!!
As for the Roman Catholics & Anglicans they can go play with their penguin outfits for all I care..
In closing, have a nice day!!
BornFree,
I don’t know the name of the substance you are taking…but it makes me happy to note that you guys made great sacrifices to save Hindus. I salute your bravery which is derived from your headgear! I had a tough time understanding your grandstanding here. Seriously you need help with history.:)
I think you should know there is a world beyond the turban! yes shockingly there is a world outside Turbanistan! Let me elaborate: Did you know that the same headgear without the mythical powers attributed to it are worn by all and sun dry in rural India, many parts of Arab world, Malaysia and most definitely Sudan?:) In fact the famous Mysore Peta is a ready made turban!
Now I have got your attention allow me to pose a question: if turbans are so powerful why aren’t the Sikh women wearing them? I was only pointing out the absurdity in your claim that the turban is so holy nobody can touch it–to me that is ridiculous. …”Sikhs are suffering because they don’t have their own country with armed forces to defend them…” Well I leave it to the other ‘cowardly’ friends of mine on Churumuri to enjoy this one…
Talking about Hindus, why are you guys using so much Sanskrit and Hindu names and rituals in your ‘culture’? Just curious thats all.
Turban Unwindor Singh (TUS)
Non-religion oriented
I agree with you 100%
non religion,
Yeah with war mongers like you supporting killing people of other countries in the name of religion or oil or democracy or whatever, and at the same time creating paranoia in your own country, it wont be too far away when you will be spreading your cheeks and bending over at airports. Best of luck with your national security, your guards, your prisons and your nineteen eighty-four.
BornFree,
When was the time time your visited Punjab, India? The ‘independence’ movement is over. Learn from the people of Punjab who are contributing like everyone else towards nation building.
DB,
I said kinda like Musuri in cowardly mama roles. Less musuri and more cowardly mama.
What would you say to our friend BornFree’s insinuation about your ‘Jan Sangh/RSS Brahmin cowardly mindset’? I have no comment on this – was wondering if you had anything to expostulate on this matter.
‘X’ Guy
Splitting hairs are we?:) I see you are the cross dressing ‘Brave Heart’ here…
BornFree is free to take another birth and I hope this time he will come out better! Maybe he will be ‘Turban Free’ as well. That dude is commenting more like the Sikh Austin Powers. Was there a cryogenic freeze the body program run by the Turbanators in Jullundhar in the 80s? I wonder…)
DB,
So life is only black and white? Good vs bad? us vs them? cheddis vs turbans/crosses? No grey? No ‘cross dressers’ (try it – it can be liberating, nothing cowardly about it – just wearing different knicker inside instead of a khakhi one :)
It is amusing to see Sikhs outside India (who probably are more Canadian/American/European than Sikh or Indian), still baying for ‘independence’, while in Punjab, India people are prospering and getting on with their lives.
‘X’ Guy
It was you who made these blanket statements about Kodavas and Sikhs, meat eaters, drink swillers, and their fierce fighting capabilities. In fact I have been very sanguine in my viewpoint and I have tried to correct a few moronic impressions you have been carrying around. You have taken a few cheap shots but that is OK. I can handle that.
Your views on respect the turban and suffer a Sikh man for company at lunch and so on. I have clearly outlined it is just a towel worn on the head by many all over the world. Is that a black and white assertion? Can you read and comprehend issues?
I have hopefully shown you a better way of thinking. You are welcome to find the ‘liberation’ you desire and be in touch with the ‘Anonymous Gal’ within you. That is between you and your maker.
Here is a tip: when you are bested in an argument, just accept it. Or come back with something stronger and useful. Thanks.
Since you want to analyse and prove something.
You started off with blanket abuses towards the Sikhs. Let me cut and paste your first reactions:
“Sikhs should consider an even more holier symbol of faith that lurks beneath the turban called brain! In fact, I would suggest Sikhs should be the first ones to understand how easy it would be for terrorists to sneak ‘weapons’ using a turban.” And about how you avoid a sikh colleague at lunch like the plague. yada yada.
I gave a link to a related incident and used some sarcasm about your racial profiling at lunchtime (which you had proudly written about).
You replied with some abuse, and mentioned Dr. Haneef (wonder why he is always in your dreams). And took my comment about lynching seriously and said you didnt want to be shot as opposed to being lynched.
and so on…
The only thing that came out is that you are a cowardly guy with a racist bent of mind. Which is fine, lots of us are like that. You seem to have a big ego too, thinking your tastes/comments/whatever are ‘superior’ just by reading some comments on an internet forum posted anonymously. And that there is some winner and loser here. Your comments – Mildly amusing and abusive sure. But thats how most comments on this thread read.
Here’s my tip to you in return: stop indulging in self-praise (it is vomit inducing), get your head out of ass and stop thinking that what you write here is important or will have any effect on the real world. It wont.
Enjoy.
‘X’ Guy
That was no blanket abuse. It was a general feeling which found expression through my comment. What is the bravery you are referring to? With a nickname like Anonymous Guy are you being brave? You should be the last one to talk about bravery!
My comments are refreshingly original. If they offend or annoy somebody they are welcome to refute them. I have demolished your claims on why we should respect turbans; why Kodavas and Sikhs alone are brave. By holding up these communities you have unknowingly abused other equally brave community of soldiers. I took your word on lynching and Dr. Haneef at its face value. In return, I wanted to show where I stand on these issues.
Sure there are winners and losers here. Go ahead and ask the forum. Likewise, head out of your closet and kilt regalia and get some fresh air!
DB,
No one claimed about their own braveness (read all the comments again if you want :), only you started off admitting you are a coward – scroll up and read your first few posts. I was making the point that the Sikh have a martial history, and never discluded anyone else – the Kodavas, the vokkaligas whoever – and that it is absurd that a narrow minded and self-admitted coward like you questions it.
Just an example of your ‘refreshingly original’ (read twisted) thinking from your previous post:
‘by holding up these communities you have unknowingly abused other equally brave community of soldiers’. So when you praise someone, you have to praise everyone else in the whole world at the same time? And if you dont – you are abusing them? Faulty syllogism and ad hominen attacks are all that make up your ‘arguments’. About Dr. Haneef – whats he got to do with every topic – why is he such a big part of your life?
There – how demolished does your previous posting look now? Read carefully before you go about praising yourself or writing about some great victory.
Making claims about things which werent written, praising your own banal comments to high heavens, deluding yourself that you won at something by posting comments on a forum, admitting to an inferiority complex and cowardice in your personal life – you need to see a shrink before it is too late. Or maybe start going to lunch with the Sikh gentleman at work – some of his good qualities may rub off on you.
‘X’ Guy
Your comments are laughable! I just laughed through your ‘logic’. BTW that should be ‘ad hominem’ :) Feeling brave now after using some logic terminology? LOL
Spit and run is your tactic. Your cowardice makes you accommodate the smelly and unworthy. My bravery excludes them. That’s all.
I don’t know about you but I am perfectly happy with my life. But you are the anonymous guy. Work that one out:) QED
And Doddi Buddi is not anonymous?
DB,
Nitpicking on typos. Ad hominem is the only game you place for you :)
Doddi
Don’t waste time on net, son go to scholl. It your young age to learn but not to argue with elders. These Sikh ruled uptp Afghanistan. When Hitler was about getting ready for dinned in London. British begged these brave people to come foward and fight. At time there was Sikh community of 14 Million, above half million was fighting war, more contribution than any other community in world per capita. Son they have earned rights to wear turban, may be Sikh Regiment should be put on Bin Lande’s ass they will hunt the coward out. Now for you, attend your classes.
Little info for people. When British invaded India they saw how brave Sikh’s were and started requiting them into the army and at that time they were allowed to wear their turban’s without even a helmet because they respected the way Sikh’s would fight to the end for their mother land. Another thing is that this law was just enacted know what about all the Sikh’s with turban’s who flew in airplanes before this law was enacted. Their was never an incident where a Sikh actually hid anything under their turban. You could always just x-ray it or something so that it odes not have to be touched. that is also true the only people to ever rule Afghanistan were the Sikh’s. At that time the people were so afraid that even tell this day they tell stories to thier children that the Sikh king maharaj ranjit singh will come and take you away. Also any afgani who was riding a horse when a Sikh person walked by would have to dismount his horse and walk until he passed the Sikh and then he could ride his horse. There are many more things that Sikh’s did that show their braver for the country. If your really want more info i can go on for almost all day. You really should learn your history and not what the government says you should learn in school.
Another thing that u might want to look up is when the Indian goverment even betraded them and attacked thier most holies shrine the Darbar Sahib or Golden temple. Something for you to learn look up operation bluestar 1984, operation black thunder, or operation woodrose. They have always been thought of as a danger because they are proud of what they are and are willing to show it
Just an interesting fact, its either 73% or 93% the people who died for India(Martyrs) for the independence of India were Sikhs. And im not sure at that time, but as of now Sikhs are only 2% of Indias population. So you tell me Doddi buddy your little hindu faggot ass chyling In America can talk smack about Sikhs and their attire when your here thanks to all those Sikhs (and some Hindus and Muslims)who died for the People of India. Sikhs used to save hindus and their women from Moghuls and i bet your ancestry probably relates to one of them. Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji gave his head for the Hindu race when the Moghul Emperor wanted to finish them off. The hindus came to Guru Ji because the Moghul Emperor demanded the head of a Soul who’s life is very important to the people. Guru Ji without a second thought knew what he had to do. Dhan Dhan Guru Ji gave his life for the hindu race and now the hindus dont even recognize that it happened. Im not saying all hindus are bad, im just telling the truth.