It didn’t take Rex Murphy and his crew of merry men at the CBC to once again jump on the whole Nagar Kirtan thing, even if it is only a few months later. Nonetheless as with most other things, the latest CBC special helped highlight the real problem and there real motives.

Firstly I’ll give Rex some credit, at least this time around he made an effort to properly identify the various groups. i.e not labeling theKhalsa School Gatka Akhara as being members of the ISYF, but apart from that he seemed to really just be out shit it up.

Ignoring the obvious angle that is being displayed, Sikh Separatism = Air India, it was more interesting to watch the shots that the CBC directed at the prodigal son, M.P from Brampton, Mr.Navdeep Singh Bains himself.

Its weird that on one hand you have the Toronto Star, who only months ago was all about lamenting Navdeep’s success in politics, especially after his pivotal role in the leadership race, on the other you have the CBC going after the WSO and painting a dotted line that points right to Nav, highlighting the fear that they have of him gaining any power and influence on both the federal and provincial scene.

What was really notable to watch was how the CBC attempted to perform the Kansas City shuffle, making us look one way while they went the other. For the most part I think they did skillfully accomplish this thanks in large part to none other then Mr.Ujal Dosanjh . A perfect selection because he seems to be the one person who may actually have a vested interest against the so called separatist agenda and nothing more, and lets not forget that he himself after all is a “moderate Sikh”, (moderates the new buzz word that equates to good). But while the media tries to play us with a Kansas City shuffle one needs not get distracted by everything else that’s going on and recognize what this really is, an internal political struggle. Back in November,Dosanjh backed Bob Rae, while Nav has been noted for securing the victory for Dion, which has many speculating a Ministerial role for Mr Bains , if the Liberals get back in power. Of course at this point that remains a big IF, but all the same a liberal government would mean that former Health MinisterDosanjh is thrown back to the backbenches, replaced instead by the great brown hope. So it’s obvious that there is a vested interest to seeBain’s clout and creditability get tarnished. After all you’re going to need someone as minister and if you can get the public and media againstBains then selecting him would definitely get a lot of unwanted attention on Dion and the party, don’t forget the earlier attempts made by the Vancouver media and the Federal Conservatives as trying to paintBains as having ‘terrorist’ links. (It works for the Conservatives since they want to try and damage Bains to try and loosen his grip on his riding, so they can sneak in some desi to make a strong run at him). Yet, with all these subtle jabs at Bains (the bus load of delegates coming to the convention, the delegates not freely voting, etc.), the CBC still chose not to interview the man himself. One would think that after the CBC chose to go afterBains the way they did they would at the very least have given him the courtesy to say his peice, but then again that wouldn’t have served their modus operandi.

Furthermore its always disheartening when the publicly funded news station chooses to rock a one sided approach in their media coverage, such as the fact that the CBC grabsmonay to represent the “moderate” voice of Sikhi, at the very least grab a sardar, some missionary scholar or something, but stop trying to use those who haven’t made the forward steps toward Sikhi as the voices of the Sikh nation, there go painting a picture that anyone who is a Singh is by virtue an extremist. Something about Doasnjh or Hayer being my Sikh voice in parliament and to the rest of Canada is just wrong.

As for everything else, the portrayal of Sikhs as being evil militants, etc. doesn’t and shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. It is however ironic and somewhat hypocritical to demonize Sikhs for all the weaponry depictions when it’s a mace (a weapon) that is used to open up Parliament and is found on most government insignia. Furthermore about the Air India link, it’s only fair to note that the RCMP’s primary suspects were acquitted with no case made against them. As for Parmar, seems like a matter of convenience more then anything else considering Parmar was never tried nor allowed a defense, but hey I guess if they can get the shoe to fit then why not go with it.

Anyways, it should be interesting to see the follow up that I’m sure the CBC will prepare. Hopefully WSO won’t let this go without a fight and seeing as how they are the only real established organization we have as Sikhs in Canada, will get the Sangat’s support in this matter.

Lastly shout out to Manjot Singh aka Dark Fusion, for getting some national air time for his Gatka performance aired all over Canada on National TV. Also for those wanting a more in depth analysis on whats happened in regards to the media bias make sure you check out the BC Sikh Youth website who prepared a list of the lies and mis-truth’s being spurred by the CBC’s coverage on their website [BCSikhYouth.com].

It took a minute, but I finally found the CBC Documentary from a few years back on the Indo Canadian Gang problem. I remember when the CBC first aired this special, it was the talk of the town, with some pissed that the CBC worked so hard to showcase the dark side of the community while others took it as a wake up call.

I think the thing people need to remember is most of this violence is largely drug related, not saying that it makes it right, but once you get into the drug game getting killed is just part of the game, so if you don’t want to get killed just don’t do drugs.

Although Toronto’s drug scene isn’t near as notable as that of the west coasts, it’s only a matter of time before we catch the media’s attention here, especially seeing as how Brampton has been dubbed the central hub for majority of drug imports/exports on this side of Canada.  It’s not a proven fact, but it is the word on the block, with most of the jails filled with Punjabis caught trying to smuggle in drugs from the South) but the majority of the crimes seems to be the trafficking and smuggling of the packgaes rather then the local distribution of it (where most gang  land violence seems to stem from).

Then again without any solid figures and stats, the above amounts to being nothing more then speculation and hearsay, but then again all those Hummers rollingg around Brampton may speak a different story.

All right so I’m quickly slipping back into a youtube aggregate slump, it’s just that time of year I guess, but some videos are just to funny to pass up on.

Found this picture on the Tribune india website, thought it was pretty pimp still, Nihangs are the new unofficial spokesmen for Coke-a-Cola classic.

I’m trying not to slump back into the ways of youtub’ing videos on a daily but some vidoes just stick out, and I figure this is the easiest means to share them.

There were a few others in the series on a similar note that focused on exposing the Dali Lama, and Mother Theresa which I’ve also included below.

As for Gandhi I’m not a fan, but as far as the Dali Lama and Mother Therersa go, I doubt that they’re near as evil as made out to be and the videos don’t add near as much credability or fuel to any fire or movement against them. Instead it would seem that it’s just an attempt to stir contraversy to insite discussion on the matter, but it does provide some food for thought, while being entertaining at the same time.

Note - the videos do contain language, and racial stereotypes that some may find offensive, so do note that you’ve been warned.

If the death of a conscience is a sure death then by the same virtue, the creation of one must be a true birth. It was on this day 23 years ago that the Indian Army took it upon themselves to storm the holiest of Sikh shrines, Sri Harmandir Sahib aka The Golden Temple, in what they dubbed Operation Blue Star. What followed was the genocide of Sikhs from within the Punjab and India itself. Hundreds of thousands of Sikhs were wiped out in fake police encounters, mob riots and other government sponsored programmes. It was an attempt to cleanse the state of what was dubbed by many in Parliament as the “Sikh Problem”, and they decided the best cure was amputation at its very roots, by wiping out an entire generation of Sikhs.

Now as much as people want to dilute what happened in 84 as being a political problem, or one that was between a minority and the government they fail to recognize the actual facts of what happened. When they ask why was Harmandir Sahib fortified I ask why were hundreds of other Sikh temples sieged? Why did they not convict Sant Jarnail Singh, as they had done previously, if he’s all they wanted? Why did they lock hundreds of women and children in the Parkarma and not let them leave having left the fight between them [the army] and the Singhs? Why was it that those who committed the atrocities, that Human Rights organizations the world over recognize, go on to receive awards, and seats in Parliament? Why was it that hundreds of girls were raped in front of their fathers? Why was it that those who investigated the happenings of 84 were kidnapped and killed? Why is it that any independent news reporter or source who looks at what happened in 84 come to learn of the same reality that Sikhs have been holding onto for years?

1984 was never about a single person or a group of people. It was about sending a message that Sikhi in its purest form would not be tolerated. It was about sending a message through intimidation that we own you, and you are ours. They never did accomplish that in its entirety, instead through Guru Sahibs kirpa, they created a day that is ire marked in the fathoms of history as the day when a few hundred Singhs withstood the brute might of the Indian army for a few days. A day when, with nothing more then a limited supply of bullets and resources, a few hundred Singhs withstood the fury and might of the largest hypocrisy in the World, and gave birth to a relative new  consciousness amongst Sikhs the world over.

A consciousness that inspired thousands at that time to give up their illicit ways and return to adopt the values of their forefathers. A day that continues to inspire hundreds of youth to realize the truth of their not so distant past and make an effort to return to their roots. A day that the Indian army tried to bring death to an ideology and kill away the conscience beliefs of the Sikhs, instead turned into a day that they helped plant the seed that continues to give birth to that very conscience every day. It was the very conscience that made me look into my past and history and dwelve deeper into learning about Sikhi. A day that made me go the Gurdwara and ask why, and a day that I give thanks, as it was the day that inspired me and gave birth to my very own consciousness. It truly is a day of birth, not one that is physical or biological in nature, but a real birth, the birth of a conscience.