Cultural Politcs or Political Fear
Writing by shinda on Saturday, 30 of June , 2007
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].
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MANJOT from 
Made Sunday, 1 of July , 2007 at 9:59 am
wat a guy…………….wats with the dark fusion part….lool….u had to put dat
CBC makes ’sepertists’ out to be a bad thing, but we have over 50 Bloqquebecois sepertists sitting in parliament.
There is nothing wrong in being a sepertists. The media is just playing games.
Two words Shinda, COPE OUT.
Let’s discuss “the whole Nagar Kirtan thing” shall we? That “whole Nagar Kirtan thing” was a disgrace to the Sikh, and Canadian community. That “whole Nagar Kirtan thing” as you so non-shalantly put it, paraded a terrorist who master minded the greatest tragedy in Canadian history. I wonder if we saw, in the US, a float parading the picture of Osama Bin Laden, at an islamic religious holiday, if we would call it “the whole 9/11 thing”
OH BY THE WAY, OSAMA STILL CLAIMS HE DID NOTHING, AND HASNT STOOD TRIAL AND HASNT DEFENDED HIMSELF, BUT I GUESS ACCORDING TO YOUR LOGIC HE IS STILL INNOCENT RIGHT? OR DOES THE SHOE FIT IN HIS CASE TOO?
Shinda, its one thing to write your blog to the mindless masses, but you will soon realize that people will disect everthing you say, when your credibility has been shattered the way yours had. The Bains article in the Toronto Star had NOTHING to do with Bains having a critical role in the leadership race.
If you read the article at all without any bias you would realize the article was nothing more than a reminder to the population that “canada is multicultural”, using Bains ethnicity as an example. The notoriously anti-war Star, praised Bains for his oppisition to the Canadian role in Afghanistan, and praised the way he opposed the Conservative government in their handling of the situation. Nothing like an article thats mostly about his ethnicity, family and upbringing and NOTHING about his political history to spell out SUCESS IN POLTICS EH SHINDA?
PS- They question his ties to terrorism in the article.
Shinda you suffer what the famous psychologist Franz Boas described as ethnocentric egotism. Now, I know who I am talking to, so let me break this down for you old chum. Basically, enthnocentric behaviour is when one sees the world from the perspective of their own culture that becomes DETERMENTIAL TO BOTH THE PERSON AND THE PERCEPTION OF REALITY THAT THE PERSON HOLDS IS TRUE. So before you go on the “thats right I am centric about Sikhi and culture etc..” realize that its not a good thing. In addition, you may be proud or feel good about that deluision. Examples? Every post, but more specifically, CONDEMING WESTERN POLITICAL PHILSOPOHY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SIKHS (ignoring the pure history and success of it both in eastern and western society). Another example? Thinking that what the Islamic terrorists are doing is wrong but what the Khalistan supporters do is right even though they both believe in violence means and they both have the EXACT SAME JUSTIFICATION FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
As a result of this condition, you think that there is an ideal sikh community and anyone opposing this ideal community must be a) not a real member of that community or b) somehow influenced or wrong in their beliefs. The sikh community is comprised of people with views and beliefs of all spectrums. Stop thinking that the the CBC made “us” look one way (as if we all support the violence and blood shed). Objectively, you would have seen an insight into something that is plaguing not our community at home, not at all, but the community overseas.
So Shinda, does making this issue that is serious which caused so much trauma and death for the Canadian public, a poltical issue somewhat damper the support of violence? Is that your motive? Downplaying this serious issue to just a ‘canadian political argument based on regional affairs?’ Any politican, scratch that, any human being is smart enough to deicfer between poltical jargon and the effects of a human tragedy. The condeming of what happened at the Nagar Kirtan in Surrey is beyond a political stance, realize this Shinda, there are ethics involved, get it through your head.
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So Shinda are we the victim? Is that your final stance? Did we bring this upon ourselves, or is it a mass conspircy by the Canadians to get rid of Sikhs? Is the country that is always praised for its peacekeeping, history of good treatment of immigrants, and at the top of the world for multicultural oppertunites all of a sudden anti sikhi?
Or maybe, just maybe is this the result of something our the select few of our community committed? Maybe its something about seeing the leader of an organization saying we need to kill 50,000 people to get equal just didnt sit right with the Canadian people?
Or maybe seeing a plane full of Canadians, no matter their prior ethnicity, getting blown up to peices killing innocent and the young, just didnt please the Canadian people?
Maybe it was the person who was responsible for the killing being praised as a hero? Maybe the person responsible for the death of so many Canadians was paraded as a god amongst men? Something about that I know doesnt sit right with me
Perhaps it is the fact that any who opposes this view is battered and beaten to a pulp when surrounded by these select few? Or the fact that someone who testified for Canadian justice and for the justice of the dead, paid for it with his Father’s life?
Maybe it was seeing people dieing who belonged to a country that asks only for religious and ethnic tolernace? Maybe it was the fact that the terrorist and their supporters are taking advantage Maybe it was the fact that the sole purpose that those people died for was because they belong to a certain ethnicity- THE EXACT SAME ATROCITY THAT THE TERRORIST SUPPORTERS CLAIM THEY WERE A VICTIM TO.
Or perhaps shina singh, it was the fact that so many people come to Canada, the land built on the foundation of immigrants to run away from terrorism, not for it to follow them.
If you are upset why the Canadian Media and public has taken this stance, then you need to take your head out of your butt and realize it is not some sort of flimsy hit job on the sikh community. It is a problem with a sect that grows in a Canada that doesnt support terrorism dealing with Indian political affairs. It is the fact that THESE PEOPLE TOOK REFUGE IN CANADA AND KILLED CANADIANS.
Shinda, it boggles my mind why to dont seem to understand the sour taste that the Canadians and the world has with this terrorist group.
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IT IS ALWAYS SHOCKING and just utterly dumbfounding when I come across responses like yours shinda. When they take something “your community”, people whom you support, did that was SO HORRIBLE AND SO WRONG, and take the outrage and hurt that follows, and turn it around as if it is unjustified.
Shinda, this is nothing. We live in Canada. We are an accepting, forgiving society. But if the trend continues and the terrorists get their wishes, turn the US, CANADA and UK to their own playgrounds for terrorism like how the Muslims do, then documentries is not what we have to worry about.
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IF YOU ARE TO LEARN ANYTHING, at least you can now sympothsize with the suicide bombers of 9/11. Just at Baba Bagri stood infront of hundreds and said KILL, Bin Laden did the same. The injustice that we claim to suffer is the exact feeling that drove those to fly into the buildings on 9/11.
So will our future similar to what is unfloding in the world right now?
Time will tell.
But as long as the divide will exist Sikhi of peaceful and hateful, a divide I wish never existed but necessary, then this will be the challenge of our times.
“he truth is a like an insult to beliefs, but realization is like the saviour our your mind”
Rajinder Singh Brar
‘t’ the bloq didnt blow up a plane and arent responsible for the largest mass murder in Canadian history idiot.
Dildeep Singh Mand from
Made Sunday, 1 of July , 2007 at 4:15 pm
are you stupid??? first of all Franz Boas is a anthropologist…and if you simply read the definition of ethnocentric egotism you’d realize that its anthropological theory because all anthropological research should be done in terms of their culture
are you a psychologist to be diagnosing people anyways? and you think your some serious robert frost with the quotations ehh?
did you watch malik and bagri plan and then blow up air india flight 182??? i thought so…so shut up, idiot…you didnt see them do anything so dont say how these terrorist killed canadians…your no better than these reporters…your blind to see this **** is all politics
Inder Singh from 
Made Sunday, 1 of July , 2007 at 5:41 pm
Rajinder Ji
Nobody is condoning the tragedy of Air India flight.But who did it? How can you claim that sikhs did it?Two Sikhs were tried and were found not involved.After that verdict it is dishonesty on your part to blame Sikhs again.
You need to read soft target.The authors wrote that CSIS told RCMP that if you want to unravel this crime take vans to Indian Embassy and load their computers and bring them to reach at the root of plot.
We all know what happened to Parmar in India?Do you know why he was killed in fake encounter?I think you may not have heard that as you seem to be blind India lover and ignore the atrocities that Indian Govt perpetrated on innocent Sikhs.
Please watch the video of speech of Brian Andrews one of coauthors of Soft target
Part1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al2sWyjlpRw&mode=related&search=
Part2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jfFLQkZOEk&mode=related&search=
Part3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0_ZRv15iCE&mode=related&search= >>>>
Inder Singh
Great response, first class
First off your right, I didnt think you would google Franz Boas but you did. Since you want use the internet as your primary source, you would realize that BOAS CAME UP WITH WAYS TO GET OVER YOUR ETHNOCENTRISM INCLUDING DOING ETHNOGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK BASED STUDIES. Based on feildwork so ethnocentrism dont alter the reality that everyone shares.
Secondly, all you got to do for the second GREAT part of your statement is change your name to Mohammed, and changed the names from Bagri and Malik to Khalid Shiek Mohammed and Osama bin Laden in addition to changing the Air India bombing to 9/11- AND YOU HAVE THE EXACT SAME DEFENSE BY EVER NON-LOGICAL ISLAMIC TERRORIST SUPPORTERS IN THE WORLD
Any report and inquiry you read will show who was responsible, why dont you read the evidence rather than crying out “NO NO WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT, NO NO NO”.
Hey Jackass, if Parmar had nothing to done with 1984 then I wonder why his face was blown up and paraded around the streets of Surrey, Birtish Columbia, CANADA? Hmmmmmmm, how are you going to justify that?
No big conspiracy jackass, this was a terrorist attack done by Khalistan supporters to fill their 50,000 quota.
Wow its true, you idiots are nothing more than ethnocentric youth trying to defend their percieved alligances, even if it is justifying the death of so many?
What separates us from the islamic terrorist, and the people who did that to us in 1984— NOT A SINGLE THING.
yea from
Made Sunday, 1 of July , 2007 at 10:21 pm
Shinda’s back. Back again. Tell a friend. Shinda’s back, Shinda’s back Shinda’s back.
And is it just me but does it seem like this Rajinder guy is sitting infront of his screen waiting for your next post, then researching the topic and coming up with huge responses. I’m all for seeing both points of view and debating issues, but dam “shutup Ashley!”
manjot from
Made Monday, 2 of July , 2007 at 11:54 am
psstt…shindaa….i think rajinder lieks u;):P
You know what I love about this blog, it just justifies to me that this **** is nothing but a joke to you guys
it justifies the fact that none of your kids have any actual alligance to anything but you guys are mindless stooges trying to fit in.
Nothing like outcry and anger followed by *** jokes right?
Inder singh from
Made Monday, 2 of July , 2007 at 1:12 pm
Shinda ji
I submitted a comment yesterday but it has not appeared in the columns.Was it objectionable?
Thanks
Inder singh
Not one Sikh with Kaysh and turban was portrayed as a descent human being in either video. I don’t think this was an accident.
It’s kind of strange when some of the people described as “terrorists” from 9/11 show up alive and living normal lives in the Middle East. Nobody really knows the WHOLE truth so why argue about any of it?
For the most part I don’t believe in Khalistan, but I do believe that the modern Indian government has masterminded the killings of thousands of Sikhs. Guru Nanak said “Man Jeetay Jag Jeet.” Victory of the mind achieves victory in the world. I don’t think a small piece of Punjab will magically solve all the problems of Sikhs and Punjabis. If Sikhs in Punjab could unify, meditate, serve each other, and serve the environment, what can India do to them?
We all look bad when people get hot-headed and when people are violent. There’s no place for that in the Sikh Dharma. There is no place for revenge killings in Sikh Dharma. Guru Gobind Singh never extracted revenge, he was one with God and he sacrificed everything for the well being of all people.
I can’t imagine any Sikh blowing up an airplane, that is the most antithetical action for a Sikh. How can the Canadian media say that this Parmer character masterminded it without any evidence?
It’s all a bunch of trash. None of the media, none of the governments, none of the politicians in this world seem to be honest. In the US it used to be “The Communists” and now its “The terrorists.” It’s just politics so that people can be manipulated to fight unjust wars (all wars are unjust). The real enemy lives within. As long as the filth of our ego afflicts us we will not see the reign of purity around us. In that way, Khalsa Raj will always seem external, always seem distant.
Rajinder from
Made Monday, 2 of July , 2007 at 8:39 pm
Prabhu Ji,
I dont think I have EVER heard a better response and understanding of the situation then what you just explained… I want to say THANK YOU.
I think what you said sums up better much what most sikh leaders and the people concerned about the direction of sikhi is worried about. Honestly, really, just in a few words, if EVERYONE could understand your stance, and the sentiment of the majority of sikhs in india/punjab then fighting the ideaology that we are violent would be alot less. Even thought I may not agree with your whole posting, the majority of it, hit the mark.
I agree that the Indian government is corrupt and has done wrong to all types of miniorities. Whether it is Sikhs, or those in Gujrat fighting for independence, or those in Tamil Nadu literally being killed by both separatist violence and the complete lack of regard by the government for poverty and the AIDS crisis.
Seeing someone from my community standing in front of a stage yelling at the top of their lungs, screaming we have to kill 50,000 people, and that we will extract their blood etc.. is Sikhi to you guys? This leader who started the WSO, hailed as a hero is representing Sikh Dharam? Baba Parmar even if he is accused of killing should not be paraded in the streets of the country that he is accused of being the biggest mass murderer and we should understand no circumstances be promoting this violence.
These killings, these attacks, these people, they are not what our Guru’s imagined Sikhi to take. Prabhu put it the best, when he said there is no space for revenge killings in Sikhi, no place for this violence, and no place for this flith.
What will it take? For someone to blow up a couple more planes? Attack some more inncoent people? What will it take for people to realize that this is not our community, this is not what we support?
What will it take for people to realize that when we display this violence we are no worst than the people who killed us in 84?
Inder,
Your comment was caught by the spam filter, it should be up now.
Gussaywala from
Made Monday, 2 of July , 2007 at 9:34 pm
Man, this makes me so angry. How the hell can CBC show so much bias? They didn’t even mention operation B-Star, or the Delhi riots which killed thousands of Sikhs in cold blood! Why the hell can’t knowledgeable Sikhs get together and give these guys a point by point rebuttal? Tell me why can’t we do that?
I am not that knowledgeable in these matters, but I swear to God that if Vaheguru had given me knowledge on this issue I would do something. But what about those Sikhs who have the skills to answer these liars point by point, why aren’t they doing anything? Please, I beg you knowledgeable Singhs/Kaurs out there to please get off you asses and do something quick or else we are just going to see our honour get further tainted by these liars.
As Sikhs, doesn’t this make your blood boil? Please, if you call yourself a Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh Jee, then I beg those knowledgeable Sikhs to please do something to save our honour.
t from 
Made Monday, 2 of July , 2007 at 10:25 pm
rajinder, look up FLQ crisis, and see if quebec sepertists have ever done anything.
Its easy to be ignorant of the back door politics and just beleive everythign the media feeds you, thats what people do.
But that doesn’t mean its right.
What hasTORONTO NAGAR KEERTANhave to do with anything,toronto nagar keertan had no picsdisplayed , no links to khalistan. so why did they keep showing clips of toronto nagar keertan?
Rajinder keep living in ignorance, cuz like they say ignorance is bliss.
Inder singh from
Made Tuesday, 3 of July , 2007 at 1:37 am
India calls itself a democracy.If it was one why did they trample over sikh demands by force.They unleashed their military might over innocent sikhs in Punjab.If they persecute sikhs in India it is natural that sikhs who are living in free countries will voice their support for their brethern in Punjab.
I see nothing wrong in that.Why should CBC find it wrong?
Inder singh
Dildeep Singh Mand from
Made Wednesday, 11 of July , 2007 at 2:00 am
actually rajinder im a psychology major and anthro minor at mcmaster
July = The month without Shinda
Quite a sad month indeed
Umpa from
Made Monday, 23 of July , 2007 at 12:29 pm
Umpa from america?
wtf
Kala Brampton Wala from
Made Tuesday, 24 of July , 2007 at 8:43 pm
Shinda’s campin in the bush…..takin dips in the maggie lake..haha
Kala from
Made Tuesday, 24 of July , 2007 at 9:14 pm
We need a self sufficient gurudwara in the GTA. The reason for my statement is that sikh parents (amritdharis and sehajdharis) has no idea about the purattan rehat. we do one path a day and our ticket to heaven is booked first class. We talk so much about rehat but the truth is always hidden beneath the layers of our egos, “ah gian ta”, and doubt. WE need to build a gurudwara as the new sikh generation and gurudwara should be on farm land with live stock and fresh food. Gurudwara should have puratan rehat and purtan style of architect and design. Older gurudwaras have paintings, arts, sarovar and total mariyada. We can build an indoor sarovar, and design the gurudwara like a palace or a fort. There should be no committee or “pardhangi” and no receipts. Everything must go into the golak. Sangat must bring the required food for langar like daals, salt, rice etc.. The rest will be grown on the gurudwara property, e.g. wheat, vegetables, diary products etc… Langer must be simple and nutritious with all the proteins and good fats. There should be no hardcore “Tarkha” with 200 cubes of butter. We must use sarbloh “Bartans” for preparing langer due to keeping the food’s freshness and must not waste food. Sarbloh acts like a time keeper for the food’s freshness. This plan was originally developped by a friend and we are looking for a place to buy in the caledon area.We need more sangat and all the property will owned by Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth sahib ji. In india, Guru sahib ji can own property but they can not sell. I extremly like the idea because Guru Sahib ji’s always with us and forever changing our lives. The property can be named after Guru Sahib from India. No More Jathedari and Fights in the Darbar Sahib. Darbar Sahib, Langar and Sarover will be same floor, except darbar sahib few steps higher. We should be able to produce our own looking Gas from cows and can minimize the expenses to build more services for sangat in faster time.
WHAT DO YOU THINK AS A CANADIAN OR AMERICAN BORN GURSIKH? WILL WE FIGHT LIKE OUR ELDERS OR WE WILL HAVE UNITY?
Men will always have something to disagree on but when it comes to religion, we must stand under one nishan sahib like good sons and daughters of Sikh Panth.
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh
t from
Made Wednesday, 25 of July , 2007 at 12:22 am
you have to have a registered owner , Guru Sahib as owner will not work in Canada. Needs to be a corporation with directors, or a private individual.
Kala from
Made Wednesday, 25 of July , 2007 at 4:28 pm
Can’t you own property in Canada from sitting anywhere in the world?
t from
Made Wednesday, 25 of July , 2007 at 9:45 pm
yes you can, as long as your follow the law of property ownership as set out in Canada.
Prabhu Singh from
Made Thursday, 2 of August , 2007 at 2:41 pm
If the discussion forums are any indication, the youth will fight more and with greater passion than the elders. It will be over matters of the rehit.
Instead of uniting in love for the Guru, people will judge and criticize and bully those who have different beliefs or practices, but equal love.
Sorry to be pessimistic, but that seems to be the current trend. It’s on the youth to change their behavior from violence to compassion.
test bugaga
test aposter speed
tterte
