Talk:Sarika Singh
I find that this whole issue is in many ways blown out of all proportion. That each of us sikhs, should have the freedom to practice our religous beliefs, as should others goes without saying. That each of us should be able to wear apparel which denotes our faith is a more complex argument. Almost all religions have religous apparel which denotes who they are. I can accept that a beliver who has taken Amrit, will hold this are absolutely important, but those of us who have not, which included Sarika make all sorts of compromises in our lives which do not denote our faith.
Sarika Singh, well the name should speak for itself. The word Singh denotes the male of the faith. She should be called Sarika Kaur. It is anoying and a dimunition of the faith when females refer to themselves as "Singh". If that is an exporession of her faith, then she is sadly wrong. Perhaps she should reflect on this before taking the high ground. Perhaps those in support should also reflect on this also.
Is is going to be the next case that a BNP supprter who alledgedly converts to Sikhism (remember that he does not have to take Amrit to do so) will be allowed into a school with a Kirpan?
I am all for the maintenance of faith, I am sikh myself, but it is about time that we stopped indoctrinating our children and useing them as the means for our own battlkes. This girls education has been materially affected. her ability to see the contradiction of her faith and her name has been impaired. What chance do es she have in life, when those around her do not have the good sense to counsel her properly.
If she is so committed, then let her take Amrit and change her name. let us see her committment.
For the sake of our faith, which is robust and beutiful, let us not taint it with squalbles, butas the Granth sahib says, consider the whole sangat.
Where do you draw the line?
In a similar case concerning the turban, what would be your stand? Do you think that a Sikh male should be prohibited from attending school without his turban. Who decides when it is right for one to start wearing the 5Ks.
If a non-Sikh decides to become a Sikh, then who decides which of the 5Ks he or she should be allowed to wear and in which order - Or do you think that he or she should not wear any of the 5Ks until they take amrit?
Surely these are thinks that the individual should be allowed to choose themselves. Sarika should have the choice to decide which of the 5Ks she wants to wear or not wear as she becomes more closer to her faith. The State does not have a right to infringe on this right.
Singh is part of her chosen surname which is Watkins-Singh - presumably a connection to her mother who is Sikh. She has not taken amrit and does not use the name Kaur. This is perfectly acceptable for someone who is not a baptised Sikh. Bhul-chuk-maff, das Hari Singhtalk 23:24, 19 June 2008 (UTC)
