Talk:Sikhs family harassed by Harris County deputies

Watching the video is is very obvious that the family is still very angry and upset. I wonder about the claim that they were not treated like humans as humans and scared police do things like this all the time. Stupidity is not just pointed at Sikhs and Muslims. Many police abuse their athority on blacks and white citizens as well.

I can see that the policeman, who does not obviously know a Sikh from a Muslim might be very afraid by a woman wearing a knife. If the anger as exhibited in the video by the young Kaur and egged on by the director who seems to be printing her name and company's name (no doubt to appear all over the internet promoting her company). Yes it is her right to wear a Kirpan in her own home - can she not understand the policeman's fear. As a non Sikh I would never have a knife on my hip as I know that a policeman (who does not know me) would be freaked out by that. I also have the right to have a rifle or pistol in my home but I wouldn't be wearing it when I invited a Policeman in my home. That doesn't seem to be the time for me to be expressing my constitutional rights. Can she not put herself in the officers boots?

After handing over the ID, Singh and his relatives showed the deputy the broken window. But the deputy couldn't seem to focus on the break-in, Singh said.

"It just looked like he didn't want to be there," he said. "I sensed a little uneasiness from him." (more like a lot) the Deputy 'freaked out'.

Could he have thought that he had fallen into a jihadist den who were about to kill him, obviously the cops didn't know Sikhs from Muslims. Teach him the difference. What would Guru Nanak do. Wonder if he talked about how Babar and his men treated him or did he teach them something?

The following sentence from the story as written is what I would write if I was trying to prove that everyone disliked me and was treating me unequally

The officers' behavior sent a loud message to Sikhs and Muslims that they are second class citizens.

Did it (?) or did their superior, apologize for the officers' stupidity and order the families release. How about all the positive responses from the people of Houston who have written with apologies? While I agree that this was a senseless thing can we not look at it to see why it happened and take corrective action.

The Sikh and his cousin who were attacked in New York asked that his attackers serve time (public service) in Sikh Gurdwaras - might that not be a better than just an apology. How about having the Police attend some function?

The Response to the story seems very supportive of the family. One guy named Gary added the folowing:

Guru Arjan from the SGGS

I see no stranger, I see no enemy

[Based on Bisar gaee sabh taat paraaee by Guru Arjan Dev Ji]

I see no stranger, I see no enemy;

Wherever I look, God is all I see.

I don't think of Us and Them,

No one do I hate or condemn,

I see God's image - each one a friend.

Of any religion, caste or race,

All I see is God's shining face -

His smiling face, His gracious face.

Accept as beautiful all His design,

I learnt this truth in Sangat divine.

One Word resounds in me and you -

Waheguru ... Waheguru ...

In him, in her, in me and you -

Waheguru ... Waheguru ...

Beholding in every being His light,

I bloom like a flower in joy and delight.

Just a thought, is being a victim and demanding blood or at least equal pain inflicted on the stupid ignorant cops the thing to do? Or how about having this showing the family that their neighbors around Houston support them and having it end such discrimination. Allenwalla 23:19, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

And this response from a babtist who saw the news story

Someone who sort of sees some of the problem. I saw this in a response to the story

I am a middle-aged, white, conservative, baptist male & I am completely astonished & ashamed of the deputies actions. GetAClue, you are have 2 excellent posts & I couldn't agree with you more. I do not agree with the Sikh's religious beliefs, nor do I understand why wearing a small dagger is important to their religion.

BUT, they have the right to be treated with respect, especially in THEIR own home. And if the deputies are young & don't know any better, who's fault is that? Why are they on the streets if they obviously have not received the proper training? What ever happened to "Protect and Serve". It seems like too often the motto is 'Judge & Punish'. I understand the concept of 'better safe than sorry' for police officers, they have a dangerous job. But no one ever says 'better stupid than sorry' is a good idea.

TO POLICE OFFICERS: Remember when you are working, that respect is earned. You can bully & demand all you want, but if you truly want civilians to respect you, it has to be earned. The best way to earn someone's respect is to respect them. A quiet, but firm request to the long lady to please put the dagger down until you leave would have probably resulted in your request being followed. But to 'freak out', probably made the young lady feel like she needed her dagger. USE COMMON SENSE WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE! Sometimes I wonder, how easy is the police academy? Why is it so hard to punish them when they make mistakes?

Even though this reader saw and agreed that the deputies acted stupidly he still sees the kirpan as something that the long (?) (tall?) lady can just put down or take off. i.e. He does not understand the religious reason re. the Kirpan.

A question

Obviously Sikhs take off their Kirpans while flying and though I see many sikhs about, here in the States I never see Kirpans openly worn outside Gurdwaras. Why? Allenwalla 02:07, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

Mis-understanding on both sides

Hi Richard,

Great comments and information. I agree that the Sikh family is rightly hurt and angry while the policeman not having been properly informed and trained is shocked and surprised. He therefore reacts in an aggressive and firm manner as is to be expected from a law enforcement officer when under pressure.

I think the fault lies with the training programme where the officers are not fully trained in the ways of the different cultures that are found in the USA. Also, as Sikhs, we need to take things into our own hands and invite senior policemen to our Gurdwaras so that they can learn about us and also to explain to us what they are doing to train their officers about Sikhi and the confusion with terrorist!

In the UK, due to better awareness and more "integration" of the Sikh people into the general community, less problems are found. Also, when I was young, I remember listening to top policemen come to Gurdwaras to ask for recruits from the Sikh sangat. This all creates a feeling of one big community. The need for different cultures to share platforms is vital and paramount. Only by sharing events together can we begin to understand each other and then trust each other.

The local Sikh community must invite the officers to visit the Sikh community and see how we operate - confrontation is no solution! Information and education is the way forward. The more spectacular our approach to the principles of "One Community of God"; the better the impact on the media - a better understanding of Sikhs by the authorities.

What a wonderful message from the fifth Guru! thanks for reminding. Regards, Hari Singh^talk 02:57, 7 December 2008 (UTC)