Sikhism (Mis) Understandings And Mis Representations

Ashley Vargas

Topic Paper 3: Sikhism ((Mis)Understandings and (Mis)Representations) Despite being one of the world's largest world religions, Sikhism remains one of the most unknowledgeable and misunderstood traditions in America now. It is overseen and viewed in a lens based off assumptions of events that have occurred over the years. The lack of understanding has brought up too many serious consequences for their community including discriminatory policies, prejudiced stereotypes, shocking school bullying and violent hate crimes. To begin, Sikhism is a religion originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent about the end of the 15th century. It is known as one of the youngest of the major world religions! The vital beliefs of

Even though one isn’t saying anything verbally, I can’t imagine how it feels when someone show disgust or wariness around you for no reason. Going onto another example for instance are the court cases on whether kirpans can be carried around in certain locations. One of those took place in Canada, a Quebec school board told a 12-year-old Sikh boy he could not wear his ceremonial dagger in the classroom, as his faith requires. And there are probably many more of these court cases around.

An example of discrimination is seen in the book on page 110:

Racial discrimination showed itself to the Sikh in several ways including verbal abuse recalled one Sikh in California. “I used to go to Maryville every Saturday. one day a drunk gara, “white man”, came out of a bar and motioned to me saying “come here slave” and I responded saying’ I am no slave man “. He said told me our race ruled India and America too. (Mann, G. S., Numrich, P. D., & Williams, R. B., 2001)

I think that Sikh have faced so much misrepresentation and when people take what the society spoon feeds them. Being viewed dangerous people, who are constantly judged under scrutiny. Though I’m glad they are continuing to build their community and have been recently gaining more respect as people especially in