I don't understand why they get so confused. We are SIKHS!!!
If you guys out there are lost about what I am talking about, read the links below
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal/general_news/sikhs_upset_over_mb_s_gaffe.html
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/2214011/Article/index_html
I would say the best comment given on this is by my fried, Harjeet Singh.
Below are 2 comments that were put on a blog with this topic.
(http://poobalan.com/blog/religion/2008/04/14/perak-mb-confused-between-sikhs-and-bengalis/#comment-6599)
# KitManon wrote on the 15 Apr 2008 at 2:18 pm
I think this is over reaction a bit. I’m quite sure majority of non-Indians Malaysian thought it’s the same. Heck, i didn’t know either until now.(Although i do know that Sikh is a religion, not a race, i thnk many Malaysian dun even realized this).
Who’s fault it is? Well, for a start, maybe it’s because our BN Tourism and Culture ministers didn’t promote this information to all the Malaysian properly during the last 50 years? All i saw on RTM and TV3 were only Malay, Chinese and Indian during those feel-good-but-fake-as-hell “racial harmony” promo…..hardly ever a Sikh or a Bengali. Yep. The BN(more specifically UMNO) dun give a shit to others coz they think their votes are insignificant.
Anyway, i won’t be offended if someone mistake me for a Hakka or Hokkien or mistake me for a Christian. What’s the big deal? I’ll just tell them I’m not any of those and proudly tell them I’m Cantonese and a Buddhist.
I think the Sikh community should have taken the chance to correct the MB in good spirits. We’ve just knocked out BN in Perak by a slim margin. Do not waste this golden opportunity and bicker among ourselves over small resolvable matters!!!!
Harjeet Singh reply on April 16, 2008:
That’s a rather biased statement passed by you, Mr.Kitman. Bigotism is running in your blood and may be absence of respect towards others too!
Chinese - may it be Hakka or Hokkien or even Cantonese - they all share the same written language. Chinese’s King had standardized the whole language into a common written script. Not in India. Sikh is a religion and Bengali is a race. The Sikhs have a unique written language that differs from all other Indian language. India is a nation and comprised of numerous of languages and cultures that sometimes are totally strange to even their neigbouring states. Unlike Malaysia, where we learn the common language Malay. You are simply an ignorant sciolist that refuse to learn about anyone else or improve your General Knowledge. Read up more my fellow citizen.
Sikhism is now ranked 5th universal religion in the world. It is funny that you don’t even know that Sikh is a religion. Check your IQ please.
For hundred of years, the SIKHS have been inspiring the world with numerous inventions, discoveries, legacies, morale values and many other actions that are to be proud of and still remained incognitos. The backbone of the whole communication of the world - the FIBER OPTICS were founded and developed by Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany. I am not bragging but showing you an example of ‘wasting the golden opportunity’ as mentioned by you.
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth because of the Blacks freedom. They both had different views - but let’s see now in the United States whereby a Black candidate is now running for the presidency. Do you want to call him a NIGGER??? I don’t think so.
Government has incorporated a few awareness on Sikhism in the Morale studies. So if you are a Chinese, then shame on you for not paying attention in your Morale class.
For an example, do you know the difference between laptop and a PC? Did government promulgated you this in the school for the past 50 years? You learnt it by yourself right? So why blame the tools when you should be the one to be blamed!
It’s easy to condemn than to understand and learn!
The Sikhs have an identity -and it must be respected as we respect all. Calling other people names or slurs are just act of malevolent. Benggali, Kelling, Nigger, Ginger or etc. hurts the feeling of the listener and MUST be avoided at all circumstances. These is not an anachronism.
If the country can only be developed by jokes and slurs (as you have mentioned not to waste this golden opportunity and bicker among small resolvable matters), then you in dire state of Morale values improvement. Learn from the Japanese! You have been living in a shell for too long - jump out to the developing world pro bono publico.
