And let it start once again…
I wouldn’t say I tie an under pugh made of tin foil but sometimes the moves are so out in the open that you can’t help but to see what’s to coming five moves in advance.
What happened on Saturday was a victory, but not one to be celebrated by those who feel the mahantaa of Dasam Guru di baani. Rather one for those who wish to see the Sikh faith saturated and flushed out of the main stream. The irony lies in the fact that those protesting felt that their protests where in defiance of the delusion of Sikhi but this very group only helped further trigger that very cause.
There’s been little doubt that external forces have been trying to crush Sikhs from within, creating issues from non issues stirring up heated and emotional debates while gouging at scars that they’ve known would trigger a response. This started a few years back with the complete revival of looking at the Sikhs and particularly the Nagar Kirtans. Portraying us as revengeful terrorist loving extremists who all want nothing more then to see the death of every Hindu. They tried to make us feel ashamed for honouring our Shaheeds on floats, and in our Gurdwaray. Those who fell victim to this self hate would publicly question what the point of honouring our Shaheeds really is, these questions would then garner emotional responses of disrespect and outrage. No one willing to talk or educate but rather yell and humiliate those who dared have an inkling of disrespect.
Then, there was the Dasam issue. They started hurling insults, calling it “kanjar bani”, they’d sit on forums, create websites and send countless emails, challenging people to debates on the radio if they dared. Most times these debates would end in them reading from notes that they google’d and these internet scholars would later resort to plain old name calling. They’d master how to play the victim role if anyone ever dared incite any emotional response, carefully painting the other side as uneducated, power hungry monsters, fearful of losing control. In the community, they lifted themselves to a new platform of self riotousness.
They stole plays right out of the playbook of the Glenn Backs, and Bill O Riley’s. They’d question, for the sake of questioning no matter how absurd the question itself really was. They’d incite, and agitate knowing full well that any means of suppressing their questions would only further enhance their stand of being innocent in the mix of things. They ignored the responses, side stepped the rebuttals only asking the questions louder each time drowning out any rational debate.
They poked the dog, knowing very well that sooner or later it would bite, they were counting on it. Forcing the dog to finally give in and just snap, so that they could then point and say “See told you that they’re dangerous.” Then demand that the dog be put to sleep, for everyones safety. The thing is, none of this was overly clever, or intrinsically planned It was all out there in the open and by our very nature we got played, and took the bait. We succumbed to what they wanted and became the very dogs that they were painting us out to be.
This is why we can’t give in to their games. Nor is it reason for us to ever stoop to there level and try to play it against them. Instead this is a time when we need to own up for our own mistakes, admit where we were wrong and put focus back on where focus needs to be. The good that the community has done over the years.
There’s a reason people don’t talk about the good, its because we ourselves don’t. We often applaud it from afar and move on. Sometimes out of jealousy we ourselves resent it and try to ignore it feeling that there’s no reason to focus to much on it, whether out of humility or jealousy the results remain the same, by not telling our story and being in control of it, we leave it for others to tell.
Now more then ever the community needs to be pre-emptive in highlighting the good, not so we can cover up the bad, we need to always remain honest and truthful in acknowledging our faults, but more importantly so that we can present our side of the story. Let the world know who we really are, and not let the media paint us with a single stroked brush. Show that like every community amongst the minute of “bad”, there exists even more good, and that we ourselves are mature, well and capable of rooting out such evils.
See we may have been put in a corner, but not without an exit, and that unless this is a game we want to lose, maybe its time to make the right move.
The following is a note that was posted on facebook by a friend regarding the Darshan Singh protests that happened yesterday in Toronto. While I wasn’t at the event I did feel that panthic.org’s coverage was more then just a little skewed, and that this note resonated well with my own views on what happened.
Some facts of what happened April 2, 2010 at Sikh Lehar Centre in Toronto, *based on eyewitness accounts, I was not there, but 3-4 people I have talked to were*
This shows that clearly Singhs went there with an intention to inflict bodily harm towards members of Sikh Lehar Centre. Panthic.org’s report and JS’s report that Singhs attacked in self-defense is total bullshit. JS, by the way, showed up after the altercation occurred, so him posting a picture (which he took after everything happened) and inferring that he was there while it happened is bullshit.
Many Singhs, who are Pro-Dasam Granth, left after seeing the extremism and total disregard for humanity.
So this brings us to the point, should we be actively trying to kill/harm people who do not support Dasam Granth? Do not get me wrong, protesting peacefully is one thing, but going directly and trying to bust into a gurdrawa and ‘chop into peices’ Anti-Dasam Granth supporters is another.
I do not support this view and anyone who does should seriously re-think their beliefs. A very big percent of the Panth right now does not even believe in Raagmala from Adi Guru Granth Sahib, are you going to massacre all of them? What about the part of the Panth that does not believe in Sarbloh Granth, which btw is a pretty common belief even amongst the traditional Sikh groups like the Nirmala Sampradya.
Education is the only solution to the Anti-Dasam Granth problem. Fighting only polarizes the situation, because it creates and places more faith in the minds of the Anti-Dasam Granth supporters.
The Problem we have is that we ourselves, the Pro-Dasam Granth supporters are not even educated, and are not getting out there to the public and doing as much prachaar as the anti-dasam granth lot.
Manjit Mangat, president of anti-Panthic Sikh Lehar Center, bloodied in an altercation, stands humiliated at the front steps of his complex where Ragi was to visit.
Tagged: darshan singh, protests, Sikh
Heroism is the divine relation which, in all times, unites a great man to other men.
- Thomas Carlyle
A very good friend once told me, “Respect everyone, but trust only Gurusahib.” I tried to understand and practice that for some time now, but today I need to increase that trust-count by one.
So let me state for the record:
In Superman we trust.
Now before you discard this post as the nonsense of a madman, allow me my vanity, and give me the next couple of minutes to elaborate. Naturally, being an object of fictitious writing, we can leave Superman in the realm of the pen, or we can massage that imaginary line of real and dream world for the sake of admiration.
When the word Superman hits the ear drum, pushers and pretenders alike, get a breeze of air that strokes their ego. No matter whom you maybe, there is something, even if dormant, that can identify with Superman. But I’m not here to talk about the man; I’m here to speak about the legend, the symbol, the Crown.
I, much like the rest of the world think by putting that ‘S’ on my chest, lifting a couple of weights, or even to some extremes, adorning the red cape, somehow makes me Superman. Sorely how mistaken we are my friends. To disrespect such a man by wearing his clothes but neglecting his morals, his ideals and above all his struggle is nothing short of blasphemy. We fail to think and realize the presence of divinity.
You see it’s not our fascination with Superman as much as it is with his physical image that we try to relate too. We want his strength, his ‘faster than a speeding bullet’ speed, his other uncanny powers and for some, his fame. But lost in the physical persona of Superman, is his neglected inner-being; the driving force behind the man.
Blind faith has its limits, so everybody needs someone to show them that living the just life is possible. Someone to look up to whenever you are down, someone to catch you while you’re falling. Nowadays, especially, it is more crucial than ever. We as a society are able to relate with the stable of antiheroes more than we can with the traditional hero. For instance, heroes such as Batman, Spiderman and Jack Bauer all follow the ideal that ‘the end justifies the means.’ So as long as the goal gets accomplished the path taken is irrelevant. ‘Okay!’ You may say, ‘rightfully so’. In the world today, situations are not as black as white as they once were. Sometimes hard times call for hard measures. However, if I may borrow the words and actions of Harvey Dent as evidence, subjecting ourselves to this train of thought will eventually prove that the weight of our vices is too much to bear.
“You thought we could be decent men in an indecent time. But you were wrong. The world is cruel…”
Due to the nature of the world described by the white knight who seemingly ‘lived long enough to see himself become the villain’, the need for an absolute hero is that much more imperative. Not a hero that has his own rules that he can bend whenever it suits his purpose, but a set of concrete rules that do not waver with changes in condition. Then and only then can you leave the decision made by your mind up to absolute truth. There is no gray area, no relativity, and no discrepancy. Superman is that traditional hero. He does not waver, he does not compromise and he always does the right thing. On society’s part, it is not from a lack of trying either. He is subject to the same environment as our antiheroes, but he still retains his ideals. Some people say it is his innate goodness or his virtues that allows him to rise. However, those factors can only temporarily resist the onslaught of society’s worst before they reach the breaking point. His power and ability come from a totally different origin.
One can argue, ‘Sure it’s easy doing the right thing when you got all those powers.’ But again, let us not get stuck in the physical realm again. Superman chooses to do everything he does. He is not told to save people. When he wakes up in the morning, he knows that the battle he is waging will always end in defeat. No matter how many lives he saves, no matter how many people he inspires, people will die and people will stray. Now someone tell me, how much mental strength it takes to fight knowing that you are going to lose. That pressure of knowing the outcome before the game starts makes some question the rules and some to even refrain from playing. When does the supply of goodness or virtues end?
Ever been bogged down by pressure? Felt that sensation that goes down your neck, when you feel the fatigue of your muscles buckling? We think it’s easy wearing the crown, at least for appearances, but only the person with that weight on their shoulders would know. I am sure he has the same thoughts as everyone else. He isn’t free of the debate with the pure and impure mind. An outcome of nurture on Earth gives him a presence of human emotions. He knows how it would feel to just give up and relax for a moment. To let up when it is justified, to hang up the boots and live for himself. Yet he still moves on. He still struggles because he knows people need to have their faith rewarded.
The human side of him wants that adulation and worship. He wants to look over at Lois Lane and say ‘I’m Superman’. He wants to tell everyone that ‘I just saved X amount of people today’. But he chooses to share those thoughts with the blowing wind and rustling leaves. Have you ever done something that you thought granted recognition, and not obtained it? The human ego is such a fiend that it will let everybody know who did what in order to hear that sweet sound of praise. Saving all those lives, inspiring all those people, you would think that Superman would project his grandeur onto the mass populace. Instead he chooses to live as the mild mannered Clark Kent. Constantly lying to the people he loves in order to protect them. Sacrificing the good in his life for the benefit of the masses. The list goes on, and on.
The lack of love for the man behind Superman is clearly evident when you ask someone what their thoughts are on the man. The most common adjectives that follow suit are: ‘Nerd, Geek, Mr. Goody Tooshoes’ or some other reference to his unyielding nature. We do not want to relate to that absolute goodness because we think it is hard. It is easier idolizing a flawed superhero because it justifies our own flaws and drawbacks. We see ourselves going through the same situations and acting in the same manner as the Punisher, Wolverine, or any head strong hero. This is exactly what makes Superman that much more distinctive. He has the same thoughts and emotions flow through his mind but chooses to do the right thing. He is here to show us that it is possible. He is here to inspire the good fight, to strengthen the side of justice and return the lost hope of Heaven.
Some people will remark that he has to be Clark Kent to get by. However, he was Clark Kent before he put on the tights and took flight. To the contrary, he has to be Superman in order to be Clark Kent. They are not alter egos. They are one and the same. Clark Kent is the outer projection he must give to people in order to keep them safe. In the words of Bill from Kill Bill Volume II(RIP David Carradine), “What Kent wears – the glasses, the business suit – that’s the costume. That’s the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He’s weak… he’s unsure of himself… he’s a coward.”
With all that power, why would someone subject themselves to such ridicule?
ਜਿਨ੍ ਪਟੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਗੁਦੜੁ ਤੇ ਭਲੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥
Those who have silk on the inside and rags on the outside, are the just ones in this world.
The Just, how few they are, have successfully created an ideal, from which their limitless supply of energy comes from. Although when we hear Superman we jump to the stature of the man and his costume, the true profound fascination with Superman lies in what he stands for. He has become that ideal. That brand. That symbol. Inseparable by any means. The man himself will pass away eventually. There will be people who will test their might by trying to bury him. But the everlasting impression of Superman will never fade. In a world with many antiheroes and few superheroes, there is only one noble warrior. So this is dedicated to that righteous knight who even through fiction shoulders the weight for those who cannot. A modern day Atlas. The symbol that inspires the people to bypass the underbelly of this world. The image of hope. The One to show us that ‘Heaven ain’t hard to find’ and lastly, to prove that wearing a crown is deeper than the waves of self gratification; it’s Divine.
A vigilante is just a man lost in the scramble for his own gratification.
He can be destroyed or locked up.
But if you make yourself more than just a man,
If you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can’t stop you,
Then you become something else entirely:
Legend
Tagged: comics, phiolosphy, superman
If you don’t know him yet, let me introduce you to Subaig Singh (2 – 0 -0), a gursikh MMA fighter coming out of the UK. Staying true to his name ( “Mightiest of em all” [?] ) he’s gone 2 an 0 so far in the local circuit.
While the bigger promotions maybe still far off, the fact that a Singh is throwing down in the cage will hopefully act as an inspiration for others to also step their training up. Pending that he stays healthy and continues to get quality training, its not far off to expect Singh to be part of the big show in the near future.
For now though its on the community to back such talent so be sure to throw him a shout on his facebook fan page, follow him on twitter (@subaigsingh) [updated], visit his website [subaigsingh.com] and if possible go watch him fight live.
For now though, rumble young man rumble.
Tagged: fighter, MMA, Sikh, subaig singh
It is with mixed emotions that I bring y’all the following news. Actually not really, that’s just how press conferences are usually started.
Anyways, this is to let y’all know I’m going back to the Pind so if you need to get a hold of your boy, you know where I be.
Obviously I’ll be hollering at my man Shinda all the time because that’s just how we do. Y’all know how it is. Bros before Ho’s, right?
Hollllaaaaaaaaaaa.
I was asked to give my take on Tiger Woods press conference so here it is.
Tiger Woods is a dumbass and he became a bigger dumbass after that speech he made. And lets be real here, that was no apology. That was one man reading a piece of paper without any emotion and in the middle of it of all, like all disgraced athletes, hes going to find religion now.
Also, apparently his mistresses were pissed off because he didnt apologize to them in his speech. They felt they were owed one. Really? Are you kidding me? You knew who he was. It wasnt as if any of these girls didnt know who they were sleeping with. Hes Tiger god damn Woods. The entire world knows this man and you CHOSE to get into it with him. And then you want an apology? Woman, dont be asking no dumb questions. Tiger Woods aint never had no pumpkin pie. Just because the world knows youre a whore now doesnt mean Tiger owes you an apology.
For the record, let me state I dont agree with what Tiger did to these women. Im just saying they were stupid to get into any sort of a relationship with him. There was no shortage of stupidity on Tigers side either. Come on man, youre a billionaire. Youve created this rep by being private your entire life and you chose to get married and have kids. Dont be acting like a dumbass. Man up son.
In the new CBA, the NBA owners apparently want to do away with guaranteed contracts and introduce the era of non-guaranteed contracts so that teams are not handicapped by players that dont perform after getting a big contract. As good as that sounds, its an idea that will not necessarily benefit the NBA. There are a couple of flaws that I see with this idea.
If the owners have the ability to cancel contracts at any time they choose then I assume that players will have the ability to holdout if they believe they are being paid under market value just as players do in the NFL. And unlike the NFL, one player holding out on a NBA team can have drastic results such as whether or not that team will end up making the playoffs or go golfing in mid-April. The attendance numbers for said team will also be affected since majority of the time in the NBA, the higher the number of wins, the higher the attendance numbers.
Also, having non-guaranteed contracts doesnt mean that NBA GMs will get smarter. At the end of the day, the NBA owners are in the position they are in because their GMs opened up the vault and signed players to some horrendous contracts. NBA owners have to learn that you cannot hire ex-NBA players, with minimal business knowledge and training, as GMs and expect them to make decisions that will put more money in your pocket. And what makes anyone think that NBA GMs will not continue to throw around money as they have?
The NFL has non-guaranteed contracts and if we look at their example, teams still have the ability to guarantee some portion of the contracts if they choose to do so. Assuming that is how the way it will be with the new NBA CBA then its not a stretch to say that the NBA GMs could very well start to partly guarantee contracts to lure free agents. Partly guaranteed contracts could mean 10% of the contract, 25%, 50% or even 80% percent so the GMs could put the owners back into a similar position they are in now.
At the end of the day, while non-guaranteed contracts may give the owners more financial flexibility and make players more accountable for the contracts they receive, it is still up to the GMs and the owners to be more fiscally responsible when they hand out contracts. You cannot be giving a player $111 million when your competitor can only offer him $80 million. Financial transactions like these just dont make any sense. If the owners truly want to stop losing money then they need to think twice the next time they agree to another contract guaranteed or non-guaranteed.
