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OP
- ED April 13, 2003 In order to understand the various factors
that have molded thoughts of our young men and women, it is important
to dwell deeper into the psyche of the believer. People with a mind bent
on religion tend to justify their argument based on how they interpret
their respective faiths. Whereas, non-believers do so based on their dreams
and aspirations of what society should be like in the real world. These
are the two ends of the spectrum. However, somewhere in between are people
who express their views so as to be able to push their own agenda in a
very subtle way, without actually letting the people know what they actually
stand for. This article is not meant to indulge in mudslinging
or trying to push into the corner those who subscribe to different views
but an honest attempt to analyze the situation so that all of us could
learn from it. It can be safely assumed that most young
men and women who are protesting the war in Iraq in this country have
not experienced adversity firsthand. This statement applies even better
in the case of first and second generation Sikhs. Most of them have been
raised in protected environments, been fed very well and have had their
needs tended to by hardworking parents. They come from very close-knit
families with connection to relatives and friends for social support.
Very few have seen sickness of any kind either. For them, the world has
all along been a perfect place where they have had the opportunity to
enjoy and have fun. Certainly, they would like to keep it that way. When situations like the current conflict
seem to threaten their perceived sense of how this world should be and
behave, it is but natural to oppose and resist. Fortunately for them,
they are in a place where free _expression of ideas and views is permitted.
Imagine what their reaction would lead to if their society did not allow
this freedom. Either they would stop bothering and let their conscience
die (as happened to most Iraqis under Saddam's regime) or (as has happened
in history Sikh history) they would rise up and protest, not fearing physical
harm. It is true that the freedom to express ones ideas is what makes
society more understanding and mature. That, in turn, makes this world
a better place to live in. In trying to study the current anti-war movement,
it is difficult to avoid looking back into recent history. It is interesting
to note that the bombings in Yugoslavia/Serbia by NATO in the late 90's
did have the sanction of the European governments. It was they who were
threatened by destabilization due to that conflict. It was they who actually
sought the bombings to save their own governments, and not because they
cared for innocent (majority of them were Kosovar muslims) citizens who
were being butchered by Milosevic. Ramsey Clark and his organization are of
only a handful of groups that actually defended the Tiananmen Square massacre/standoff
in Beijing, China in the late 80's. It is also interesting to note that
the same Ramsey Clark is the now also the attorney for Slobodan Milosevic
at the International court of Justice where he is being tried for crimes
against humanity. As one looks deeper into this, it becomes obvious that
these people have an agenda without principles and are out there to make
a name for themselves by misusing the trust of the young men and women
who follow them as if they were idealists. The United States of America has long history
of what many consider wrong doings and I agree with them. However, most
of the crimes this nation is being blamed for were committed during the
Cold War and were one way or the other a means to contain Soviet influence.
It cannot be said that it was only the imperialist motives (as some socialists/communists
would like us believe) that drove all of it. Just as people against the war do not defend
Saddam Hussein, the current American effort should be looked at from the
same perspective and not on the basis of what it has done in the past.
We are all ashamed of our nation supporting this tyrant in the past and
being indirectly responsible for the stalemate today. If Saddam was a
good ruler would he have invaded Kuwait and brought upon his country the
wrath of the United Nation by way of sanctions? As a Sikh, we find ourselves in a dilemma
as to which side should we be in this situation. Arguments have been advanced
that we ought to be brave and bold enough to raise our voice in protest,
despite the risk of repercussions, since that is the Sikh tradition. On
the other hand, people find it hard to justify anti-war protests since
they feel that it was Saddam who was stifling the voice of his people
and should therefore go, and that it is good that for once the United
States has done something for the oppressed people of Iraq. They quote
the scenes in Baghdad after its fall to the coalition troops that amply
demonstrate the feeling of the long suppressed people under Saddam's regime.
Guru Granth Sahib also does not support a
living a disgraceful life, and therefore, expects us to do something about
it. Guru Nanak in a verse in Raag Manjh Panna 142 states: - jae jeevai path luthhee jaae || subh
huraam jaethaa kishh khaae || Looking at it from this perspective it seems
appropriate what the Coalition troops have accomplished so far. This was
the also the slogan of Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He protested not
for the sake of protesting, but for upholding certain principles. Can any one explain why Guru Gobind Singh
sent a jatha (company) of Sikhs to support Bahadur Shah Zafar in the war
of accession to the throne of Delhi after the death of Aurangzeb? Was
he not concerned of innocent lives being lost in the process of that violence?
There are certain times when one has to take a stand for the general betterment
of society and not just cry foul on every turn that one feels uncomfortable
with. The Sikh history from the time of Baba Banda
Singh Bahadur is another example. Why did he and other Singhs operating
under him decide to destroy the entire city of Sirhind after defeating
Wazir Khan? Was there no pity in their minds for the 'innocents' who suffered
due to all of this? Another hypothetical question one can ask
under these circumstances is: what would one think if this conflict were
happening in India? Imagine for a moment that the Indian armed forces
start a regime of oppression and try to stifle whatever freedom the Sikhs
have there today. At the same time, a Sikh friendly regime in the USA
decided to bomb New Delhi to prevent it from annihilating the Sikhs? Would
one still see young Sikhs out in the streets protesting that war? Are
the lives of millions of Kurds and other civilians who have died in the
torture chambers of Saddam Hussein any way less valuable? So we could probably agree that as long as
the goals of this campaign are limited to liberation of the Iraqi people,
and there is no other hidden agenda, it could be justified. In the end, having observed all of the above,
we Sikhs need to understand that in the modern world, pursuits for expanding
territorial influence and the desire to stay in power have been driven
by vices like ego, greed and self-gratification. War and violence have
always been tools that promoted hatred, distrust and divisions in society
and have helped only to create narrow regional and religious boundaries.
And this has been a universal phenomenon; whether we look into European
history during Napoleon, English imperialism, or the German expansionism,
or the US civil war, or the Cold war or even the Indian hypocrisy. The
only exception to this general trend is found none other than in our own
Sikh history during the times of the Gurus, of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur
and of the Misls. It reveals that there does in fact exist a system that
can be enduring and deliver true justice and everlasting peace. We need to educate ourselves and expose it
to the world showing that while Guru Gobind Singh was addressed as the
Sachha Patshah, he expressed no ambitions for territorial control. He
commanded an army dedicated to social justice and named it akalpurakhs
fauj. He proved to mankind that there could indeed be a classless society
with love for one and all; where the only desire is to indulge in the
simran of Akalpurakh Waheguru; where the motto is the following verse
by Guru Tegh Bahadur; Salok Mehl 9 Panna: 1427: bhai kaahoo ko dhaeth nehi nehi bhai
maanuth aan || This alone, in my opinion, is the only way
to obtain real freedom and permanent peace, no matter if you are for or
against the current coalition operations in Iraq. |