'SikhsIndia' supports the USA campaign " We Are Sikhs "

Why American Sikhs Think They Need A Publicity Campaign

Nearly 60 percent of Americans admit knowing nothing at all about Sikhs. That lack of knowledge comes at a deadly cost. In the wake of recent incidents from the 2012 Oak Creek Massacre to a shooting of a Sikh man in Washington this March, the Sikh community is taking a more vocal stand against hate.

This month, the National Sikh Campaign, an advocacy group led by former political strategists, launched a $1.3 million awareness campaign, "We are Sikhs." Funded entirely by grass-roots donations, the campaign's ads will air nationally on CNN and Fox News as well as on TV channels in central California — home to nearly 50 percent of the Sikh American population — and online.

The ad, which aims to tackle misperceptions of Sikhism, shows Sikh men and women speaking about how values of their faith — tolerance, religious freedom and gender equality — align with American values. According to Gurwin Singh Ahuja, the executive director of the National Sikh Campaign, "These are core values of the United States, yet we're often perceived as anti-American or as religious extremists. Our community is hurt by bigotry and ignorance, which is, in many ways, compounded by our own silence. To change these perceptions, I felt we had an obligation to share our stories with our neighbors."

Some young Sikhs like Sabrina Rangi, a medical student at Michigan State, are optimistic about the potential impact of the campaign. "I think after years of struggling to find the right words, this campaign is getting it right," says Rangi. "This initiative embodies everything that Sikhism represents, especially its emphasis on shared values and equality. I see this practiced in the gurdwara, where all of the participants sit together on the floor, beneath our holy book, to symbolize that regardless of gender, race or social standing, we are all one."

with thanks : WNPR : LINK : for detailed news report

" We Are Sikh " campaign educates others on what it means to be Sikh and American

An American Sikh advocacy group is hoping to change perceptions of the group with a $1.3 million commercial campaign.

On April 14, the National Sikh Campaign launched commercials to run on Fox News and CNN for about one month to help educate Americans about the Sikh faith and challenge misconceptions about their turbans. They have also aired commercials in Fresno, California, a city that holds one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States, and a frequent target for hate crimes since 9/11.

"We teach our kids the American values go hand in hand with the Sikh values."Source: We Are Sikh/YouTube

"We launched our ads on April 14, on Vaisakhi, which is a special day for Sikhs," Rajwant Singh, co-founder and senior adviser to the National Sikh Campaign, said in a phone interview. "[Vaisakhi] is a day when the turban and beard became our symbols — a mandatory part of our identity in 1699. Now, we are celebrating our identity to let the rest of America know who we are."

The campaign organizers said they hope the "We Are Sikh" commercials clear up misconceptions about their image and faith, and prove to the public that Sikh values are in line with American values. One ad, titled "Proud," features a family talking about signing up their son for Boy Scouts and describing their pride in being Sikh and American. Another ad, titled "Neighbors," features a diverse group of Sikh Americans discussing their love of Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Spongebob Squarepants.

"I've seen every episode of Spongebob, because that's what my daughters like to watch."Source: We Are SIkh/YouTube

with thanks : mic.com : LINK : for detailed news report by :  

Sarah A. Harvard

@amyharvard_

British Sikh Barrister Jasvir Singh Receives Order Of The British Empire From Prince William

LONDON:  A British Sikh barrister has received the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Prince William for his services to the community at London's Buckingham Palace.

Jasvir Singh, the founding chair of City Sikhs, received Officer of the Most Excellent OBE from Prince William, the second in line to the British throne who often steps in for Queen Elizabeth II at investiture ceremonies where such medals are officially conferred.

"It was a humbling experience. I met many inspiring people, including scientists, artists, Paralympians, and various members of the Armed Forces and the Police, and found out about their remarkable achievements," Singh said in a statement after the ceremony last week.

"I also spoke to Prince William and commended him for the work he and his brother, Prince Harry, are doing to help remove the stigma of mental health problems," he added.

City Sikhs is among a number of Sikh organisations in Britain and claims a membership of 6,000 members. It says it is involved with several important projects, including the 'Grand Trunk Project' which is led by the 'Faiths Forum for London' and is looking to foster better relationships between communities of South Asian heritage in towns and cities throughout the country.

with thanks : NDTV : LINK : for detailed news.

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Ahead Of Polls, Sikhs In France Are Worried

PARIS:  Extreme right wing leader Marine Le Pen is one of the two top contenders in the French Presidential elections. The first round of voting is due Sunday.

The European refugee crisis and the recent terror attacks in France have given the far right leader just the fuel she needed. She has been rallying for a "Frexit' and wants to put an end to free border policy under Schengen.

Le Pen (22%) is in second place just behind Emmanuel Macron (25%), the centrist leader who resigned as Economy minister last year and launched a new party "En Marche."

Marine Le Pen's father had made it to the final round of Presidential elections in 2002. Jean Marie Le Pen had earned a reputation as a hardcore far right leader. 

But Marine Le Pen fell out with him, expelled him from the party he had founded, toned down the rhetoric a bit and now has a strong appeal among French voters. 

In her last public meeting in Paris before the Sunday polls, Le Pen declared that her first measure as President of the Republic would be to close France's borders. 

There are many young voters among her supporters, including Florian Pecheux, 30, who is unemployed. "I expect Marine to put France into order by making people respect our values and traditions and restore a certain pride that we have lost."

Elisabeth, 45, a nurse tells NDTV, "She is the only one who will restore France's greatness. All these years of the right and left wing have put us in bad shape."

In a recent interview to American television, Le Pen said Sikhs living in France would not be allowed to wear turbans in public if she were to be elected.

Le Pen's advisor, Gilbert Collard, told NDTV, "We are in a secular country. In your home you live as you want. But in ours we live as we want. I absolutely respect the lifestyles of all countries but in France we have the right to live by French laws."

with thanks : NDTV : LINK : for detailed news.