First, let me appologize for seeming overly harsh - it's kind of bleeding over from other events, in which other peoples contrary religious beliefs are being used to 'divide and conqure them', in which I am more than a little involved at this time.( in that case I also apologise if I have offended you)
Let me now, in brief but hopefully soothing form, Praise the Sikhi for every Good Deed - like, say, caretaking an 'abandoned' Mosque, or (if any survive) Temples/Pilgrimage Sites; as this DOES encourage the adoption of Values, by these 'other' people - who are really not 'other' at all, in anybodies but your OWN eyes - that, while they are not entirely unique to Sikhism (Umma Wahid, E Pluribus Unum), have been Admirably Applied by your own 'not other, other' Demographic Denominator.(thank you, sikhs try and see god in everything and everyone regardless)
It helps to Keep The Peace, in a Tense Era, and a Tense Place (read General Pervez Musharifs' Autobiography? {censored}-a-doodle-doo!!! And now, ANOTHER Fast Breeder Reactor?)
I think you should once again, as you always have, only much more so, try to reach out to your Sufi Universalist Comrades to the northwest (if your still in the 'Sikh homeland'), for the following reason:
I refer to 'Global Nuclear Winter' because, even if India and Pakistan exchange just one-quarter of the nuclear {censored}nals (and Pakistans is now getting BIGGER), that will be the Fate oof Us All; and Bangladesh, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, much of Sumatra - depending on the wind - will be Radioactively devastated.(this is not in the power of sikhs, this is a Government issue, between the respective Indian and Pakistan governments, as sikhs there is little we can do to influence policy any more than any other group)
That, by wearing your Faiths Good Will to All Values - and by presenting them as Values that Are For Everybody, through their Universal, Unstinting, and Highly Public Application (across "tribal boundaries", say, within the contrary sociological context of the "highly tribal societies" that inhabit your somewhat dangerous 'home neighborhood'); by Setting The Example, is how You, the Sikhi, can Help Make Peace Blossom where a harvest of only bitter ashes may be all that's to be had.(I agree with all my heart with you on this)
As far as your assumptions regarding my "ego", if you knew that those who, in America, say, attack Sikhs because you "look like Arabs to them" - people like the Austin Texas Klan - have Killed Three People, one of them My Good Jewess Friend; the second, Jessica Williams, was a black girl who they had beaten to death, sliced open, hosed with lighter fluid, and then set ablze - just to **** me off!!! - between May of 2003 and March of 2004 (the last, James Jahar Akbar Perez, a black muslim convert, was shot to death by cop, in the coldest of blood, during "routine traffic stop", 36 hours after they said to me that they were going to "Kill a Ni**er, just to PROVE TO ME that THEY CAN STILL KILL A NI**ER - AND GET AWAY WITH IT!!!") - well, would you Blame Me for wearing My Own Faith "On My Sleave" with some Due Pride?
I faced them down when I was 17 - and now I'm 46; now, they've not just ripped off my Grandfather (and got caught, and went to prison) - now they've killed three people.( I am sorry to hear of these matters, however I do find your reaction at odds with Buddhist principles, however what you say sounds like enough for anyone to show a reaction)
So, you see, God does throw "Curve *****" to some of us 'Crazy Religiously Driven Types' - so, I guess, I'm sorry if wearing it on my sleeve offended you; I knew you would understand if you knew what kind of (Ghandi/MLK Approved Non-Violent-type) Battle I've been in for many years now.
It's made me many strong friends - you should be 'honored' to be one of them, despite all of the things you might have heard I've done to help the MCDA set up and bust KKK-Loyal Policemen aside!!!(I only have one friend, and that is my Guru, however I do empathise with you)
They don't "go down" without a "fight", you know!!! That is, in fact, why they awarded me my Disability Pension for "Crazy", when I have a "Neuropathy" - like MS is a Neuropathy, not "Crazy"; it's all part of the plan to get away with killing three people - are you sure you don't have 'special needs' that are preventing you from seeing that; or - No! The Lashon Talkers didn't mention the Murders they were covering up, is that it? HOW COULD THEY!!! That would be as bad as Altering my Medical Charts, or Manipulating my SSDI Claims!( I apologise for using the phrase 'special needs')
It's a battle of 'schmeers", one might say; and the 'special need' is a clear insight regarding the history of the KKK - how they've killed in the past, and how they've tried to get away with it (and, sometimes, suceeded; usually only because someone was a bit too 'special needs' to figure it all out, though!!!), for example - as well as the kind of Keen Logic neccessary to Foresee their Next Move, the kind of Courage the enables one to put Ones Life On The Line (whilst fending off the 'poo bombs' of the real egotists) in an Effort to Thwart whatever It Is that The KKK might themselves be doing to try and Thwart Justice, and the Dedication - over thirty years worth, say - to Hound Those Sons of Dogs Straight To Hell for what they had done to Jessica Williams (Just enter the name, and "steel bridge" into Google; I know who HIRED her killer).
Now, maybe you understand why I might critique people whose POV sound 'seperatist' or 'superior' to me (the frequent success of the KKK's divide and conqour tactics is truely dismal to behold), as well as why I might sound a little "proud".[/I](you sound like you are in a war zone, I hope your battle is worth it, and you find the justice you are looking for)
If it makes you feel better, ver since a Totally Innocent friend of mine was arrested for no reason (never charged, never told why - maybe he had some Ganja on him), held in jail overnight, where they then cut off his beard to punnish him for helping me out, I've litterally lived in a sleeping bag, to protect the rest of my Friends from - if no one else - PO Jason Serys (the Cop who shot Jahar Akbar - and got away with it, so far).
But then - I meant it when I refered to 'under a tree' and 'in a cave'.
Humble Enough Now, am I? ( my earlier comments were on the basis of your adherent, my understanding of Buddhism was at odds with the tone and style of your post, and as this is a philosophical religious forum, where we express our views on religion and philosophy, my comments were to point out that I felt your post was at odds with buddhism, however, I know accept that your faith is a support to you in your struggle with oppression, I wish you well friend)
Fighting the Good Fight, since 1965.
