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Summary of Question:	Tv Show Racial Attack--- Confusion
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Saturday, 9/27/2003 2:09 PM MDT

W J K K W J K F!

I dont mean to point fingers or anything, but im confused about something that was stated on "The Goerge Lopez Show" last night on ABC, im an amrithdari sikh from Canada and while i was watching this show, the scene that was made was that Goerge Lopez, a latino american, was going to meet the president and wanted to look very pious, so he came into his yard wearing a tie that had an american flag print on it, his wife was very pleased and asked him where he got it from...he stated: " i borrowed it from a guy at work. he is a sikh. he keeps it in his desk drawer just incase theres another terrorist attack." after this was said, the audience laugh. Im a bit confused about this because i dont know if this was a racial attack against sikhs or something to show that sikhs care that we are not terrorists. Can u please give me some feedback on this because i felt very hurt upon hearing this. Thank you.

-Confused Kaur

W J K K W J K F!


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Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

You're hurt and confused about what you saw on TV. That's understandable. It's not easy to be part of a group that is so distinctly different from other people. And the fact is that people will make jokes about us. It's a joke based on the unfortunate truth that whenever there is a terrorist attack, backlash can happen against the Sikh community.

People make jokes to help relieve their feelings of discomfort. Sometimes, it's good to just point to something that could make you sad or uncomfortable - but you do it in a joking way - to help lighten the energy. Though I didn't see the television show myself, I sincerely doubt it was meant to be a racial attack on Sikhs. It's just people trying to make peace through humor with some difficult and painful contradictions in life.

As a Sikh, people will give you a lot of attention in your life and many times - that attention will come in the form of a joke. Even unkind jokes. This is just people trying to deal with their own insecurities and really doesn't have anything to do with you at all. If you can learn to see through the person and understand why they're making the joke, it will make the experience easier for you and, in time, it will help you learn to connect with people on their own level.

I hope this is helpful.

Much love and many blessings,


GPK