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Summary of Question:	Doubts About My Faith
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 5/24/2006 3:12 PM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. Hi I am a 14 year old girl. And I am a Sikh by birth. The thing is that when I was a lil kid i always used to say proudly "I want to take Amrit" or read Guru's Sakhis with great pleasure and I would say proudly say that I am a Sikh All the stories of our brave Martyrs I used to listen with great pleasure. But now after 9/11 and Bin Laden's attack, i feel as if we Sikhs have lost our identity meaning us kids have to face a lot of teasing about our religion,and turbans plus we are accuesed of being Muslims! I really dont like that! Plus i feel as if that since 9/11 alot of Sikhs are cutting their hair or just dont wear turbans and patkas! Its as if the Sikh Youth especially lil kids's faaith have been shaken. And its like we afraid to say that we are Sikhs isnt that the problem with grownups too? And I just wanna know that what are our elder people doing about it? Just sitting and watching us suffer. Also my broter is being made fun of his joorha cuz its big. He is soo sick of it. I am so sick of being a coward too! Sometimes i wish that either Guru Arjan Dev Ji,Guru Teg Bahadur, or Guru Gobind Singh Ji were here to guide us and help us! Also why dont some people have the guts to say their full name and just say the other name for example: Amrita Kaur aka Amy. Why dont we have the guts to be proud sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh Ji? I am not only addressing this problem cuz i have it i am also addressing this in the behalf of the others especially the youth!

If I said something wrong or offended anyone plxz Bhul Chuk Maaf Karnaa
May the Jyot of God be with you all
Sukhmani Kaur

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reply
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Sat nam. If Sikh youth buy into the fears of others, then they are not acting Sikh, are they? Or maybe they need an excuse for cutting their hair anyway that has nothing to do with post 9/11.

Guru Gobind Singh gave us the form and taught us to be warrior-saints. He never ever said it would be easy. What the panth Khalsa of the world are experiencing after 9/11 is, actually, better than what we experienced at the hands of the mughal empire. If we can live through the mughals, we can live through being mistaken for Muslims. I am NOT Sikh by birth and some of my best friends are Muslim. It is important to use the 'mistaken' identity as an opportunity to educate everyone who SIKHS are, and in doing so, maintain respect for Islam. Do not 'react' because someone says 'Muslim' -- pro-act! Muslims are people with rights too and it is a small minority of 'Muslims' who are giving all of Islam a bad name. All paths lead to the same God. This post 9/11 time is a time for Sikhs to meet the challenge head on, not cower in the corner. Guru ang sang,
-DKK