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Summary of Question:	Worried Family
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Thursday, 9/20/2001 10:21 AM MDT

Waheguru ji ka khalsa

Waheguru ji ke fateh

Dearly respected, as we have seen that due to the tragic events that took place in the U.S last week, there is alot of hate amongst people and that alot of sikhs have been mistaken for islamics and have faced some sort of discrimination be that verbal or physical. As you may know that this hate is not just restricted to the U.S but all over the world. i am a sikh living in the United Kingdom and due to a number of attacks on sikhs my family are really worried about me, and are suggesting that i should cut my hair and grow it back later. although that i am not going to, they constantly keep bring the topic up and we are constantly arguing, i talk to them about the sikhs dieing for their kesh but they say that those times were different, but the way i see it , is that now is another test for sikhs to unite and live through this. they also keep bringing up that you have to go with the times and that even guru gobind singh ji had to throw down his hair to escape from chamkaur.
Please give me a suitable answer so that they can understand.
May god bless us all and keep us in high spirits


Waheguru ji ka khalsa
Waheguru ji ke fateh

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REPLY
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Sat Sri Akal,

I admire you for your willingness to stick with Sikhi. All you have to do is look at the history of the Sikhs to understand that under no reason should one abandon Sikhism. Guru Teg Bahdhur Ji witnessed his dearest friends being cut limb by limb, thrown in pots of boiling oil, tortured, etc. and yet he still did not give in. He himself was tortured and killed when he refused to cut his hair and when he refused to accept Islam. Guru Gobind Singh Ji saw all of his children die as well as his own father at the hands of the Muslims. His two sons were enclosed in a brick structure, left to die on the inside because they, as little children, would not let go of Sikhism. There were many other martyrs who laid down their lives to uphold their religion. They were not intimidated and they would not yield to anyone. Why? Because they had full faith in Waheguru. They knew that in the end Waheguru would provide for them.

The times do not change, the people do not change. Nothing has changed since the times of the Gurus. There are still those Muslims who do good and help people and there still those Muslims who kill in the name of Allah. There are still many nations in the world fighting with others.

I myself have a full beard and turban, and although I am in a relatively safe part of the U.S. I too am worried. The only thing we can do is to be smart. By this I mean: do not go out after dark, or if you must, go with a group of close friends. Avoid areas where you know there is trouble. Do not engage talks or physical contact with anyone. If you feel threatened at all, call the police immediately, they will help you.

And remember this for the rest of your life: Waheguru is with you always. You have no need to be scared of anyone or anything.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

Gur Fateh,
HSD

PS-
please ask again if this is not enough.