Knowledge about Sikhs and the Sikh religion?

Question

Our world is becomming more and more unsafe to live in by the day. First there was 9/11, then the london subway bombing, then the 7/11 bombings on a train in Mumbai, India. All these acts of terrorism were connected to Muslims as reported by the media (i don't want to make any assumptions and hurt anybodys feelings)
The general perception is that is Muslims wear turbans and keep beards.
Sikhism is religion which is fairly new and was founded about 500 years ago. If anyone wants more information about Sikhism to answer my Question intelligently, they can visit http://www.sikhnet.com/s/SikhIntro for more details.
Now my Question is that the followers of Sikhism also wear turbans and keep their beards in accordance with the tenants of their religion. Sikhs have already suffered from many cases of mistaken identity in the past. One such case can be seen here http://www.rediff.com/us/2001/sep/17ny1.htm.
What can Sikhs do to protect themselves and educate others about their faith?

Muslims do wear Turbans by the way, Please look at Bin Laden.

Also the guy who answered , please shave is extremely stupid.

I am hoping for some intelligent answers

Answer 1

I live in SE Michigan where there is the largest concentration of Muslims outside the Middle East. There are also a few Sikhs around the Ann Arbor area. Most of the Muslims do not wear turbans or have beards. However, this is changing. You can go to Hamtramck and see Muslim men with turbans and beards and Muslim women in full hijab with a niqab (face covering.)

By the same token many Sikhs have chosen to cut their hair and shave. I assume this is because of the pressure of society or personal preference. I believe that wearing a turban and having long hair is probably more important in the Sikh religion than in Islam. However, it should be up to the individual to determine whether it is merely symbolic to differentiate from other people or necessary to achieve righteousness.

For the most part, I have seen people in school and at work with all sorts of ethnic clothing. It is important to employers that their employees have a higher degree and do a competent job. It is rarely important that the employees dress in a certain uniform.

As regards safety, rarely someone may lash out at a Sikh because they feel he looks like a Muslim terrorist. One way to educate others about Sikhism is for a council of Sikh scholars, engineers, clerics or other group to publicly denounce Islamic terrorism. However, that may further anger Muslims and then Muslims terrorists would add Sikhs to their list of targets. On the other hand, I thought Sikhs are supposed to be such fierce fighters. Do Sikhs need to be protected?

Answer 2

1) Sikhism is a practical religion. It does not consist in a certain set of beliefs or mere words. Religion does not imply wandering to shrines and tombs, or following austerities of Yogis. Sikhism is a way of life, something to be lived according to a pattern. Its main virtue is simplicity. There is no supernaturalism or mythology on which it rests. It does not believe in devils or angels or heavenly spirits. 2) Sikhism is a universal religion. 3) Sikhism is opposed to all ritualism and formalism. 4) Sikhism does not enjoin blind faith. Blind obedience to an external authority is dis-couraged. The death of the intellect can not be a condition of the life of the spirit. Faith does not start with surmises or absurdities. 5) Sikhism is a faith of hope and cheer. Though it affirms Karma, it recognises the possibility of the modification of one's Karma with the grace of the Guru or God. It does not lead to despair and defeatism. 6) Sikhism is a democratic religion. The decisions of the Sangat are regarded as resolutions having the force of law (Gurmatta) Guru Gobind Singh Sahib vested the authority of the organisation in the Panth.

Answer 3

Muslims don't wear turbans.

OK, I STAND CORRECTED. I do have both Sikh and Muslim colleagues at work - but I didn't realise that turban was a catch-all phrase for a headcloth.

http://www.realsikhism.com/turban.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/lifestyles/links/turbans_27.html

There was a case, in the week after 9/11, of a Sikh man in England being beaten up and paralysed in a "revenge" attack.
Sickening.
But I don't think they should change to fit in.

Answer 4

But at least the Italian Football league is SAFER now that the Juventus has been demoted.

It was obvious in retrospect. Any team that has a uniform that looks like a striped prisoner's uniformed is bound to be a part of a crime. It was nice that they were caught and that justice was served for a change in an Italy that often ignores lawlessness.

Answer 5

i HAD a sihkist guy with me in my univ. though he was a mix french and sikhist but as much he told me about their religion they are not allowed to cut the beard and the head gear that have is a little diffrent in shape, but thats not enoguh to diffrenciate,

what they can probably do is educate more people about religion though
over all i am strongly against raligionism , no one have a right to hit on a izlamic dude, cause
you can not kill terrorism by killing terrorist or hurting them the only way is to educate them and remove this ignorence from their head.

any ways coming back to your issue the way can be they should simply punch right on nose of anyone who is spreading terrorism .

these racist people are worst than terrorist cause terrorist atleast hit on face they hit on the back
and terrorist are uneducated and have this mind set cause they been tought like that but civilised people like us need to behave in a better manner

WE NEED TO EDCAUTE OURSELF MORE ABOTU RELIGION and people.

Answer 6

It might help to shave, not wear a turban and look like everyone else.