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Sikh-led prayer and GOP convictions
CNNOpinion ^ | 8-29-12 | Valarie Kaur

Posted on 08/29/2012 2:01:48 PM PDT by bimboeruption

(CNN) -- The Republican National Convention will make history Wednesday night. Ishwar Singh, wearing a turban and beard, will take the stage and lead thousands of conservatives in prayer.

For the first time in U.S. history, a Sikh American will give the invocation at a Republican National Convention.

The inclusion of a Sikh prayer on the stage comes just a few weeks after a gunman opened fire on Sikhs praying in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six and hospitalizing three more in what could be the largest racially motivated mass shooting in recent U.S. history. Many praise the invocation as a mark of progress in the Sikh community's 100 years in America.

Visuals matter. And in a racially charged political climate, a turbaned and bearded man will be presented to the country by Republicans as a fellow American. This is a remarkable step forward.

But speech also matters. If Mitt Romney and Republican leaders want the historic Sikh invocation to be more than tokenism -- and are serious about preventing another Oak Creek -- they cannot continue to let hateful speech within their own party go unchecked. In a time when hate groups are on the rise, the Republican Party must accept responsibility for fostering a political climate that often casts people of color as foreign and inherently suspect.

GOP leaders have not only stood silent while fellow Republicans fan the flames of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim bias, they have given them the megaphone. Singh will speak on the same stage as Sheriff Joe Arpaio, infamous for shaming and rounding up undocumented immigrants, saying that it's an honor to be compared to the KKK. Newt Gingrich, who is presiding over "Newt University" at the RNC, has compared Muslims to Nazis.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: convention; freedomofreligion; gop; prayer; religion; religiousfreedom; sikh
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To: bimboeruption

It means, “God in Your Name we ask for Well being of all of humanity, Prosperity for everyone in the worldwide community and Global Peace for the entire planet”

Sikhs always end their prayers on this phrase. I have heard it numerous times during my visits to my company’s Punjab office.


21 posted on 08/29/2012 2:52:33 PM PDT by SoftwareEngineer
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To: bimboeruption

Found this on the web:

“nanak naam chardi kala tere bhane sarbat da bhala” (which is part of the Sikh prayer called the Ardas), which translates roughly as: “In the name of the Supreme Power, do something good for someone else in your life.”

http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Darshan_Dham


22 posted on 08/29/2012 2:54:26 PM PDT by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: bimboeruption

More globalist BS.


23 posted on 08/29/2012 2:56:39 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
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To: Jyotishi

That is not correct

“Sarbaat da bhalla” is specifically targeted towards goodwill and blessings of the entire world. So the Sikhs are asking God to bless the entire world in the Name of God


24 posted on 08/29/2012 2:56:48 PM PDT by SoftwareEngineer
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To: bimboeruption
Please tell me what this prayer means.

I am told that it translates as: "May your name (meaning the deity's name) be exalted, as Nanak (the first Sikh guru) said, and may all men prosper."

Apparently it is the most common invocation used by Sikhs.

25 posted on 08/29/2012 2:57:22 PM PDT by wideawake
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To: Jyotishi

This is the link I found

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbaht_dah_Phahla


26 posted on 08/29/2012 3:01:00 PM PDT by SoftwareEngineer
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To: bimboeruption

I responded to a comment containing the word “diversity”. What aspect of “diversity” was meant?


27 posted on 08/29/2012 3:01:23 PM PDT by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: Jyotishi

I thought that Darshan Das was considered kind of a liberal, non-orthodox Sikh by the larger community.


28 posted on 08/29/2012 3:02:50 PM PDT by wideawake
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To: wideawake

I guess some on this forum would not vote for anyone of the Jewish faith.


29 posted on 08/29/2012 3:04:48 PM PDT by Stayingawayfromthedarkside
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To: wideawake

This is a political operation so their goal may be to attract more votes than if an orthodox Sikh was selected. I am guessing that there are more non-orthodox than orthodox folks in the community.


30 posted on 08/29/2012 3:07:04 PM PDT by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: bimboeruption

Stealing their victims right from under their noses. No matter how sincere, the move will expose and highlight the Muslim pandering coming up in Charlotte.
Come on Chris Mathews. Just start throwing those racist soundbites at this one. They will go so well in commercials in October.


31 posted on 08/29/2012 3:07:23 PM PDT by Steamburg (The contents of your wallet is the only language Politicians understand.)
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To: Stayingawayfromthedarkside

Why wouldn’t we vote for a Jewish person?


32 posted on 08/29/2012 3:07:58 PM PDT by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
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To: bimboeruption
The Sikhs are a militant fundamentalist religion that practices monotheism and rejects idolatry. Whether or not the god they worship is identical to HaShem (Yitbarakh Shemo) I am not competent to say.

There's one other things about the Sikhs that appeals to me as a "redneck." We are often accused of "worshiping a book." Well, the Sikhs really do worship a book. Sounds downright "Baptist."

33 posted on 08/29/2012 3:11:56 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Ki-hagoy vehamamlakhah 'asher lo'-ya`avdukh yove'du; vehagoyim charov yecheravu!)
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To: wideawake; rockinqsranch

[humor]Actually, widey, considering their radical claim that G-d’s religion suddenly changed 2000 years ago, I’m not sure chrstians can be conservatives! ;-) [/humor]


34 posted on 08/29/2012 3:14:56 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Ki-hagoy vehamamlakhah 'asher lo'-ya`avdukh yove'du; vehagoyim charov yecheravu!)
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To: ottbmare

> Of course, if the prayer starts, “In the name of Allah, the
> beneficent, the merciful...” we got some big problems.

Yes Islam must not be allowed in the civilized world.


35 posted on 08/29/2012 3:16:59 PM PDT by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: marron
Sikhs are a different breed of cat. I’m ok with inviting a sikh to lead a prayer.

As for the rest of the piece, the writer is a fool.

One hundred percent correct. White liberals have this silly idea that "people of color" all think alike and are all white liberals under the skin. At least I hope they do. If they don't, their championing of every religion on the face of the earth other than redneck Bible-thumpers would be terribly hypocritical--wouldn't it? [/sarcasm]

36 posted on 08/29/2012 3:17:32 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Ki-hagoy vehamamlakhah 'asher lo'-ya`avdukh yove'du; vehagoyim charov yecheravu!)
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To: wideawake

NO, NOT what I was saying at all. Cnn is identifying Republicans in general as “Conservatives” in the article as though all Republicans are of Conservative bent, which we all know is not true.

This is what I have been railing about on FR for the past eight years. The media, the Leftists, the RINO’s redefining “Conservative” to the Left for their benefit.

John/Jane Q. Public have to be made aware nowadays of what a true Conservative is, and what a true Conservative is actually about. The public has to be educated as to what they once knew as truth about Conservatism, because of this sort of BS practiced by those that have been incrementally sweeping the Conservative Movement under the Leftist rug.

What I’ve been saying for eight years here, and longer at another site is the Left is trying to redefine Conservatism, corral true Conservatives, and force them into an irrelevant third party. Effectively creating a one party political system in this country with many a follower believing they are “Conservative” as defined by the party, but actually in name only. It’s what I see as their goal. They have us almost where they want us.

We have to wake up, and realize what is happening, and cease this one sided follow the leader game they have been freely playing us, as many were not catching onto their ploy.

This move by Team Romney RINO’s yesterday is a prime example of their devious ploy IMO.


37 posted on 08/29/2012 3:20:25 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: bimboeruption

In a time when hate groups are on the rise, the Republican Party must accept responsibility for fostering a political climate that often casts people of color as foreign and inherently suspect.

Well there in lies the problem. The Republican Party does not cast people of color inherently suspect. The MSM does that in the Republican Party’s name........


38 posted on 08/29/2012 3:27:36 PM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Where can I sign up for the New American Revolution and the Crusades 2012?)
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To: Larry Lucido

“I admire Sikhs. Glad to have one as an ally.”

____

Roger that, I have worked with a couple in the service of my country, My back always felt safe.


39 posted on 08/29/2012 3:27:50 PM PDT by mongo141 (Revolution ver. 2.0, just a matter of when, not a matter of if!)
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To: bimboeruption; wideawake; Stayingawayfromthedarkside; All
Dear Enlightened Wideawake One,

Please tell me what this prayer means. I being a foolish, Christian American, who speaks only English, don’t have a clue.

First of all, don't impugn wideawake's conservatism. He is one of the most consistently conservative people on this forum (and probably its most intelligent). Furthermore he is a staunch champion of Biblical inerrancy, including the first eleven chapters of Genesis which so many so-called "inerrantists" want to dance around. That's right--he's a creationist. Some respect is called for.

Why wouldn’t we vote for a Jewish person?

Because you seem to be indicating that only chrstians should be elected to political office (or at least the Presidency) in this country. I know that as a devout Fundamentalist chrstian you consider the Hebrew Bible to be from G-d. But this means you consider the Jews to be the "cub scouts" for the "boy scouts" of chrstianity. While this position is mandated by your acceptance of the Hebrew Bible, the fact remains that you accept Jews on chrstian terms, not on Jewish terms (which aren't the same as multiculturalist terms). As a chrstian you have to do this, but I hope you realize that the Jews do not recognize their religion as a preparation for chrstianity at all, to be complete in itself, and that chrstianity is therefore at least philosophically in error and at most idolatrous. I understand chrstians can't accept this, but they should understand that this is the Jewish position.

I myself am a Noachide, and even I can't in good conscious pray to J*sus or the "trinity" or say "amen" to such a prayer--not because it is "intolerant" but because it is a prayer to a false "gxd." At least the Sikhs don't believe in a "trinity" or an "incarnation."

NB to all FReepers: the Left has pushed multiculturalism, "tolerance," and "pluralism" for so long that an Anglo-Protestant nativist reaction has long been inevitable, and I believe is beginning manifest itself. However much this clashes with the modern worldview, I ask you all to remember that the identification of the United States as a nation created primarily for Anglo-Protestants is not Nazism. For most of this country's history bimboeruption's opinions would not have alarmed or surprised anyone. Jews have lived in the US from the beginning, and managed to survive just fine in the old America where abortion and sodomy were crimes and Protestantism was taught in most public schools. You and I may disagree with him/her for reasons of religion or our understanding of history, but there is no barbed wire involved in this worldview whatsoever. It is the standard ethno-identitarian conception that until recently all nations had of themselves.

Let's count to ten and calm down . . . okay?

40 posted on 08/29/2012 3:34:25 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Ki-hagoy vehamamlakhah 'asher lo'-ya`avdukh yove'du; vehagoyim charov yecheravu!)
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