Daily Lessons from Life 06 August 2012 - Indian Sikhs shocked and angered by US temple shooting

"Indian Sikhs shocked and angered by US temple shooting - AFP 06 August 2012

NEW DELHI - Indian Sikhs, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, voiced shock and anger Monday at the killing of worshippers at a Sikh temple in the US, with some suggesting American Muslims may have been the intended target.

In Sunday's attack, a gunman shot worshippers at a suburban Sikh temple in Wisconsin, in the mid-western United States, killing at least six people before he was shot dead by police.

"I hope the American authorities would investigate who is behind this dastardly attack on innocent devotees and that they will ensure that such ghastly events do not take place," Singh told reporters later. Sikh Indians, in the United States, have often been confused with Muslims and targeted by anti-Islam activists, particularly after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Leading Sikh politicians in India said the temple shooting in Wisconsin may have been part of that pattern."I think it is a case of mistaken identity. Sikhs are often mistaken to be from the Middle East," said Manpreet Singh Badal, founder-president of the People's Party of Punjab."This is an opportunity, although a very sad one, to raise awareness among Americans about the Sikh culture and identity," he told AFP.

In the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which has traditionally had a large Sikh community, Sikh protesters blocked a national highway and brandished banners calling for stronger US gun laws. Manjit Singh, president of a Delhi-based Sikh party, said a peaceful gathering would be held later Monday outside the US embassy in New Delhi as a demonstration of solidarity with the victims."

Some Indians behave like some Chinese whenever something bad happened to Indians or Chinese overseas. The affinity with the overseas Indians or Chinese seems to transcend border and 'citizenship'!

Lessons for me are:

1. if the Indians or Chinese are the Citizens of their adopted countries, there is NO BUSINESS really to try to be overly emotional about it UNLESS the victims are the family members or relatives or friends of the protesters;

2. for the PM of India to say:"I HOPE the USA government/authority will investigate this senseless murder (which I FULLY agreed with him is senseless and cowardly!)" is just Public Relation exercise and shows little respect for the USA's laws enforcement agencies and judiciary. It is really unhelpful;

3. as for the protesters in front of the USA embassy in India, what is the meaning of this? While the killing is senseless, cowardly and stupid, the protesters are showing irrational behaviors by demonstrating against the USA authority, peaceful it may be!

Big country needs to show cool head and tremendous composure steaming from supreme self-confidence that other Big countries know what are the right things to do in time of crisis.

My condolences to the family, relative, friends and colleagues of those killed and injured.