It is now over 24 hours since Gordon made that comment in Rochdale. Obviously, the transcript from both the outside broadcast and Radio 2′s face-to-face playback have been analysed by the majority of the media.

Interestingly, it amazes me about how quick the press were to jump, form a scrum and ‘go for the jugular’!

Looking up the term ‘bigot’ from Wikipedia, it is publicly defined as:

A person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.
The correct use of the term requires the elements of obstinacy, irrationality, and animosity toward those of differing devotion. The origin of the word bigot and bigotry in English dates back to at least 1598, via Middle French, and started with the sense of “religious hypocrite”. Forms of bigotry may have a related ideology or world views.

That is enough of the history lesson, let us focus on the issue.

If Gordon used the word it at a point of frustration, then it can be considered as ‘throw-away’. It is hard to be a politician. Just imagine your every moment being recorded and played back in front of you.

Gordon is very highly educated and a few years ago he really revealed his depth of intellectual capacity when he spoke about some of his other interests.

The press are suggesting that the ‘I’ word (Immigration) is avoided as an issue due to political correctness. I believe that there is no need for the ‘I’ word any more. Even on BBC Breakfast this morning, a Conservative MP was using one of Maggie’s old term’s, ‘Swamped’.
The public appear to have forgotten that ‘immigrants’ have made the UK economically better off and stable. New arrivals yield new opportunities, have passion, drive and a sense to better their situations. This all ‘rubs off’ on the general community.

On BBC Radio4 the BNP leader said that, ‘the country is full-up’! Generating fear Griffin, never helped anyone!

If we consider for a few moments that the World Wars were fought with a multi-national force, many from Commonwealth countries and the British occupied India for 200 years, we should be able to see that the UK represents an example of multiculturalism where there is strength through diversity and mutual respect. Churchill encouraged migration, suggesting that the UK needed to be rebuilt after the war and needed help from the ex-Empire.

Coming back Mrs Duffy’s comments about immigration. She reportedly said:
“All these eastern Europeans that are coming in – where are they flocking from?”

Did she not realise that her expected answer was already within her question!

Gordon ended the conversation with her with a sense of care, asking about her family. He has to do the best he can given the time he can physically allocate.

In terms of his sense of genuineness, do his comments suggest a hypocritical stance?
I suggest that Gordon may have attempted to match his passion for Labour’s belief of fairness and equality verse someone who was specifically challenging him about her views on immigration – NB Gordon may have seen a conflict situation between someone who in theory should believe in the same values as the Labour party, especially as she proclaimed herself as a life-long and loyal member of Labour.

A balance of Immigration!
Maybe the lack of statistics is the issue. People from all walks of life in the UK have not fully understood the balance of immigration figures.
If there are 1M new people, people should realise that 1M have also left. We probably need more data published to settle the FUD factor – fear, uncertainly and doubt.

The motive of the Eastern Europeans coming to the UK is likely to be driven on their desire to improve their own countries and like many others seek a better life. By accepting them into a multicultural environment we will be collectively helping our own community and helping others too. For example, a Polish person sending money to their homeland helps to fuel / develop both economies.

In summary, if personal passion doesn’t match what you thought someone also believed in, then accidental frustration can result.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the run up to last night’s BBC1 documentary on the unfortunate events of 1984, I like many friends had received texts and emails suggesting it was an essential watch. As per normal, the BBC broadcasted the programme at a late hour!? I do feel that the BBC need to understand that there are lots of ethnics in the UK and we deserve a better service, especially as the programme was supposed to be educational with universal appeal.

In my view the programme title was a wrong starting point, `1984: A Sikh Story’ became clouded with identity issues rather than explore the historical context of the troubles. If it was about Sonia’s (not her real name, she later declared) journey of self-discovery then it was a bit disjointed, for example:  There is no deep reference to her own family – If she wanted to explore her identity then maybe she should have been featured on a full BBC genealogy episode of ‘Who do you think you are’.

I have written to the BBC before about skimming issues. For example, in Michael Woods ‘The Story of India’. He forgot to mention the invaluable contribution of Sikhs to free India from the tyrannical reign and ethnic cleansing practices of the Mogul empire. For example, Guru Gobind Singh Ji the 10th Guru of the Sikhs lost his entire family to ensure religious freedom, human rights and equality for all.

Back to the programme. As Sonia traced what happened during the unfortunate desecrating of the Golden Temple known as Operation Bluestar (June 1984), she forgot to mention the essential historic context of the core issues dating back to the early part of 20th Century. For example, water rights, broken promises about greater autonomy for the region by Nehru and the economic policies of India’s central government at the time. Interviewing one person selling T-Shirts is simply not enough to explore the real issues.

General Brar’s comments hinted a slight remorse but no evidence was produced about the assessment of his decisions at the time. Why did he allow so many innocent people within the Golden Temple on a religious day to be killed? Why was the force so devastating that it damaged the architecture, religious books, historic records, art and relics? Why were people shot at point blank range with their hands tied behind their backs? Why were no available human right violation reports communicated during the documentary?

The programme then moved on to the genocide of Sikhs in November 1984, post the assignation of Indra Gandhi. The events of those dark days of free reign by looters and murderers have been described as riots. They were in fact pogroms, an attack directed against a particular group, in this case one religious group – the Sikhs. A pogrom is characterised by the killing and destruction of their homes, businesses, and religious centres. The term was originally used to denote extensive violence against Jews – either spontaneous or premeditated. The programme then skimmed over key facts, for example – documented evidence and eye-witness reports of certain government MPs directing the attacks, the use of kerosene sourced from the same warehouse to burn victims. Why have the 9 investigations over the years revealed very little in terms of justice or revealing the truth. In the taxi Sonia made an excellent point about the assignation of Mahtma Gandhi – when he died mobs did not go after the religious group the assassin was part of !

The programme concluded with a loose link back to identity, consisting of confusing narrative about directing pain and Sonia’s thoughts about her own spiritual journey. The programme was left open ended with so many questions: What about the problems encountered by the region today? Where is the accountability for what happened? What about the post 9/11 situation and international mistaken identity issues? What about people who are still awaiting a court hearing, who have been locked away  for so long? Why is this situation not treated the same as the Jewish Genocide, both involved persecution and innocent lives being lost.

Although the programme was an attempt to educate, it did to a certain extent. However, it used tired footage and chats from the same old spokespeople. Apart from Sir Indrajeet Singh’s comments, He is to be appluded as he provided a sensitive and welcome perspective. At least last nights programme highlighted that many innocent people attending a religious event inside the Golden temple during Operation Bluestar were killed – the actual number killed runs into the thousands.

What we really needed was a ray of hope to communicate that Sikhs still need justice. I recommend that people watch, ‘The Widow Colony’ – it is a film that really delves into the lives affected by the Delhi genocide. Many people say that Sikhs should forget! Do we forget our loved ones when they leave the world? One of the most profound statements made by a widow of ’84 is that every year Sonia Gandhi lays a reef to remember her husband. As Sikhs we need to recognise our holocaust must never be repeated and steps must be taken to assure this, else the lives of the innocent will be forgotten.

In 1984 a news blackout prevented us from gaining access to the truth – this truth is still hidden. We must continue to retrieve more information from human rights organisations active with their data and we must record more media to assure that the true Sikh Story is told.

On 5th December innocent people were killed in an attempt to stop blasphemy against Sikhs. Full details are available from:
http://manvirsingh.blogspot.com/2009/12/sikhs-attacked-in-ludhiana-panjab.html

What gets to me every time I hear the news of innocent deaths is how quickly conditions get out of control. Whether it is the risk of communal violence or agitation by political elements, there appears to be no proactive measures to prevent escalation. I am certainly not suggesting that there are societies or countries that are better than others but the sheer lack of respect for life is evident when you see the video below.  People are been lashed at and herded. It is true that control tactics are prehistoric but is there no sense of foresight or understanding that clearly volatility can happen when extremist cults are allowed to exercise insults in the name of free-speech! Apparently, in this case the cult in question wanted to perform a parade, causing immediate offence.

Politicians need to wake up and understand that allowing a police force to shoot into a crowd is not the way to control a situation.
In the second video you see one police officer justifying free speech. However, free speech does not equal abuse and as I said before blasphemy!

There is one view that suggests that there is a conspiracy against the Sikhs. That there are extremist elements within other religions that are attempting to undermine the Sikhs in terms of their values, heritage, sacrifices, ethics, defending the defenceless and self-less service. If this is the case then Sikhs should not rise to the bait. Instead, they should ensure that the media exposes who the real agitators are. Let us see the evidence that is available on public channels. In an era where we can quickly record and submit video, images and text based content, Sikhs need to rally together to expose the real culprits, cults and mischievous elements.

Sikhs need to create media that exposes truth – For it is truth and the good who will win, not those who insult in the name of free speech and in shadow of hate.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Terrorism in my view is not born out of frustration. It is vile and a portrayal of cowardliness. Many issues for India and Pakistan are a result of a mis-managed and some historians have suggested deliberate ‘divide-and-rule’ policy/legacy. I often feel that independence day in India is both a celebration of freedom but also recognition of British Raj’s oppression. The people of the lands that remain divided cannot move on. They will and should not forget their divided families. I still believe in the power to convince people of their wrong doings by first reasoning and asking them to look into their hearts for a solution.

Having also read a recent piece from another / completely separate blogger on Obama’s attempt to ‘reach’ both sides, India and Pakistan to work towards solutions, the article was quick to point out personality issues with the Obama’s appointees.

Any attempt at dialogue has to be a positive step. However, there appears to be not enough momentum from either the UN or independent teams on both ends to work towards peace. I’m certainly not suggesting that both sides do not want a solution as that would be cynical, honest! Too much is based on the past mistakes.

No doubt security will continue to be even tighter around the world as we all suffer the ripple effects.

We need a positive channel for news. A channel that can communicate what the world would be like if we all got along.

We also need new political models that encourage communities to take charge of their regions. This means collaborative communities / empowered with more autonomy in terms of local controls, for example in farming and what is paid to a centralised system.

We have to remember that the minority spoil it for the majority but the power is still with the majority to contain radicals.

The death toll continues to rise in Mumbai as the attempt by terrorists to use a many-to-many attack strategy has lead to a longer and harder campaign to control them. The risks to innocent people is higher and the ripple effect that it will leave behind in Mumbai will be greater.

http://www.sikhnet.com/reviews/singh-kinngh-film-review

Last year I presented at a Sikh camp in the UK and suggested we need to create our own media. This is one answer and this film says that such desperate times need desperate efforts. We needed to assemble good media right now and more than ever!

I skimmed through the film Singh is Kinngh – I wanted to see if my fears about the film were warranted. The skimming was the result of my cringing and the fact that it was hard to concentrate. My fears about this film are warranted. The film contains swear words and variable views of Sikhs and that is putting it lightly.

In addition, questionable themes are revealed as the so called romantic comedy unfolds.

Let us consider the film in the context of whether we should laugh at ourselves.
Sorry, I can’t as it is too offensive. There is simply too much misinformation and humour that does not travel. Bollywood is known for slapstick comedy, sick jokes about speech impediments and the disabled. In this film slapstick is the focus. The various characters are shown as clumsy. Clowning around humour simply does not last.

Does the film show that Sikhs are cool just because they can capture villains from an aerial feat or rap with Snoop Dogg?
Hey! Sikhs know that they are already cool and they certainly do not need this kind of film to exhibit.

If you want to read an article I wrote as early as 2004 on how Bollywood always betrays Sikhs please checkout:

http://www.saviarora.com/bollywood-always-betrays/

The sad reality is that nothing much has changed.

It is certainly strange that in a world where Sikhs are leaders in a variety of world arenas, for example: Medicine, bravery and self-less service not enough information is available about the reality of who we are.

A light on the horizon is to see how Sikhnet inspires by the way they are encouraging the annual Sikhnet Film festival.
It shows that we can be creative without being crude and cool without being cunning like the likes of Bollywood moguls.

Keep the Faith!

A few months later for 3 immediate days after Indira Gandhi assignation thousands of innocent Sikhs were killed. The total number of Sikhs and non-Sikhs killed has never been officially recorded but it is in the thousands. What is known in many cases, is the names of the instigators of the violence that occurred. After 24 years and major national enquiries no one has been brought to justice over human right abuses and targeted slaughter of a community.

Today India offers a manufacturing base that competes with the Far East. In terms of India�s strength in computer software development and support, again there is no doubt that India can offer immediate financial returns and committed employees. In recent years I have visited Bangalore and was impressed by the scale of development. India now has digital telecommunications, high speed voice and data networks. Investments have also taken place in Hotels.

Investment also means investing in equality for all parts of the population and also assuring justice and honesty. Although Dr Manmohan Singh has acknowledged the wrong that was done at the time, we still need those that committed the crimes of communal violence to be brought to trial.

For humankind there is a need for a concerted effort to ensure that justice does prevail. After 24 years victims of the 1984 Bluestar operation and Delhi genocide families are still suffering.

At a Facebook group inviting people to attend a rally in London (Hyde Park) on 8th June I read the following – It sent shivers down my spine!

See : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15741218422&ref=ts

Amritsar resident’s account

One resident of Amritsar gave an eyewitness account to the editor of the Sikh Messenger, a British publication. “The army pounding of the Golden Temple area continued over the next few days confirming our fears of deliberate and vindictive destruction. On the night of the 5th, the aged and chronically ill father of the couple next door finally expired and on the morning of the 6th the army gave our neighbours special permission to take him to the crematorium. Even before reaching this site, they could smell the stench of putrid and burning flesh. On entering the crematorium grounds they saw a sight that literally made them sick with horror. Grotesque piles of dozens of bodies were being burnt in the open without dignity or religious rites like so many carcasses. The bodies had all been brought there by dust carts and from the number ofcarts; the attendant estimated some 3,300 had so far been cremated

1. The situation in China – Firstly, the need to find survivors of the Earth quake and secondly a need to reconcile that many of the buildings could have been built stronger.

2. The situation in Burma – with the continuing apathy of the regime.

With regard to the latter, days are passing and disease is beginning to take hold. Although some aid is now getting through it is still slow.

Last week I suggested that we all lobby our political representatives and post physical and electronic messages to all Burmese embassies around the world to make them realise that the world demands greater effort is made to ‘save the people’.

Interestingly, is it only I that has noticed that the press/media have deemphasised the story?

Back in September 2007, a NY based BBC correspondent reported:

Energy Resources
It is Burma’s energy resources – oil and off-shore gas fields – that make it such an attractive partner for Russian, Chinese, Indian and even South Korean firms.
The scramble for Burma’s energy resources make it almost impossible to isolate the regime.
Indeed, over time, as US and European ties to Burma have declined, those of China, Russia and India have increased.
China, then, is very much the key player; but Beijing faces conflicting pressures.
It has to match its energy and strategic interests – access to the Indian Ocean for example – with its desire for stability and its concern for its own reputation abroad, especially with the Beijing Olympics fast approaching.

This is a fact that I was unaware of. The irony here is that a country that is so rich in resources has not yet benefited from it. The same could also be said of a country like Angola, the latter embroiled in civil war for many years.

The death toll in Burma has been quoted as 78,000 with 56,000 people missing.

Today 3 days of mourning have started. This could be viewed as the military junta recognising that the crisis is real. However Burma is not allowing British, US and French navy ships located just off its coast to deliver aid supplies. Nor is it allowing foreign experts, employed by the UN aid agencies, to travel to the Irrawaddy Delta.

Nothing much has really changed for those without food or shelter. Should a more radical approach be to simply ‘drop’ the aid direct to the people? Maybe there needs to be a few ultimatums stated ? In the case of the Iraq war mobilization was fast and furious. Maybe another route is to convince China to lead the effort, widening its own relief efforts.

Or, is it just a case of gate-crashing the planned donor conference on 25th May and suggesting that ego needs to be put aside.

Risk of disease
Limited access to supplies
Relief workers being blocked from coming in to the country to help
A disaster fund set-up at http://www.dec.org.uk – Disasters Emergency Committee
The military junta appearing to ego trip!

The latter is what is being reported by the world’s media. It is unbelievable that the paranoia the Junta is exhibiting is blinding their own strife.

I read today that the possible rise in the death toll could rise from 100,000 to 1.5 million people.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm
I noted that:

• Burma has been under military rule since 1962; the regime stifles almost all dissent
• Burma is one of Asia’s poorest countries; its economy is riddled with corruption
• Burma is seen as a pariah state by the West, which maintains sanctions; China is its main ally.
• Senior General Than Shwe is the country’s top military leader and heads the SPDC, the body of 12 senior generals that runs the country and makes the key decision.
• Prominent pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, has had various restrictions placed on her activities since the late 1980s.

What can we do about the Junta ignoring pressure from nations, leaders, humanitarian groups and the UN?

1. Let us organise a day when everyone of us can meet outside each and every Burmese embassy around the world. A kind of world rally to ask for the Junta to hear the voice of the people. Or, we can do it electronically by leaving messages at all their websites.
2. Let us get a global alliance together and assess the practicalities of actually forcibly dropping supplies into the affected regions.
3. Let us talk to the Chinese to convince them that they must get the Burma military chiefs to see sense.
4. Let us keep the debate alive with your political contacts.
5. Get your company to set-up a fund
6. If you work for a multi-national find out what they are doing or can potentially provide in terms of help/assistance.

What happened to helping others at a time of need?
Or, are we all just hoping that eventually it will resolve itself by ‘others’ helping.

We are the others. We need to push for help.

This weekend the Times reported that Burma’s ruling generals were distributing satellite dishes! Surely the twelve ruling leaders will see sense if they see the world protesting against their sense of nonsense!

Lets just visit their Embassies website and leave them a message to say that together we can make a difference.

Everyone now knows that it was disrupted on route of its 31 mile journey through London with 35 arrests of protesters. At numerous points the latter named authorities boarded a bus to provide even more protection.

The torch relay has been positioned as a journey of harmony. Is this concept of traveling through cities aimed at bringing people together around the theme of ‘one world’? Who owns the torch? It is certainly not the Chinese although they can be considered as temporary guardians.

I wondered about the relay runners. I am certain that for each one (including the Chinese ambassador who ran with it through London’s China Town) that it must be a dream come true. We need to consider these dreams, especially the extremely dedicated athletes that spend every working day to prepare for these 4 yearly games.

As I implied in a previous article (see http://www.saviarora.com/olympic-torch-lit-despite-protest/),

Where are the obligations for the country that is hosting the games. If they (any Olympic host) do not believe or respect the Olympic ideals how can the participants respect the associated country?

Interestingly, if we look at the history of the Olympic games, politics have been highlighted:

1. The banning of South Africa due to its Apartied stance
   In 1959, the non-racial South African Sports Association (SASA) was shaped to secure the rights of all players on the global field. After meeting with no success in its endeavours to attain credit by collaborating with white establishments, SASA went to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1962, calling for South Africa’s expulsion from the Olympic Games. The IOC sent South Africa a caution to the effect that, if there were no changes, she would be barred from the 1964 Olympic Games. The changes were initiated, and in January 1963, the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SANROC) was set up. The Anti-Apartheid Movement persisted in its campaign for South Africa’s exclusion, and the IOC acceded in barring the country from the 1964 Games in Tokyo.
2. The black panthers protest – marking sympathy with the civil rights movement
3. Moscow non-attendance followed by LA’s non-attendance
4. Hitlers behaviour during the Berlin Olympics of 1936

With regard to the latter, although the bid was won before the Nazi Party gained power in Germany, some leaders in the government saw the Olympics as an opportunity to promote their Nazi ideology. By allowing only members of the ‘Aryan race’ to compete for Germany, Hitler further promoted his ideological belief of racial supremacy. Hitler removed signs stating ‘Jews not wanted’ and similar slogans from the main tourist attractions.

At this moment we can only hope that China does reconsider its position of influence in some of the troubled areas of the world not just to look good but to make a lastsing change.

It is worth noting that Steve Covey wrote about the Circle of Influence in his book: 7 habits for highly effective managers. He suggests that we should think of ways to be more proactive and address the things you can do something about.
The Olympic torch is now at the centre of everyone’s concerns and influence of the Chinese is an opportunity for their redemption…

Over the weekend I was fortunate to interview a wonderful scholar. He implied or one could say that I gleaned from him the importance of making a stand. As a Sikh we need to ensure that we are defending the defense-less.

On a day when the Olympic torch was lit to embark on its journey to Beijing, it was interrupted. Protesters from media rights group, ‘Reporters Without Borders’ broke through the cordon of 1,000 police officers in Olympia as China’s envoy spoke.

China’s occupation in Tibet is clearly negative. Its influences in Dafur and Burma all point towards apathy. I recently viewed a documentary (Unreported World) where I witnessed how China is desperate for resources in Africa, incidentally driven by the West’s desire / demand for cheap consumer goods. The programme (Unreported World) suggested that China is walking away from ensuring that workers are not exploited.

The BBC also reported that, The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, has defended the decision to hold the Games in China saying:

The major political leaders don’t want a boycott.

In his speech during the ceremony, Mr Rogge said the Olympic torch relay and the Games should take place in a peaceful environment.

The torch is the link between all athletes and citizens of this world; between all of us who believe in Olympism and the virtue of sport. It has the force to unite humanity and to stand for harmony.

Today China has an opportunity to show that it can change its political stance. Is unity for humanity only achievable on a platform of athletic competition? I looked up the word ‘Olympism’. Its Ancient definition is in the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, who encouraged people to develop their physical, moral, intellectual, cultural and artistic qualities harmoniously. Modern Olympism promotes a way of life based on:

• The balanced development of the body, will and mind
• The joy found in effort
• The educational value of being a good role model
• Respect for universal ethics including tolerance, generosity, unity, friendship, non-discrimination and respect for others.

The Goal of Olympism is described as the use of sport to promote the balanced development of people as an essential step in building a peaceful society that places a high value on human dignity.

In one sense Olympism is confined to sport influencing change.

Where are the obligations for the country that is hosting the games. If they (any Olympic host) do not believe or respect the Olympic ideals how can the participants respect the associated country?

Before it becomes too late, China needs to adhere to the Olympic ideals of peace and understanding. Right now we all know that the games are important to China. Post games what aspect of influence will remain from the rest of the world?

We all need to make a stand and encourage dialogue for change, especially where there is a clear demonstration of apathy from either the host or any participating country. I am confident that the more of us that talk about the ideals of peace and unity the greater the potential that someone will listen and lives will be changed.