Sikh Organizations Condemn Fort Hood Attacks

Sikh Coalition – United Sikhs – Saldef

Sikh Organizations Condemn Fort Hood Attacks
Urge Community Caution

November 6, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Our national Sikh organizations offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wounded in the acts of violence at Fort Hood, Texas yesterday that left 13 dead and 31 wounded.  We unequivocally condemn the actions of the alleged assailant.

We are united in concern and sympathy for the victims and their families, and for the community at Fort Hood.  We urge community members to explore how they can provide support and resources to address the impact of this violence.

As Sikhs, we are regrettably aware that, in the past, similar tragedies have led to the scapegoating of entire communities based on actual or perceived ethnicity, religion, and national origin.   We call on political leaders, the media, and the public to set a tone of unity as the investigation unfolds and the healing process begins.  

We also join together to offer the following recommendations for the Sikh community in order to stay safe from possible misguided retributive violence:

(1) Be Street Smart to Keep Yourself Safe

(2) Develop Proactive Relationships with Local Law Enforcement

• Contact your local police department
• Ask them to work with your community on hate crimes prevention
• Ask them to step up patrols around local Gurdwaras

Here is a sample message that you can use via email or telephone:

Based on the apparent ethnicity of the assailant in the Fort Hood shootings, I am concerned about the possibility of backlash against members of the Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities.   Please ensure that an emergency bulletin is issued to local law enforcement agencies and community members to ensure that police officers and the communities they serve take appropriate precautionary measures.  

(3) Know What to Do in Case of an Emergency

(4) Contact Our Organizations if You or Someone You Know is in Danger or a Victim of a Hate Crime

Please feel free to contact legal@sikhcoalition.org.

We are working with our partners in the federal government to implement a national rapid response system to ensure that the Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities are safeguarded from hate crimes.

As always, the Sikh Coalition urges all Sikhs to practice their faith fearlessly. 

Amsterdam Songs – Amsterdam liedjes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkI26R61Doo

Geef mij maar Amsterdam – Johnny Jordaan

Geef mij maar Amsterdam, dat is mooier dan Parijs
Geef mj maar Amsterdam, mijn Mokum’s paradijs
Geef mij maar Amsterdam met zijn Amstel en het IJ
Want in Mokum ben ik rijk en gelukking tegelijk, geef mij maar Amsterdam

Beter in Mokum zonder poen dan in Parijs met een miljoen, geef mij maar Amsterdam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsVFOpnZSWo

Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen – Rika Jansen

Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt nog voelt het de pijn
Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt want weg is de gein 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqr4pdeGdaQ

Aan de Amsterdam Grachten – Wim Sonneveld

Aan de Amsterdamse grachten heb ik heel mij hart voor altijd verpand
Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten als de mooiste stad in ons land
Al die Amstedamse mensen, al die lichtjes ’s avonds laat op het plein
Niemand kan zich beter wensen dan een Amsterdammer te zijn

Rag Basant, Dr Gurnam Singh, University of Patiala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKQ4mTFQ_30&feature=related

It is I am afraid only a short clip, but worth listening to. Dr. Gurnam Singh is doing kirtan in rag basant at Harmander Sahib, Amritsar, using clasical instruments like rabab & dilruba.

N’Kosi Sikelel’iAfrica

The best national anthem I have ever heard ! Click on link to listen.

I do not know in which South African language the first two verses are,
the third verse is in Afrikaans (I understand most of it),
the last one in a language spoken on a foggy European island. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow40LQs0ue4

N’Kosi Sikelel’iAfrica

National Anthem of South Africa

Miriam Makeba & Others  

This is the official version of the national anthem, combining
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem / The Call of South Africa

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa la matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

Malaika – Miriam Makeba & Harry Belafonte

Click on the link to listen to this beautiful song 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlDNvUebe7Y

Nakupenda Malaika was written by Kenyan composer and musician Fadhili Williams. 

Malaika	Angel
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika.	Angel, I love you Angel.
Malaika, nakupenda Malaika.	Angel, I love you Angel.
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,	And I, your young lover, what can I do.
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,	Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,
Ningekuoa Malaika.	I would marry you Angel.
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,	Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,
Ningekuoa Malaika.	I would marry you Angel.
Pesa zasumbua roho yangu	Money is troubling my soul
Pesa zasumbua roho yangu	Money is troubling my soul
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,	And I, your young lover, what can I do,
Ningekuoa Malaika.	I would marry you angel.
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,	Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,
Ningekuoa Malaika.	I would marry you Angel.
Kidege, hukuwaza kidege.	Little bird, I dream of you little bird.
Kidege, hukuwaza kidege.	Little bird, I dream of you little bird.
Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,	And I, your young lover, what can I do,
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,	Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,
Ningekuoa Malaika.	I would marry you Angel.
Nashindwa na mali sina, we,	Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,
Ningekuoa Malaika.	I would marry you Angel.

 

Chardi Kala Jatha – Merciful, the Master is Merciful

I loved the kirtan by these young Americans, born into Sikh families and living in the Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar District. See the also the picture below (or in ‘pictures’) and in my web diary ‘Chardi Kala’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQwV6Ss2vvE&feature=related

Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa sings He Gobinde, He Gopale

I love music, I love music of many different traditions.

I also love Gurbani, the ‘hymns’, the ‘Shabad-Guru’, the ‘Word that teaches’.

Tomorrow I will find the text and translation for this shabad for you.

Gurfateh/God Bless !

Harjinder Singh

Please click on the connection !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN36RWmbwhk&feature=related

Malaar, Fifth Mehla:

O World-Preserver, World-Sustainer, Merciful Beloved. ||1||Pause||

You are the Master of the life-breath, the Companion of the masterless,
the Destroyer of the pains of the poor. ||1||

O All-Powerful, Unfathomable, Perfect One, shower me with mercy. ||2||

Take Nanak across the great terrible blind well ||3||8||30|| 

 

 

Paul Brady sings Arthur McBride

Listen to the song and listen to the story of Arthur McBride who did not want to join the British Army. 

Paul Brady sings (tells the story) and playes the guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGkhPx529g&feature=related

 

I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride
He and I took a stroll down by the seaside;
Seeking good fortune and what might betide
It was just as the day was a’dawnin’

After restin’ we both took a tramp
We met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
Besides the wee drummer who beat up the camp
With his row-dee-dow-dow in the morning

He says my young fellows if you will enlist
A guinea you quickly will have in your fist
Besides a crown for to kick up the dust
And drink the King’s health in the morning

For a soldier he leads a very fine life
He always is blessed with a charming young wife
And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
And always lives happy and charming

And a soldier he always is decent and clean
In the finest of garments he’s constantly seen
While other poor fellows go dirty and mean
And sup on thin gruel in the morning

Says Arthur, I wouldn’t be proud of your clothes
You’ve only the lend of them as I suppose
And you dare not change them one night or you know
If you do you’ll be flogged in the morning

And although we are single and free
We take great delight in our own company
And we have no desire strange countries to see
Although your offer is charming

And we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and danger we barter on chance
and you’d have no scruples to send us to France
Where we would be shot without warning

And now says the sergeant, if I hear but one word
I’ll instantly now will out with my sword
And into your bodies as strength will afford
So now my gay devils take warning

But Arthur and I we took the odds
We gave them no chance to launch out their swords
Whacking shillelaghs came over their heads
And paid them right smart in the morning

As for the wee drummer, we rifled his pow
And made a football of his row-do-dow-dow
Into the ocean to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returnin’

As for the old rapier that hung by his side
We flung it as far as we could in the tide
To the Devil I pitch you, says Arthur McBride
To temper your steel in the morning