The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) made a call asking for some help on March 1 in an email. I received it. In solidarity with the WSO and the Canadian Sikh community, especially knowing of some narratives marked within the Canadian conscience and historical record including Insp. Baltej Singh Dhillon and the SS Komagata Maru, I will oblige the request (Johnston, 2016; Foot, 2016). A small note of social solidarity seems better than silence, as “silent as moonlight on a gravestone” sometimes. I cannot speak for others, but I can speak and act for myself.
The WSO notes that the Conservative Party of Canada is using the “precious time in the House of Commons” in order to “force a debate condemning ‘Khalistani Terrorism.’”
The WSO points to the concern that the time that could be used in order to benefit the general population of Canadians is being used for less than optimal issues on behalf of Canadians; however, the Conservative Party of Canada has decided to target the Sikh community to tarnish their image as extremists with a ‘forced debate on Khalistani terrorism.’
They consider no reason for the broaching of this debate but do point to the easily expected effects on ordinary Sikh Canadians and their image within Canadian culture.
“Fellow Canadians are starting to see us as terrorists when we are not. This will damage us in the public eye and hurt our community immensely, particularly our youth,” the email from the WSO explains.
The WSO representatives, on behalf of the organization, have an idea to act on the issue, which would not take much effort, and straight from the email:
Please call and leave voicemails at the offices of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole (who is bringing this motion forward). Please communicate to them that if the Conservatives carry through and bring this motion forward then they will lose support from Sikh community and our Gurdwaras. The Sikh community will not forget this.
Yours truly,
WSO Canada
N.B. Please find the contact information for the M.P.’s below.
ERIN O’TOOLE
Telephone: 613-992-2792
Erin.OToole@parl.gc.ca
ANDREW SCHEER
Telephone: 613-992-4593
Andrew.Scheer@parl.gc.ca
References
Foot, R. (2016, November 14). Baltej Dhillon Case. Retrieved from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/baltej-dhillon-case/.
Johnston, H. (2016, May 19). Komagata Maru. Retrieved from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/komagata-maru/.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the Founder of In-Sight Publishing and In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal.