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Move to help Sikhs
join US Forces
 Chandigarh: Congressmen, led by two co-chairs of the Indian Caucus
in the United States, have agreed to help remove restrictions, which
preclude the Sikhs from serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The move assumes significance in light of the Sikhs being
discriminated with on account of supporting the turban issue across
the world.
A pledge towards this goal was taken last Saturday in Washington at
the Sikh American Heritage Dinner, organised by the Sikh Council on
Religion and Education (SCORE).
The support has come from Congressman Ed Royce Houser and Democrat
Jim McDermott, who, as part of the Foreign Relations Committee led
by chairman Howard Berman, had recently visited the Golden Temple.
According to Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman of SCORE, a commitment was
made to about 225 Sikhs from across the US by Ed Royce, who is a
highly ranked Republican member of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
and Jim McDermott, a Democrat and well-known expert on Indian
issues.
The two have promised to bring this issue on the House floor to
press Pentagon to admit Sikhs in the US military. Both are co-chairs
of the India Caucus.
McDermott told the Sikh delegation, “Medical professionals in the
military were told they had to shave their head and take off their
turban and I thought to myself who in the world is in charge over in
the Pentagon that made that decision? I know there have been
discussions going on about the symbolic dagger and all of the things
that are part of Sikhism but to say that these people can’t operate
in the US military is just plain silly.”
“This country needs to be the place where everyone has the right to
participate to the fullest extent possible in his or her life,” he
added.
He also reflected upon his role in forming a hate-free zone in
Seattle, Washington, following an attack on a Sikh in the aftermath
of 9/11.
Congressman Rush Holt, who has a large Sikh gurdwara in his
constituency in Bridgewater, NJ, said, “I believe the Sikhs are
serving America in many ways and they should be able to do it in the
US army without giving up their personhood.”
Other congressmen present on the occasion, who have pledged support
to the turban issue, included Ted Poe from Houston, Michael Wear,
Associate Director of the White House’s Faith Based Initiative,
Wally Herger of Yuba City, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Ben R. Lujn
from New Mexico, Rush Holt of New Jersey, besides others.
Courtesy The Tribune
20
May 2009
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