Special Report
Editorial
Op-Ed
Opinion
Columns

Politics
Literature
Music
Art & Culture
Sikh Religion
Rights
1984
Books
Education
Business

Entertainment
Lifestyle
Travel
Health
Heritage
Sports
Kids Corner

Panjab
India
Pakistan
South Asia
US of A
Canada
Asia-Pacific
UK
Europe
Middle East
Africa
World
 

Archives
Newsletter
Advertise

Obituaries

Feedback
Contact Us
About Us
Site Map

Sikhs participate to honour Martin Luther King's services
WSN Network

Washington: Guru Gobind Singh Foundation represented the Sikh community in the InterFaith Conference’s InterFaith Prayer Service marking the birth-anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King. The event was attended by local and national political leaders including Ike Leggit, Montgomery County Executive and US Senator Benjamin Cardin. Guest speaker was US Senate Chaplain Rear Admiral Dr. Barry C. Black (Ret.), author of the book "From the Hood to the Hill."

This annual event is a one of a kind for the whole Washington DC area, as it is the only InterFaith and Multi-Culture event in the DC area to honor Dr. Martin Luther King. Persons from all eleven member faith communities in the InterFaith Conference -- Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Latter-day Saints, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Sikh and Zoroastrian -- participated in this service.

U. S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black delivered a sermon. An interfaith children's choir, including many children from the South Asian Seventh Day Adventist Church nearby, sang their own song and led the congregation in a second song before leaving for their own program. Sikh youths from GGSF, Sabreena Kaur Mangat and Gursean Singh Aujla, participated by reciting powerful portions of to Dr. King's speech Sartaj Singh Dhami, an active member of GGSF sangat, said in today's world, it is important to practice one's faith, whatever it may be, in order to promote a better society for all.

Gursaen Singh Aujla, 18, said, “I found the service enlightening especially after the sermon given by Dr. Barry Black. His sermon was very deep and had a universal message. He spoke of equality and brotherhood among all people, which is analogous to Dr. King's message as well as Sikhi.”

Meghan Kaur while speaking about Dr. King at the GGSF Gurdwara, said, “Guru Nanak Dev Ji some 500 years ago was trying to make a diffrence. He said “ there is no hindu nor any mussulman” Guru Ji was declaring an act of brotherhood. He was making a statement of love your neighbor as you love yourself. Dr. King also believed that anybody could make a difference, anyone can be great."

Dr. Harminder Kaur, GGSF’s Gurmat School coordinator, said, “I felt very fortunate that I was at this powerful service along with our youth. I think we should have more of a representation there. At first I thought I missed gurdwara but listening to Chaplain Black and the words of Dr. King were a sermon.”

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Executive Director of GGSF, said, "It is thrilling to see our youth participate in these events and feel inspired to contribute to the society."

6 February 2008
 

Bookmark with

Reddit    Yahoo     Furl    Delicious