Indianexpress.com : comments : 'US pilot refuses to fly with Sikhs onboard'

'US pilot refuses to fly with Sikhs onboard'

New York : Three eminent Sikh religious musicians were thrown out of a US Airways flight after the pilot refused to fly with them onboard in California, a leading US-based Sikh group alleged on Wednesday. The three -- Gulbag Singh, Davinder Singh and Iqbal Singh -- had boarded the plane in Sacramento on ....Read more

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51 Comments |

Very SadBy: Mil | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 10:58:32 AM Reply | Forward America was not made by whites alone. When did America become a white country? You can call Europe a white continent but America, to even think that they are whites and to look down on others’ race is audacity to the extreme. They cannot claim to be whites… I’ve always respected the Sikhs they are one the most sturdiest and hardworking lively level headed people.On the lighter side…Now you will have lots of Sardar jokes (Santa and Banta Jokes) on the net on lighter side to this mishap...Dear Sikhs its good that you give the best medicine for a good health. Milcbin

sikhsBy: RAJ | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 10:48:25 AM Reply | Forward I am sikh and am proud of that.I think few Americans are still stupid enough about their knowledge about other cultures and religions.Our Prime Minister is a Sikh and a respected Leader world wide.This idiot pilot should have known this and not insulted those 3 men in such a manner.I expect a public apology from the airline and the pilot from the sikh community.The americans should realize now that times have changed even in their own country ,where a Black President has been elected and these are the same blacks who were subjected to ,torure,umiliation at the hand sof these type of white americans.SHAME ON YOU .

PM of IndiaBy: reply to RAJ | Saturday , 13 Dec '08 4:30:40 AM Reply | Forward By the way, I just thought that you should know, the PM of India isn't really a Sikh. Sure he wears a Turban and has the name of a Sikh, but do you HONESTLY believe that the racist Indian government would allow a true Sikh to be the head of their nation.Dr. Manmohan Singh is just a PUUPET LEADER. The Hindu ministers, politicians and other government oficials are the ones pulling his strings.I'm pretty sure that he was made the PM of India so the world would pay less attention to the Sikh genocide of 1984 and the attack on the Golden Temple.If he was a true Sikh, don't you think he would do something about the constant "disappearances" of Sikhs in Punjab.

get it together folks, it's 2008By: sean | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 9:12:55 AM Reply | Forward sikhs aren't muslims. learn a little bit more about the world and then maybe we'll let you be a pilot.oh wait, you're already a pilot. whoops.

Sikhs v MuslimsBy: Roger | Friday , 26 Dec '08 13:57:16 PM Reply | Forward It doesn't matter whether they are Sikhs or Muslims. Neither one makes you a terrorist. Both should be able to fly on a plane after passing through the same security measures as everyone else.

Mark nad Steve are Sick, they need helpBy: Vin | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 8:52:07 AM Reply | Forward Steve and Mark both are sick, they really need help. They represent only 0.001% of the community.

Why is it such a big dea;By: Mark Miller | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 8:10:48 AM Reply | Forward Indian discriminate amongst themselves heavily under the pretext of religion, castes, sub-castes, region and so on ... and it is accepted as normal in India.Why then will anybody else respect you, learn to be united and respect your people, your country men and treat them equally, only then will others respect you.

The fussBy: dude | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 9:11:37 AM Reply | Forward Hindu's are the same,discriminating against cast and creed, and religion. I've travelled to India, and I saw first hand that racial barriers still exist, what century are they lviing in 1700's?

Same thingBy: Jason Mill | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 6:54:44 AM Reply | Forward The silly superstitions that cause the Sikhs to grow their hair long, wear turbans, force their male children to wear doilies on their heads and be mistaken for girls, keep women and men separate in their temples, and insist on arranged marriages for their daughters under threat of being disowned or worse could also cause them to become violent, but the same goes for Christians and anyone else who holds superstitious beliefs.

Jason Mill... you idiotBy: Jason Mill is an idiot | Saturday , 13 Dec '08 4:16:30 AM Reply | Forward First of all, if you had even an inkling of knowledge about the sikh religion, you would know that we Sikhs are against superstitions and other meaningless rituals. There is a reason we Sikhs let our hair grow and a reason we wear a Turban on our head and Ashmeet has done a fairly good job on explaining it, so I won't go into any greater detail as your feeble mind may have trouble comprehending. And if you do understand then I am sure that your ego will keep your mind ignorant to the truth. Secondly, there is no rule that says men have to sit on one side and women on the other side, people just do it. I have seen many people that come sit on the other side...usually to get closer to the stage where the musicians are playing music.

how much do you know?? READ SIKH HISTORYBy: Ashmeeta | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 10:40:29 AM Reply | Forward Mr. Jason first may god bless u with more knowledge about other religions because You don't know why sikhs grow long hair, the thing is we don't grow long hair, they grow on their own we don't cut them, there's a difference and why we started doing that is to stay the way God intended us to be, if we were supposed to always be hairless, why do we have hair follicles on our body, Also sikhs are warriors and a different appearance was a requirement of the time to make a special army to protect Hindus from forceful coversion into muslims by Mughals. Would you ever forget the manly and saintly apearance of a sikh. It would be nice if you know a litle sikh history before declaring us superstitious. Also sitting separtely in temples for men and women is a practice in all ancient Indian cultures not just sikhs in temple, but if someone needs to talk to their partners no one objects or stops them, temple is a place to connect to god, to cocentrate on and feel the supreme energy. You know even kids can call 911, if our daughters did not have the basic subconcious instinct of listening to their parents they can always marry whoever they want, if they are brave and doing the right thing. Voilence should not scare them if they are doing the right thing.

Didnt Jesus have long hair and a Beard ?By: Satinder Singh | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 14:22:21 PM Reply | Forward Well ive seen more than a hundred portraits of the christ and none of them portray him as havin trimmed hair and clean shaven... wonder why that is the case ..???

Fantastic Reply AshBy: Giri | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 11:49:31 AM Reply | Forward Ash, Fantastic and fitting reply ..You taught Jason a nice lesson. Instead of blaming religions Mr Jason, do some good to mankind. Teach your family and friends about love and respect for other religions. Live and let others live happily. Jason, please do not hurt others sentiments, you are not doing any good for yourself.

Teach about Sikhism to the pilotBy: Bharatiya | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 6:53:51 AM Reply | Forward The pilot needs to be suspended from his job. During the suspension, he must be made to undergo community service at a Sikh temple. He must be taught the basics of Sikh religion and only then will he learn that Sikhs are as honorable as any in the world. Stripping the pilot of his job will only increase hate in him. Teach him with firm love. Jai Bharat; Vande Maataram

CowsBy: pairunoyd | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 20:56:11 PM Reply | Forward What about cows? Does he need sensitivity training for cows?

Indian PM - needs to be active By: Gus | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 4:10:58 AM Reply | Forward india is land of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslim .. they need to spread that message and educate americans and also OIC .. Indian Govt. need to form panels for dealing with religiuos forums and educations .. Like India should try joining OIC at any cost and deflate Pakistani propaganda there

Sikhs Not Allowed To FlyBy: Elijah Goldsmith | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 3:23:23 AM Reply | Forward I am schocked at the 3 sikh gentlemen not being allowed to fly. I hope that the foolish captain is reprimanded. Jews were treated the same by the Nazi's initially and finally exterminated in gas chambers! Racisim - there should be no place for it. I cannot imagine such a thing happening in India against your average white american. Neither should it happen. I hope this is one of only a few incidents - never to be repeated.

sikhsBy: Sean | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 10:00:19 AM Reply | Forward It would have been good if the Nazis, like the US pilot, refused to transport Jews, gypsies and gays. Then they would have avoided the terrible destination. Black humor!

Pay these men and apologizeBy: Travis | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 2:41:51 AM Reply | Forward This dirtbag pilot needs to fired and US Airways needs to (1) pay these gentlemen a large sum for the humiliation and (2) publicly apologize to these men and to the sikh community in whatever manner the group "United Sikhs" would deem appropriate. - From a white US citizen appalled by such behavior

No big dealBy: Steve | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 3:18:18 AM Reply | Forward Travis, maybe arab terrorists should apologize to these many for giving justification for profiling...

Arab TerroristsBy: Syd | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 19:38:38 PM Reply | Forward Steve.... b4 pointing others look into yourself. Jesus Christ (Peace Be Upon Him) was an Arab. N this negative propganda started from Western World against Arabs or Muslims. Whr was this terrorism b4 few decades. Who was Nazi, who were involved in world war I and ww II, finally who killed father of Nation INDIA - Mahatma Gandhi, and who killed Indira and Rajiv. unfortunately now terrorism is synonym with Muslims and throughout the globe ppl without a second like to blame Muslims. It nothing but greed of few power and money hungry ppl around the world and ppl like Steve are highly influenced. I am not surprised

A holeBy: Vick | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 7:38:36 AM Reply | Forward I am white dude and i feel sorry for this....imagine you being treated this way in no white land.

That is an "Attitude" SteveBy: Chittaranjan | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 6:19:46 AM Reply | Forward You did not deplane a terrorist or a suspect Steve, the Pilot said he will not fly because there are "non white", "non American" differently dressed" people on board. Do you understand the difference? When will you guys learn lessons? And I can not believe this country elected Barack Obama not even a month ago to lead them! Can anyone believe?

No big deal?By: John | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 5:40:32 AM Reply | Forward Steve, when did arabs become sikhs? And even if they were Arabs - does that make them terrorists?

It *IS* a big deal .....By: SoftWords BigStick | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 5:33:51 AM Reply | Forward As Ben Franklin said - Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.If some loser terrorists can make the mighty US to justify racial profiling in the name of security, then surely the terrorists have won ?

You are getting it backBy: Evets | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 4:54:18 AM Reply | Forward Steve, maybe your attitude is one of the reasons why you guys are being targeted by all and sundry!

Everyone should be treated equallyBy: senseasian | Thursday , 27 Nov '08 9:48:15 AM Reply | Forward The point is, everyone should be treated equally. It doesnt matter if you are black or white, why does it matter if you are sikh or a hindu? The pilot needs some training and the three dudes need an apology and compensation.

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