Taftians join in show of support for Sikhs

Community religious and government leaders gathered last week at Gurudwara Saheb Ji Temple in Bakersfield in a show of support for the area's Sikh community in the wake of the mass murder at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin.

Organized by Sikh leaders, it was an open house, a prayer service and a time for people of all beliefs to gather together. It was organized to help explain what Sikhism is all about and share their beliefs of tolerance and respect to all religions

Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard and Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall spoke, as did Taft City Councilman Orchel Krier and retired Taft College president David Cothrun.

Krier and Cothrun are friends of Devinder Singh Bains, general manager of Taft Chevrolet Buick and a leader in the Sikh community.

Cothrun talked about his friend and said when he first met Bains he was "struck by his kindness, his decency and his fairness.

Krier has worked with Sikhs in his agriculture businesses and talked about learning of their wrok ethic.

Bains taught him more about Sikhism, the faith of the Sikhs and their commitment to mankind.

Hall said it was important to "come together to make our community a better place."

Maggard said people should stop and think about what they have in common.

"God created you, and God created me with the same wishes. We want peace and joy and love," Maggard said.

The attacker at Sikh Temple in Oak Park, Wi. killed six worshipers and the gunman, Wade Michael Page, 40, took his own life.

Despite the violence, Bains said he does not hate Page.

"We do not hate him for who he is," Bains said. "We hate what he did."

Balmeet Singh delivered a brief overview of the Sikh religion at the start of the service.

He too, spoke of forgiveness, not hate.

But Sikhs won't forget the attack, either

"It is a moment of teaching for us," he said. "We will not hate. We will forgive, but we won't forget."

"We've come a long way as a nation," said Singh, a school psychologist. " Unfortunately we have a long way to go.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which were launched by al-Queda, an extremist Muslim faction, there have been about 300 attacks on Sikhs in this county, many committed by people who mistook the turban-wearing Sikhs for Muslims.

Observant Sikhs always cover the heads, and the guests attending the service wore head coverings when they entered the Temple.

The service at Gurudwara Saheb Ji Temple was one of several that took place in Bakersfield over the past several days.