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Massacre in Wisconsin, Members of Sikh Temple are Killed

Another senseless tragedy has befallen America: a gun toting individual went into a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and massacred several people who were simply meditating peacefully on their lives and their relationship to all things spiritual. This senseless gun violence comes barely two weeks after the Aurora shooting. Unlike the Aurora shooting, I have no doubt in my mind that this shooting was a hate crime — people targeted because they were perceived as being different, possibly Muslim. And with hateful rhetoric from people like Bachmann, an elected official of Congress, is there any wonder that we are now re-entering the Wild Wild West era? As Max Read said, there is simply no way to politicize a tragedy, because the tragedy doesn’t exist in a vacuum, but is the result of a culture that makes it an eventuality:

There is no such thing as “politicizing” tragedy. James Holmes did not materialize in a movie theater in Aurora this morning, free of any relationship to law and authority and the structures of power in this country; nor did he exit those relationships and structures by murdering 12 people and injuring several dozen more. Before he entered the theater, he purchased guns, whether legally or illegally, under a framework of laws and regulations governed and negotiated by politics; in the parking lot outside, he was arrested by a police force whose salaries, equipment, tactics and rights were shaped and determined by politics. Holmes’ ability to seek, or to not seek, mental health care; the government’s ability, or inability, to lock up persons deemed unstable — these are things decided and directed by politics. You cannot “politicize” a tragedy because the tragedy is already political. When you talk about the tragedy you’re already talking about politics.

The President has already spoken on gun violence and the need to take steps to ensure more tragedies like this don’t happen. Guns do not belong in hateful, sociopathic hands. Period.

If you look at the comments posted to the above youtube video, you will see it is riddled with disrespectful diatribes by gun toting zealots. We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied by those who prioritize their guns over maintaining a civil society. And we certainly cannot allow ourselves to be bullied by the likes of the profiteering NRA.

It is tough to discuss these issues, particularly in a volatile election year, but it is long time past due that America grow up and discuss them. Each candidate should spell out their plan to address the increasing gun violence in this country and how it threatens the very notion of our government, way of life, and civil society.

Enough is enough.

Prayers and thoughts go out to the families of the victims of this very senseless tragedy.

Namaste,
Seeta

UPDATE: Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Condemns Act of Terrorism Against Sikh Gurudwara in Wisconsin

On Sunday, a horrific mass shooting took place at the Sikh gurudwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, as members of the Sikh community were preparing for a peaceful religious gathering. It has been reported that a white male killed six people, and he was later killed himself after exchanging fire with a police officer.

AALDEF condemns this blatant act of terrorism against innocent people at a house of worship, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, the three continuing to fight for their lives in critical condition, and the entire Sikh community in Oak Creek, whose lives have been changed and feeling of safety shattered.

While details continue to emerge on this tragedy, the 700,000 Sikhs living in the United States have increasingly been victims of hate and discrimination. The media coverage following this tragedy, including CNN Network’s disturbing decision to distinguish Sikhs and Muslims, which implicitly suggested an attack on Muslims is within expectation, and its initial hesitation to call this an act of terrorism, show how severely intolerance and ignorance have been allowed to persist in our country, and the immediate need to stop it in all of its forms.

As more information comes to light, AALDEF will seek to work with other social justice organizations in making policy recommendations in hopes that such tragedies can be prevented in the future. http://bit.ly/MHsHcY

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