Republican Governor Nikki Haley and her family respond to Sikh temple shooting

[Tx4obama]

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Gov. Nikki Haley took to her Facebook page to respond to the fatal shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin that killed six on Sunday.

"It's very sad to see something like this happen to a peaceful place of worship," Haley said. "Our prayers and condolences go out to the families of the innocent victims and the family of the heroic officer in this senseless tragedy."

Haley's family is Sikh and operates a temple of their own in Lexington County. Dr. Ajit Randhawa, Haley's father, resides over the temple.

"This is senseless, and of course this shows this person was not at all familiar with what this place is and what goes on," Randhawa said.

-snip-

http://www.wistv.com/story/19207368/haley-and-family-respond-to-sikh-temple-shooting

[handmade34]

1. her father is very gracious

I am working in Lexington County and thought about attending the local Gurdwara this weekend... checked into it and discovered this same article... happens, my hotel is only about a mile away

[jberryhill]

2. Is there anything a non-Sikh should know to attend?

I was reading the web page of a local Sikh center, and it gives a time for services and says "all are welcome".

So if I take that offer, what should I do or not do, other than show up and see what's up?

[mysuzuki2]

3. I want to know this too.

I live in Milwaukee and want to attend the Sikh service in Oak Creek next sunday. I planned to just sit in the back and be quiet. I wonder if there is anything else I should know.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Here's something I found

http://www.gurunanakdwara.org/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/webmembers/tool?pMasterRecordID=ZAPS-MR-TAB1-145&pCategory1=TAB1_GURDWARA&pFile=home&pToolCode=TAB1&WebID=ZAP_SITE&pRefresh=Yes&pPrint=True&pPrinterFriendly=Yes

"...There are two basic prerequisites for entering a Gurdwara: to remove one’s shoes and to cover one’s head. The first has the practical effect of leaving dirt outside; it also symbolizes leaving the world outside. The second practice gives form to the understanding that the head is the crown of consciousness; by covering our heads in Gurdwara, we signify that we honor and protect the seat of our spiritual awareness. ..."

(more on entering a Gurdwara at the link, above)

[jberryhill]

5. Is a fedora sufficient?

Or are head coverings provided?

There are still Catholic churches which will hand out doily thingies, and I've been to Jewish services where they had spare yarmulkes.

[smitra]

6. May not be.

According to this site, http://www.buffalogurdwara.com/, hats are not appropriate. They do provide head coverings.

[handmade34]

7. quote from Navdeep Singh

(from the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) in interview on NPR...

"SINGH: The doors of a gurdwara are always open. And after this incident, the response of the Sikh community around the country has been, how do we open our doors even wider? They want you to come. They want you to come and pray with them because the prayer area is open for all persons of all faiths. And then we have the communal meal, langar, which was started as a sign of equality. All people sit together. It did not matter if you are king or you are a pauper. You - we're all equal in the eyes of the God. It did not matter if you are Hindu, Muslim or Sikh. All are equals in the eyes of God, so all should come and partake together as a common humanity..."

I take that as a welcome to all... I would love to see people from all over the United States go to the nearest Gurdwara this weekend to show support

[ananda]

8. All I see here is horrible irony.

nt

[GoCubsGo]

9. Yep.

Especially since she gave up Sikhism for Christianity.