Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Obama Not Going To Sikh Golden Temple-May Be Mistaken For Muslim?
Share:
by NowPublic Staff | October 21, 2010 at 11:12 am
923 views | 4 Recommendations | 4 comments
Videos
President Obama India Trip: Obama Not Going To Golden Temple In Amritsar: Speculation - White House Fears President Will Be Mistaken As Muslim
Perception is Reality - at least that is the way it seems to be playing out with President Obama's scheduled trip to India. Apparently, the White House was considering a trip to the Holy Temple for Sikhs, The Golden Temple or the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, in the North Indian state of the Punjab.
But now it seems President Obama visiting the The Golden Temple is not in the cards because of logistical issues.
Mr Obama would need to cover his head to enter the temple and there are reported concerns opponents would use this to show he is a closet Muslim.
The Golden Temple, or Harmandar Sahib, is Sikhism's holiest site.
The White House has not stated why the Obama is not going to the Golden Temple only that it was being considered and is no longer on the agenda.
While it is easy enough to slam the White House for making decisions based on "optics" consider the climate. President Obama is a Christian but a frightening percentage of Americans believe he is Muslim or could be Muslim.
In a visit to Ethiopia President Obama wore the traditional dress of an elder and the images were used to reinforce the claims he was an Muslim.
When he bowed to the emperor of Japan that too was ammunition for Obama's opponents.
Does it matter that Sikhs are not Muslims? Well, Sikhs are often mistaken for Muslims in the USA because of sheer ignorance or indifference.
Now it seems because the toxic politics of our times our leaders have caved to that ignorance, the truth has turned the truth topsy-turvy.
Advertisement
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most Recommended Comment
Crowd Power
NowPublic Staff
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 11:24 on October 21st, 2010
obama don't want to give birth of another controversy associated with religion.
at 15:06 on October 21st, 2010
A person isn't born with religion, it is an acquired distaste.
at 17:43 on October 21st, 2010
Sikh temples are open to all individuals of any faith.There are no restrictions for Muslims.What is mandatory for a visitor is to cover his/her head in whatever manner one would like to cover head,but can not wear anything metallic.It is incorrect to say that Obama is mistaken for a Muslim and that is why he is unlikely to visit Sikh temple.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
pghuman (not verified)at 21:34 on October 21st, 2010
I find it disappointing that Obama would change his decision about visiting the Golden temple. This was an invaluable opportunity to introduce Sikhs and their seperate religion to, not the world, only the U.S.A. However, seeing as to how hostile and irrationally most Americans reacted to the Ground Zero mosque, I fail to see any positivity coming out of this visit as well. Sadly, for them, anything that doesn't comply with their viewpoints is undoubtedly wrong and injust. Sometimes I see this in my Canadian friends as well. For example, I once had a girl say to me, "All turbaned guys are terrorists." Understandably, I was quite riled up and offended, but no amount of reasoning made her change her statement. Evidently, some people are just born ignorant and narrow-minded, although most tell themselves otherwise. = (