AASRA MAGAZINE: Connecting Communities Since 2006

As elections get tighter and tighter, it becomes more important for the candidates to reach out to the community. Governor Chris Gregoire always tries to connect to the community. She goes out, participates in all the activities, and reaches out to the community. Be it the “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer awareness, or the Dalai Lama’s visit, or the children, or the minority communities that live in Washington. She has personally visited the Gurudwara quite a few times.

I remember in 1980’s when I was visiting some villages in the Himalayas close to Oachghat when I had spotted some Tibetan flags at a distance. This is the same side road that you take to go to Baru Sahib. As coincidence my friend, Kailash Chander invited me to visit the Bon Monastic Center for a Tibetan New Year Celebration. From then on visiting Tibetans became a routine. We would drive my motor bike till Oachghat and then walk some five miles on the dirt road to reach the Bon Monastic Center.

A historic judgment!

Sukhvir Singh’s forgiveness for a man who called him an “Iraqi terrorist” and “responsible for 9/11” led a King County Superior Judge to be lenient and spared him from a longer jail sentence. Judge Monica Benton sentenced Luis Vázquez, 21, of Kent, to nine months in jail and 240 hours of community service for the hate crime. He will be eligible for work-release during his time in jail, the judge said.

ਝਖੜੁ ਝਾਗੀ ਮੀਹੁ ਵਰਸੈ ਭੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਦੇਖਣ ਜਾਈ ॥੧੩॥
Even in violent storms and torrential rain, I go out to catch a glimpse of my Guru. ||13||

ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਬਹੁ ਖਾਰਾ ਗੁਰਸਿਖੁ ਲੰਘਿ ਗੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਜਾਈ ॥੧੪॥
Even though the oceans and the salty seas are very vast, the GurSikh will cross over it to get to his Guru. ||14||

In today's materialistic world it has become important for us to teach our kids about roots and about religion. Gurmat Youth Camp is an excellent opportunity for children to learn about religion, learn music, exchange thoughts, meet peers, and make friends. The growing number of participants between the ages of 7-17 and being held for the 10th year show how much the Gurmat Youth Camp has gained in popularity.

As I walk through the classroom at the Khalsa Gurmat School at the Gurudwara Sahib in Renton, WA it reminds me of the Punjab village where students sit down on the floor under the shade of a tree and learn Punjabi every day. There are some 300 students enrolled for the weekly class of Punjabi language at the Khalsa Gurmat School in Renton.

Among the many contemporary Sikhs who have spent their lives in doing selfless service, Bhagat Puran Singh stands out like a star. He cared tremendously for the poor and the infirm, both people and animals. He is mostly known for Pingalwara, an institution where all living things, be it animals or people can stay and heal – all free of charge. Bhagat Puran Singh devoted his life to helping and healing people and worked all his life to help others. He was so devoted to helping others that he did not even invest in a pair of shoes for himself.

I was glad to read the wonderful cover story, "Healthcare" in your April issue. I just thought to share some of the information on the over-the-counter medicines that I came across.
When we buy medicines over-the-counter (OTC), we sometimes forget that they are drugs without a prescription. But they are, and the misuse of OTC drugs causes 178,000 hospitalizations a year.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the best way to take your OTC medicine is seriously.

Here are some tips:

• Read and follow directions on the OTC drug facts label.

In today's world parents have very little time for their children. A child spends a lot of time at school. Education must, and should teach about diversity. Kudos to the Kent School District Panther Lake which successfully celebrated the 5th year of the "Heritage Festival". Suzie Newberry and Amy Abrams said, "We feel children will be better able to see where they’re going by knowing where they’ve been (come from). It’s a time to celebrate diversity and grow to understand that even though we’ve come from very different places, we are all the same."