Shooting At Sikh Temple In Wisconsin

[Weeto]

This will be a difficult time for the Sikh community as they are very community driven and this will hit them pretty hard in Wisconsin particularly.

Two of the doctors in my local health centre are Sikhs and I've generally found Sikh people to be helpful, reliable and very respectable people driven by strong ethics, community spirit and a sense of honour.

I hope their community can get over this terrible incident.

[ShaunN]

When I first heard about this, I assumed it was e result of a Sikh inter-factional dispute. Those are not exactly uncommon. Then I read that the shooter was white, which means it was probably racially-motivated. My initial suspicion is that, if this is the case, the person just assumed that Sikhs were Muslims. It is cold comfort to think that he may have killed Sikhs by mistake when he was actually gunning for Muslims. However, since discrimination and hatred towards Muslims is much more acceptable than against any other group, this is a real possibility.

However, it is possible this guy actually had a beef with Sikhs. We will need to wait and see.

[Cam63]

My respects to those killed and wounded.

...and an Oo-rah to the first response cop who despite being ambushed and hit multiple times, still managed to return fire.

[Stressfactor]

It's all just so fucking senseless.

No, sadly, I think, at the end of all this, we will find sense -- it will just be a warped, twisted, sense born of hate and/or intolerance and/or fear.

My condolences to those who have lost friends and loved ones. My wishes for a speedy and full recovery to those who are injured. And most of all, my wishes for healing and peace in the wake of the tragedy.

[Weeto]

I don't know what someone would hold against the Sikhs.

They don't have the baggage of having extremists with anti western views in public views, they can't be blamed for major terror attacks and they're generally quiet people.

I know the American people generally don't understand South Asian culture as well as most British people as that culture is much closer to us in the UK due to the colonial past and the huge numbers of people from that region who live in the UK.

I still don't get how anyone could mistake Sikhs for Muslims and that apparently happened in several places after 9/11.

[Morrison_Lad]

I don't know what someone would hold against the Sikhs.

They don't have the baggage of having extremists with anti western views in public views, they can't be blamed for major terror attacks and they're generally quiet people.

I know the American people generally don't understand South Asian culture as well as most British people as that culture is much closer to us in the UK due to the colonial past and the huge numbers of people from that region who live in the UK.

I still don't get how anyone could mistake Sikhs for Muslims and that apparently happened in several places after 9/11.

It's simple: Many Americans are extremely uneducated concerning anything more than (in a lot of cases, literally) a block away from their home.

[Kingsmythe]

I hope the wounded recover as swiftly and painlessly as possible, and my great praise to the officer who killed the son of a bitch who did the shooting.

That officer, at least, spends enough time on the practice range.

[dasNdanger]

I still don't get how anyone could mistake Sikhs for Muslims and that apparently happened in several places after 9/11.

Unfortunately, many Americans choose not to educate themselves (though I think this can be true in any country, with any culture). This is partly due to our educational system that tends to be extraordinarily USA-centric. There is often misunderstandings about the world outside, like how many Americans think Africa is one big country instead of a continent made up of dozens of different countries. This is just another one of them (the Sikh/Muslim confussion). The thing is, with the increase of conspiracy theorists since 9/11 even if you explain to someone how they are not the same, they aren't likely to believe you, instead suspecting that you're giving misinformation for some sinister reason. And lastly, there is a particular type of American who sees anyone who is different as an enemy. When you get all of that wrapped up into one person it becomes impossible to reason with them in any logical way.

das

[Thequeerjock]

I don't know what someone would hold against the Sikhs.

They don't have the baggage of having extremists with anti western views in public views, they can't be blamed for major terror attacks and they're generally quiet people.

I know the American people generally don't understand South Asian culture as well as most British people as that culture is much closer to us in the UK due to the colonial past and the huge numbers of people from that region who live in the UK.

I still don't get how anyone could mistake Sikhs for Muslims and that apparently happened in several places after 9/11.

Because there are a fuck ton of idiots who think Brown person + religious head garment = Muslim and by association Muslim = terrorists.

It makes me sick to my stomach.

[KJ!]

what the hell?

glad to see the shooter is dead. . but do they have any info on what made this asshole target the temple?

While I'm glad he was stopped before more people were killed, I always hope that as many as possible survive, and that includes the shooter/s, for me.