Amardeep Kaleka, whose father is Satwant Kaleka, the president of the temple who was shot and killed, prays in a parking lot while waiting to hear information. (Photo credit: Mike De Sisti, via JS Online)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece contains viewpoints from the author regarding the alleged gunman and the gunman’s possible intent(s). As the investigation of the Sikh temple is ongoing, the Editors remind all readers that the opinions and assumptions in this piece are solely that of the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of other contributors of this site, or of 8Asians as a whole. –JW
On Sunday August 5th 2012 around 10:25am, a white armed man entered a wide open Sikh temple and opened fire, leaving six dead before police shot and killed the gunman. “Tattoos on the body of the slain Sikh temple gunman and certain biographical details led the FBI to treat the attack at a Milwaukee-area temple as an act of domestic terrorism, officials said Sunday”, according to the LA Times.
I am not here to argue about stricter gun control laws (which I personally believe should happen) but instead I am here to create something remotely positive out of so heinous a tragedy. Therefore, it must be emphasized that the attack was conducted in a Sikh temple, which the white supremacist most likely confused for a Muslim mosque. Sikhs are the 5th largest religion in the world but it is also one of the least understood and known. For those who are completely unacquainted on the Sikh religion, please make sure to check out the SALDEF website to learn more about it.
I like to believe that this attack happened because the gunman attacked what he did not know and in many cases, what you don’t know can often lead to the things you fear and loathe. So if this is the case, let us take this time to at least be knowledgeable in what we don’t know so that ignorance cannot be a factor in what leads our decisions. And that is all.
Please keep the victims and their family members in your thoughts and prayers as the nation will once again plunge into a messy debate about the myriad of issues that surround this country.
