Saturday, November 27, 2004
A Lesson Learned in the Elevator...
This summer I saw a Punjabi (Sikh) couple waiting for treatment at school. I was looking for my patient when I noticed that the woman was watching me. When I looked over she was whispering something to her husband. She was probably telling him to look over at the “apanee” because that’s what he did. I smiled at them as I walked by with my patient. They smiled back. I wasn’t sure they were Punjabi and Sikh until I saw the kara on the woman’s wrist.
I was in the elevator with my patient when a Muslim female wearing a hijab stepped in. My patient, who is also Muslim (but doesn’t wear a head covering), said the Muslim greeting, and the other women responded appropriately.
This made me think… I could have easily said something to the Punjabi/Sikh couple, and I probably should have. I didn’t know for sure that they were Sikh until I walked by… but at that point some sort of greeting would have been nice. I decided that if I saw them again I would say something. After finishing up with my patient I did see them… they were sitting in a different area of the school, but when they saw me they both looked up. I said “Sat Sri Akal” and they happily said it back.
On Saturday mornings I usually go to the Gurdwara for Asa Di Waar. This morning there was a black man in the elevator when I got on. He mumbled “salam mal ekam” (not sure exactly how to spell it). I said “pardon me?” to which he said “I asked how you were doing today” (that is NOT what he had said). I told him I was doing fine, and then he asked me where I was going so early in the morning. I told him I was going to the Gurdwara, the Sikh Temple. He asked if I went every morning, and I told him that I only went this early (5:30 am) on Saturdays. He told me that he was actually headed to the mosque himself, and that the world needs more people who pray in the morning. He asked if there were a lot of Sikh Temples in Philadelphia. I told him that there weren’t and the one that I was headed to was actually in Upper Darby. As we got off the elevator he wished me a good prayer (or something like that).
I arrived at the Gurdwara a little earlier than usual, and as I was washing my hands I saw one of the Uncles who is a regular. I’ve never talked to him, but I decided I would say Fateh… and just as I started.. so did he! It’s not so difficult to greet fellow Sikhs, and I should do it more often… even if I’m not sure the person is Sikh (well maybe that’s taking it a bit far).
I was in the elevator with my patient when a Muslim female wearing a hijab stepped in. My patient, who is also Muslim (but doesn’t wear a head covering), said the Muslim greeting, and the other women responded appropriately.
This made me think… I could have easily said something to the Punjabi/Sikh couple, and I probably should have. I didn’t know for sure that they were Sikh until I walked by… but at that point some sort of greeting would have been nice. I decided that if I saw them again I would say something. After finishing up with my patient I did see them… they were sitting in a different area of the school, but when they saw me they both looked up. I said “Sat Sri Akal” and they happily said it back.
On Saturday mornings I usually go to the Gurdwara for Asa Di Waar. This morning there was a black man in the elevator when I got on. He mumbled “salam mal ekam” (not sure exactly how to spell it). I said “pardon me?” to which he said “I asked how you were doing today” (that is NOT what he had said). I told him I was doing fine, and then he asked me where I was going so early in the morning. I told him I was going to the Gurdwara, the Sikh Temple. He asked if I went every morning, and I told him that I only went this early (5:30 am) on Saturdays. He told me that he was actually headed to the mosque himself, and that the world needs more people who pray in the morning. He asked if there were a lot of Sikh Temples in Philadelphia. I told him that there weren’t and the one that I was headed to was actually in Upper Darby. As we got off the elevator he wished me a good prayer (or something like that).
I arrived at the Gurdwara a little earlier than usual, and as I was washing my hands I saw one of the Uncles who is a regular. I’ve never talked to him, but I decided I would say Fateh… and just as I started.. so did he! It’s not so difficult to greet fellow Sikhs, and I should do it more often… even if I’m not sure the person is Sikh (well maybe that’s taking it a bit far).
Comments:
By Gurjeet Kaur, at
12/09/2004 10:50 PM
vaheguroo jee ka khalsa vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
hi, this is gurjeet kaur from vancouver (remember santhia class with giani darshan singh jee..?)
that's a nice story, i just wanted to address something:
"This morning there was a black man in the elevator when I got on. He mumbled “salam mal ekam” (not sure exactly how to spell it). I said “pardon me?” to which he said “I asked how you were doing today” (that is NOT what he had said)."
What the muslim gentlemab probably said to you was "Salaam Alaikum", i cant remember exactly what it means, but it's nothing derogatory, its just the regular muslim greeting. The proper way to greet this person back would be to say "Walaikum Salam."
Vaheguroo jee ka Khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee Fateh!!
hi, this is gurjeet kaur from vancouver (remember santhia class with giani darshan singh jee..?)
that's a nice story, i just wanted to address something:
"This morning there was a black man in the elevator when I got on. He mumbled “salam mal ekam” (not sure exactly how to spell it). I said “pardon me?” to which he said “I asked how you were doing today” (that is NOT what he had said)."
What the muslim gentlemab probably said to you was "Salaam Alaikum", i cant remember exactly what it means, but it's nothing derogatory, its just the regular muslim greeting. The proper way to greet this person back would be to say "Walaikum Salam."
Vaheguroo jee ka Khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee Fateh!!
By pavandeep, at
12/10/2004 9:59 AM
Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh,
Thanks for the feedback Gurjeet Kaur. I actually didn't think he had said something derogatory... I just meant to point out that he had greeted me without knowing if I was muslim or not... which is good of muslims to do with each other.
Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh.
Thanks for the feedback Gurjeet Kaur. I actually didn't think he had said something derogatory... I just meant to point out that he had greeted me without knowing if I was muslim or not... which is good of muslims to do with each other.
Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh.
