Sikh youth in North America - kirpan-wearing and other legal Essay

Sikh youth in North America - kirpan-wearing and other legal - Essay Example One of the biggest hurdles for these immigrants to overcome has been and still is the toleration of religion. Many people do not understand a culture they have not grown up with. It has been no different for the Sikh people though they too are a monotheistic religion that primarily originated in India (Hawley & Mann 1). The people who practice Sikhism have been discriminated against simply for their beliefs and their traditional dress. In order for cultures to get along while living in the Western civilization, it has become essential for people to understand the Sikh traditions and Sikhism. It has been equally important for the Sikhs to understand the views of the rest of the world. Violence is essentially one of the main reasons that caused Sikhs to migrate. Their Golden Temple Shrine was invaded, people were assassinated, and there was a complete massacre of numerous Sikhs in Delhi, India. The Sikhs wanted to flee for a place of safety. Teachers and students of Sikhism have numerous struggles in order to stay true to their history and tradition, their written religious texts, the beliefs and practices of the religion, and the collective identity of the people as a whole (Hawley & Mann 1). In order for the Sikh to be introduced into academics and to introduce students to the culture and religion, some Sikhs may be stricter while others have become more westernized so life is easier for them. To completely teach the practices and the history behind Sikhism, to do so may be challenging. Hawley and Mann wrote â€Å"Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America,† in 1993 in order for students and religion teachers to have a format to follow. This is like a guidebook to help lay out what the Sikhs believe, what their culture and history is and many other facts about their symbols and traditions. While the Sikhs have their own perspective, Mann represents the culture, providing