It's troubling with technology these days that any moment could get captured on someone's cell phone and posted online for idiots to entertain themselves. What if it happened to you? I can't even imagine what it's like to be in junior high or high school and have people come after you this way. It must be pretty horrible. Sikh Woman Balpreet Kaur Turns Cyber Bullying Incident into Inspiration http://shine.yahoo.com/women-who-sh...-turns-cyber-bullying-incident-203500244.html This picture of Balpreet Kaur sparked bullying -- and then inspiration -- on Reddit. (Photo via Reddit)After someone snapped a photo of her and posted it on online, Balpreet Kaur was ridiculed for following the tenants of her Sikh faith. But instead of hiding or lashing out, she politely posted a reply—and turned a bullying situation into a inspiring example of tolerance, support, and inspiration. The photo was taken apparently without Kaur's knowledge while she was waiting in line at the Ohio State University Library. In the photo, Kaur's hair is hidden by a large, black turban. She's wearing a T-shirt and yoga pants, glasses, and is looking down at her cell phone; her sparse facial hair is clearly visible. A Reddit user posted it to the "Funny" forum with the quip, "I'm not sure what to conclude from this." Comments started pouring in, making fun of her appearance, asking if she was transgendered, and taking her to task for not plucking, waxing, or shaving. After a friend told her about the thread, Kaur decided to respond to the taunts herself—and take the opportunity to educate people at the same time. "Hey, guys. This is Balpreet Kaur, the girl from the picture," she wrote. "I'm not embarrassed or even humiliated by the attention [negative and positive] that this picture is getting, because it's who I am." As a baptized Sikh woman, Kaur—who is from Ohio—said that she is forbidden from altering her body, as it is considered a sacred gift from God. "The overarching principal is this body is a tool for service," she explained. "We have to maintain and take care of it while cherishing its original form." That means that going to the hospital and taking medicine is fine, because one should be healthy in order to be of service to others. But cutting one's hair or removing one's facial hair is forbidden, even if societal norms dictate otherwise. "My hair doesn't stop me from being normal or doing service so its not a hindrance," she said in a later post. "I've been to the doctor regarding this and it's just a side effect of my hormone levels during my teenage years. The hormones have returned to normal, but the hair is still there. That's fine I don't regret anything, nor do I view it as an unfortunate thing." Sikhism was founded in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century; there are approximately 30 million Sikhs in the world. Followers believe in the equality of all human beings and in a single, infinitely powerful, omnipresent, genderless God. Instead of heaven or hell, the religion promotes salvation through a spiritual union with God; ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust are considered the Five Evils. Sikhs do not believe in recruiting converts, though they welcome those who wish to join their faith. Once baptized or formally initiated into the faith, they vow to wear five religious symbols at all times, one of which is leaving their body hair uncut. "Yes, I'm a baptized Sikh woman with facial hair. Yes, I realize that my gender is often confused and I look different than most women," wrote Kaur, who is the president of the Ohio State University's Sikh Student Association. "My attitude and thoughts and actions have more value in them than my body… by not focusing on the physical beauty, I have time to cultivate those inner virtues and hopefully, focus my life on creating change and progress for this world in any way I can." Her words quickly inspired readers on Reddit and elsewhere to reevaluate their reactions. A cross-post on the Facebook page for Kaurista garnered more than 6,750 likes and more than 850 comments. "I know that I don't have the courage to live that purely," Shannon Dolce commented on Facebook. "I am inspired to live MORE true to how my creator sees me, though." "I think we can agree that even the non-religious can benefit from taking a page from your book -- thank you," wrote a Redditor named "anothertimearound". "You are awesome. If your faith has made you this well-adjusted and positive and secure in your own skin, and focused on the things in life that truly matter, then I am glad that there are Sikhs in this world." Reddit reader "Anna Mosity" wrote. "The world could use more people like you." A few days later, the Reddit user who posted the picture started a new thread to apologize to Kaur. "I felt the need to apologize to the Sikhs, Balpreet, and anyone else I offended when I posted that picture," the Redditor wrote. "Put simply it was stupid. Making fun of people is funny to some but incredibly degrading to the people you're making fun of. It was an incredibly rude, judgmental, and ignorant thing to post." "I've read more about the Sikh faith and it was actually really interesting. It makes a whole lot of sense to work on having a legacy and not worrying about what you look like. I made that post for stupid internet points and I was ignorant." he continued. "Balpreet, I'm sorry for being a closed minded individual. You are a much better person than I am. Sikhs, I'm sorry for insulting your culture and way of life. Balpreet's faith in what she believes is astounding." Kaur says that she's happy to spend time explaining her religion and her appearance to people. "I do not think explaining myself and the way I am is a waste of energy because storytelling in itself is a way to fight the apathy in this world," she explained in a follow-up post on Thursday. "By simple interactions like this, we can better understand each other and make this world more open and loving even if it is just one person or many."
Also interesting to me, in a lot of states I believe it's illegal to record someone without their permission but maybe it should be illegal to take someone's picture and/or post it online without their permission as well.
It's cool that she stood her ground. Still, nothing cheaper than a bunch of people hitting like for their good deed for the day.
Her self-confidence and restraint is admirable. Is it customary in the Sikh community for women to wear a turban?
I don't see anything uniquely insidious about the original posting considering all the memes that come from candid unflattering photographs. But for her to have the initiative to admit her identity, not express resentment and then to still be accommodating enough of other's disdain to explain her appearance is certainly a sound strategy. I'd be willing to bet she either changes some things down the road or is less outwardly diplomatic, as with age people tend to get more superficial while social interactions become more strategically and emotionally important.
This is exactly the kind of naive viewpoint that baffles me. The truth is, if she could realistically be judged on any scale of physical beauty, she would have never adopted her current viewpoint. But since she is so far from any standard of beauty, it's only natural she gives up on her body and any form of grooming to adopt a "I am only my mind" mentality and fall deep into religious conviction. This kind of self confidence is fake because she's numb to the physical dimension of reality and temptations the normal face on a daily basis. It's no different than Mitt Romney speaking confidently about the economy when he has no idea how the middle and lower classes are grinding it out. He's confident, but for the wrong reasons. The OP by the girl is the result of living life in an ivory tower... of hairiness. I'm not saying this girl doesn't have a rich soul, or calling her any names. I'm just saying it doesn't take much "confidence" to adopt a viewpoint as strongly as she does, in a PC manner, when you've never had other options. It would be impressive if a physically beautiful girl totally let loose and ignored the body, somehow growing a beard in the process. I've lived the bohemian lifestyle and have a good idea of who is comfortable with 'abandoning' the body and reasons for doing so.
The truth is, you don't know enough about her upbringing/background to make a comment like that. She's attending a large university where she's exposed to all sorts of scrutiny over her appearance constantly. And yet it doesn't phase her. Edit: I'm curious, how would you define self-confidence?
Give him a break. His mom was yelling at him that his Mondelez Mac and Cheese was ready and he had to hurry because the ones in the Spongebob shape get cold quickly.
the jealousy is obvious, she's not european so why would you be interested or give her credence for her existence
Does someone deciding to adhere strictly to a set of religious rules that puts them at a social disadvantage really think that her assertion of those rules somehow negates the reasons for the social disadvantage? Most Sikh women shave, just like Christians lie, and some Muslims collect interest. Her extremism, while not really harmful to anyone else, seems to me to be her own problem, and one she chooses despite knowing that social costs. I'm not religious, so I may not understand this. But, I've worked with Sikh women who shave and cut their hair ... and that doesn't make them any less Sikh to me.
There are no valid reasons for the social disadvantages. Certainly a public mocking of this woman choosing to adhere strictly to her religious code is petty. Highlighting her reasons for her appearance merely shows that there is some depth to the reason she looks the way she does. While those mocking her for not complying with the social norms don't have any deep reasons for it. It's odd but by conforming to her religious standards she's being a non-conformist. I'm all in favor of non-conformity. I don't look down on those who are more conformist, but it's certainly a positive when I see people willing to not conform.
Can you feel the beat? Let's go, cmon. Yeah. This is what I want to do. Kiss away my fears with you. And stand together by the sea. I have an intimate understanding of the Sikh culture from people who have attended the "Gurudwara", their church, and those who were raised in traditional households. It's a derivative of the Aryan culture and their ideals of beauty that migrated to northern India and pushed the traditional "dravidian" Indians south. In Punjab, girls who have the genetics to pull off that mode of beauty move to Delhi or the West (mostly London or Toronto - both with large Sikh diaspora's). Those on the opposite end of the spectrum, who end up growing full on beards without getting the garden shears out, are forced deep into religion by default. It is a selfish way of ensuring self preservation - and that's why what you perceive as confidence is just another person living in a bubble. But for someone who knows life outside that bubble to break the laws of gravity and fly up into a bubble, and adopt the bearded breast lifestyle of someone perceived as a freak, that's what requires real courage and confidence. It's well known my knowledge of cultures from all corners of the globe is beyond comprehensive with the exception of Africa and certain Chilean tribes. You've already forgotten how I accurately pinpointed you as a south indian based on your meek nature that submits to authoritative women, passive aggressive personality, quantitative nature (computers, statistics) and love of curry.
How does a midget conform to society? How does a little man ride the big boy rides if the line says only ADULTS ALLOWED. Similarly, if this girl shaved the beard, worked out endlessly, went through a makeover that included laser hair removal, she would still be looked over on a physical basis or one of lust by respectable members of society. That is the shallow and unfortunate nature of intelligent humans. She has essentially .. given up by default. She's never had a chance to understand the importance of presentation, and presentation is 40% of life.
By punching people in the nuts who call them derogatory names like midget and think they're trolling successfully because I respond to it.
