Out Loud! With Gurpreet Singh: The dark side of success
Wed, September 17 2008
The brighter side of his spectacular career arc suggests Canada is indeed changing by accepting immigrants and people of colour.
But if the angry e-mails which have flooded mainstream media outlets are any indication, racism is still an ugly reality in Canadian society.
Tatla came to Canada as a professional immigrant in 1999. After working as a civil engineer, he finally earned acceptance to the Canadian Air Force. Being a member of a devout Sikh family, Tatla sports long hair and a beard.
Immediately after his story appeared in the media, angry e-mails started flooding in from people who were upset with his attire. They even questioned his loyalty to Canada, with one of the writers wondering if he would aim his gun at the people of his former homeland, or at his fellow Canadian soldiers.
Tatla disclosed in a live interview on my radio station how he had to face the hostility of some of his co-workers at the time of his training as well.
He recalled that some of them would even ignore his advice. However, Tatla is most thankful to some of his white colleagues, who defended him in uncomfortable situations where race became an issue.
Tatla’s story freshens up the ugly memories of the angry reactions that followed the appointment of the first turbaned Sikh RCMP officer, Baltej Singh Dhillon in 1988.
He won the struggle to be allowed to wear the turban in 1990. Although the situation today is not as bad as it was then, subtle racism and simmering prejudice still needs to be challenged.
The people who are making a fuss about Tatla’s turban are ignorant about the valiant participation of the turbaned Sikh soldiers in the two world wars. Similarly, Sikh leaders should also do some introspection about a reverse situation, where non-Sikhs are forced to tie turbans.
A few months ago, a Sikh school in Punjab, India sparked a national controversy by demanding Hindu students sport turbans or leave. Even a Sikh school in Surrey forced a Hindu student to wear turban just a few years ago.
If wearing a turban is one’s right, then somebody can also chose not to wear it. Either way, let us respect our differences, and celebrate our common goals. In the case of Tatla, the preservation of peace for the country we share.
