(Sikhs in the Military) - Sign a Petition to President Obama‏ - Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi

Sangat Jio,

Please sign this petition for Panthic cause:
[salsa.wiredforchange.com]

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Dear Jasjit Ji,

As a proud Sikh American and member of the United States Army, I write to request less than a minute of your time.

As you know, the Sikh Coalition and the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP have stood with Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan, Specialist Simran Preet Singh Lamba and me every step of the way as we became the first three Sikhs in over 25 years to be accepted into the United States Army with our full Sikh articles of faith intact.

Over the past three and half years, we have proven what so many already know-- that Americans like us can be proud Sikhs and great soldiers at the same time.

While we are grateful for our individual accommodations to maintain our Sikh articles of faith, these accommodations are not guaranteed, and the general rule remains that devout Sikhs must remove their Sikh articles of faith in order to serve.

This policy of exclusion must end, and we need your help to end it.

Today, the next battle begins to ensure that our military accepts all capable Sikh soldiers who wish to maintain their articles of faith.

I respectfully ask that you sign a petition to President Obama requesting that the United States military allow all Sikhs to serve in our country with their articles of faith.

Over the coming weeks and months --- for as long as it takes --- the Sikh Coalition, Captain Rattan, Specialist Lamba, and I will be writing to you requesting your assistance in support of this historic campaign. We will tell you our stories in the hope that they will motivate you to take action to promote equal opportunity in our nation's most prominent and revered institution.

Earlier this week, the New York Times wrote about the campaign to ensure Sikh Americans are accepted into the military. We have momentum, but we have to keep it up.

Please start helping us today by signing a petition to President Obama and sharing it with your friends via email, Facebook, and Twitter.

We'll be writing again soon. Until then, stay in Chardi Kala (a state of optimism), and spread the word to your friends and family.

Guru Fateh!
Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi

Honestly, its better Sikhs are not serving in an army which is responsible many provoking many major wars(deaths) in the past 50 years.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Please ensure that this petition is not rushed and submitted without at least 100,000 signatures. 100,000 signatures will require a response from the White House:

[www.huffingtonpost.com]

There are at least 500,000 people who identify themselves as Sikhs in the U.S. - this number of signatures SHOULD be achievable, but will probably take time. This is not accounting for other Americans signing this petition (which they should be encouraged to). Perhaps a push at all Nagar Keertans and major Sikh and multifaith events is required to get bulk signings. Gurudwaras should have this as a standing table.

I don't know if you want to join an army which has waged unjust wars all over the world for the last 50 years. The US army has not really fought a defensive war since WW2. I think it would be better for Sikhs to join the police force since that is worthy of respect and plus you do good for society in general.