It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Sikh Woman Balpreet Kaur Turns Cyber Bullying Incident into Inspiration
After someone snapped a photo of her and posted it on online, Balpreet Kaur was ridiculed for following the tenets 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."
...
"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."
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."
Originally posted by PvtHudson
I'm sorry, what makes her a "hero"? A lot of people are picked on because of internet pictures. What makes her special? Also, she trims the facial hair, but can't just cut it off?
A women with a beard is strange. Nothing will ever change that and being a woman with a beard hardly makes you a hero.
Originally posted by loam
Are your questions serious????
It's how she chose to RESPOND to it that YOU could definitely learn from.
Originally posted by synnergy
reply to post by PvtHudson
She didn't antagonize the situation. She was insulted on a large platform. Rather than a retort, she took the opportunity to educate about her beliefs while leaving a good impression as to her character.
As to yours, the jury is still out.
I'm sorry, what makes her a "hero"? A lot of people are picked on because of internet pictures. Ever seen the "faces of wall mart" website? I've never heard calls for apologizes and heroism in that case. Are those people OK to make fun of?
Originally posted by PvtHudson
People do that all the time.
Originally posted by PvtHudson
You're only impressed because the media instructed you to be.
Originally posted by PvtHudson
Originally posted by loam
Are your questions serious????
It's how she chose to RESPOND to it that YOU could definitely learn from.
I'm still confused what makes her a hero? I responded in much the same way when I was picked on as a kid. My parents always told me "sticks and stones....". Realizing that words don't hurt and to shrug them off is not a new concept, nor is it heroic.
If it makes you feel better about yourself to pretend it is, then who am I to stop you? Carry on....edit on 28-9-2012 by PvtHudson because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Julie Washington
Love it... This World full of such prejudice and hate could take a lesson. She should get a job as a diplomat.
S&F
Originally posted by EvilSadamClone
I'm sorry, what makes her a "hero"? A lot of people are picked on because of internet pictures. Ever seen the "faces of wall mart" website? I've never heard calls for apologizes and heroism in that case. Are those people OK to make fun of?