Ethnic groups, racial and religious differences led to Sikh shootings

By Frosty Wooldridge

Re: “Homegrown terrorism” Shootings of Sikhs in Wisconsin/ Wade Michael Page, Time, August 20, 2012

The Sikh Temple shooting last week brought horror to a Wisconsin community.  As experts try to pinpoint the motive, the German philosopher Emmanuel Kant said it clearly, “The two great dividers are religion and language.” 

Attempting to cram multiple ethnic groups and incompatible religions into any country invariably causes distrust, anger and emotional “them versus us” mentality.  All humans derive their identity from their tribes and religions.  Racial tensions and violence to Indians, blacks, whites and Hispanics color U.S. history.  With the advent of mass immigration from the Middle East, we can look for more religious conflict as to Muslims, Mormons, Christians, Sikhs, Jews and Hindus in America.  The “motive” for all past violence and future violence can be found in human nature.

As America’s population numbers and racial diversity increase in regard to water, resources, energy, food, living space, competition for jobs and welfare, we will see further violence erupting anywhere at any time.  The elites and intellectuals may chase their tails around in circles for motives to violence, but human nature will prevail.

Throughout human history, race, creed and color meant sticking together and ultimately survival.  It hasn’t changed and won’t change.  Today, humans stick a square peg into a round hole and try to call it “multiculturalism and diversity.”

One look at France, Norway, Great Britain, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and America show it’s not working.

Throughout American history, race and religion continue as contentious aspects of the human drama.  When the first Europeans stepped onto North America, they proceeded, via mechanized violence, to slaughter the American Indians.  Why?  The aborigines of America featured red skin, different religions, different languages and totally incompatible customs to the white man.

Europeans brought African slaves over to America to work in bondage, torture, whippings and servitude—under the guise of religious righteousness and superiority. 

The Spanish-American War featured the Hispanic racial group against the European racial group.  The Islamic conquest of Europe started a thousand years ago.

No one is immune.  Even in America, Mormons fought for their rights to worship God in their own way.  Protestants treated Catholics as second class citizens. Americans treated the Chinese with disdain as the Chinese built America’s railroads.  African-Americans have battled for their rights in America against the European racial group right up to Dr. Martin Luther King and into 2012.  Such movies as “The Help” highlighted the black man’s difficulties in America. Affirmative Action still remains a hot button as to jobs between blacks and whites.  After 9/11, all Americans feel unease in the presence of Muslims walking in the streets with head wraps and Burka’s.  Why?  Islamists blew up the World Trade Towers, or, at least, that is what is perceived.

Multiculturalism, diversity and the great divide

The most internally peaceful countries on this planet remain homogenous ethnic groups like Japan, China and Tasmania of Australia.  As soon as any country imports different racial, religious and ethnic groups into the general population—racism, tension, anger and distrust explode at a moment’s notice.

While elites and academics scratch their heads as to the cause of racial and religious violence, the simplest explanation remains:  it’s biological and tribal.

In 2010, because of racial and religious tension, Holland shut its borders to further immigration from the Middle East and Africa.  Denmark is close to shutting down its borders as well as Finland, Norway and Sweden.  Within 20 years, their rape rates, street violence and social tensions have skyrocketed in relation to immigrant numbers.

Can our enlightened republic solve our own racial, ethnic and religious violence?

Solutions must begin with mandated universal education for all citizens up to the age of 18 and graduation from high school.  A highly educated citizenry gives us a chance to remain respectful and peaceful with one another.  Solutions include mandating a similar language for all to speak within America—preferably English as it is the foundational language of this country.  Solutions include jobs and a decent standard of living for all citizens.  We might de-emphasize war as a way to solve all our problems with other countries.  We need to teach parenting skills in all our high schools and we need to mandate classes for those about to marry—in order to show young people how to bring up a child in a positive, gracious and accepting manner as to all races, creeds and colors.

With education we may attain the Sikh belief, “There is one God, all humans are equal, and service, devotion and morality lead to enlightenment.”  Or the Christian belief, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Or the Buddhist template, “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”

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Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents – from the Arctic to the South Pole – as well as eight times across the USA, coast to coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece. In 2012, he bicycled coast to coast across America.  His latest book is: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World by Frosty Wooldridge, copies at 1 888 280 7715/ Motivational program: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World by Frosty Wooldridge, click:

www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com