I've been thinking about this. There was some discussion recently that seemed to be dissing men having a drink in their dastaar. I'm sure it wasn't the first time and won't be the last. But I do think there's a lot of unfair judgement that goes on for several reasons. 1) while the Sikh faith does specifically say in it's 52 hukkams by Guru Gobind Singh ji not to drink, it also gives other edicts, some of which few people follow (i.e. 31, studying other faiths), and there are many many people who don't follow all 52 even if they maybe make an effort to follow "most". So if they don't follow all, who is to say that the one they choose not to follow is less important than the one someone else chooses not to follow (i.e. drinking)? 2) I hate to break it to people but the turban did not start with Sikhi, and is not owned by Sikhi. It's been around for milennia & is worn by Hindus, Muslims, Africans...so pretty much any one person is free to claim one night that they aren't "practicing Sikh" and therefore why should they have to abstain from drinking? It's their prerogative. 3) Maybe the most important in my opinion: general decency of human kind. Let's say two types of people exist: the first spends a long 14 hour day doing sewa. Cleaning up after floods in a strange town and delivering food to people who are stranded, getting cold and wet and dirty in the process. He then goes home to have a hot bath and a beer to relax. The second type of person looks at flooding going on on tv and says "oh I should donate some money to the cause. Let's see. My neighbour donated 20000$. I'll donate 25000$ to make sure people think I'm very kind and caring and helpful and it will look good for my family." This person doesn't dare get his hands in there and do any dirty work and also doesn't drink. I gotta say: I would far far rather spend my time getting to know the first person and spending time with him, and would think more highly of him. The money is helpful for sure. But is one of these people a worse person than the other? Actually not necessarily although person #2 does obviously act more on ego. It still gets something done (donation). Now honestly we don't live in a world that is so black and white as all that. Many shades of grey exist. It's possible some people don't feel the need to drink and still get their hands dirty and others donate lots of money and drink themself silly. But the guy who is working hard and rewarding himself with a beer at the end of a long hard day IMO shouldn't be looked down upon, especially by other people who think they're perfect. We mere plebs are not god. We should not judge. Judge not lest ye be judged.
