Pashaura Singh Dhillon

As a member of the Sikh Council of Central California Fresno, I along with other members of the Sikh Community, attended the 12th Annual Interfaith Alliance of Central California Celebration on Saturday July 4, 2009. The venue was O’Neill Park near California State University, Fresno. The Sikh Council of Central California Fresno (SCCC) is one of the founder members of the Interfaith Alliance of Central California (IACC) in Fresno which came into being 12 years ago. It is a mere coincidence that the SCCC was also formed in this area almost the same time.

We have diligently attended this celebration each year on 4th of July, since its inception. It affirms religious pluralism, celebrates our differences, and promotes the healing and constructive force of our joining together in public life in this country. Being a part of it one feels enriched by the beauty and diversity of all of the cultures in the Central valley. In the IACC, one learns as well as one knows, we cannot be casual about protecting this diversity and therefore should dedicate ourselves to safeguard all religions. Maintaining the separation of Church and State helps Americans do that. Protecting minority rights and civility in political debate ensures these freedoms.

The core religious values of the Interfaith Alliance are worth repeating here which include:
Affirming religious pluralism and celebrating differences, Protecting minority rights, Separation of Church and State, and Civility in political debate. As it seeks to bring a genuine interfaith voice grounded in compassion, justice, and civility to public debate, I wish there were more functions like this than just once a year. And more young people take notice of what is going on and actively partake such celebrations.