State budget, priest, local art, Sikhs, 'pot'

While I guess Gov. Jerry Brown’s announcement that a budget deal has been reached (June 28) is evidence of some progress from Sacramento, the use of assumptions that were subject to his veto, borrowing some $5 billion from the 2013 budget and the thinly disguised ruse of raising taxes with a majority vote and calling them fees in order to accomplish this, do not pass the smell test.

Hopefully, state Controller John Chiang will again display surprising courage and conclude this budget is also not balanced, and thereby continue to save the state of the amount of the legislators’ compensation. -- Jim Mallen, Lake San Marcos

Another state budget cobbled together with smoke and mirrors (“Old patterns persist in new spending plan,” June 29). Another dreary business forecast.

Are there any what-might-have-been thoughts of Meg Whitman out there? -- Kay Guarino, La Jolla

“Gay man’s funeral moved when priest objects” (Local, June 29) is very disturbing on many levels.

Right or wrong, the priest was making a decision based on his religious beliefs, and that is called religious freedom, take it or leave it. Gay people live according to their conscience, take it or leave it. What is disturbing to me is the gay agenda, which is to take any disagreement concerning gays’ choices and try to force a public display in order to gain political power in the media. As the gay advocate said in the article: “The church should make a statement and issue that statement to all parishes that to make a knee-jerk reaction to reject a person’s funeral just because that person is gay is not appropriate.”

The last I heard, churches are not owned by the state or an individual. The church should not have to make a statement unless it wants to. -- Debra Pitta-Gilly, Spring Valley

The three articles about Sushi Performance and Visual Art (“Three decades on the cutting edge,” Arts, June 26) were a welcome yet tardy discussion about Sushi and the progressive art environment in San Diego. They clearly illustrated a symptomatic problem for the arts organization – plenty of coverage for what Sushi had been, yet little about Sushi’s present.

Since moving into its new space, the trend at Sushi has been declining revenues, membership and attendance.

What is Sikhism? | What is?

Sikhism is a religious practice that is said to be monotheistic, or having the belief of the existence of only one God. Through the teachings of Indian Gurus, particularly Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the religion called Sikhism was born in India around the 15th century. As a religious organization, Sikhism is among the 5th biggest around the world and is considered to be growing faster in terms of followers.

One who follows Sikhism is called a “Sikh”. Most Sikhs are residents of Punjab in India, but there are also significant groups of followers scattered all around the globe. There are said to be about 26 million Sikhs or Sikhism followers in the world. Essentially, a Sikh is expected to follow the basic practices of his chosen religion. With the principal belief of only one God, followers of Sikhism are expected to live along the principles of faith and justice. All followers are also expected to follow and practice the teachings of the ten gurus in Sikh history, along with the scripture called “Guru Granth”. Sikh baptism is also administered in accordance to the teachings of a guru named Gobind Singh, or the final and tenth guru of Sikhism.

The way of life under Sikhism is guided by principles like equality between human beings regardless of creed, gender, or caste. It is also emphasized in the teachings of this religion that every Sikh person should aspire for salvation and not on other principles like the idea of retiring in heaven or hell for example. It is also said that one person can only attain salvation from God if he/she is able to practice the religion’s teachings and do away with earthly conflicts and materialism.

Generally, Sikhism is similar to other religious teachings in the sense that good behavior and attitude is promoted like love, truthful living, equality and fraternity. But what makes Sikhism distinct from other religious affiliations is that part of the practice is the involvement of restrictions in terms of appearance. The hair is supposed to be unaltered for both men and women. Sikhs also wear a bangle made of steel to signify their faith.

Sikhism

Introduction to Sikhism

What Do You Believe?

Sikhism

Sikhism