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A Letter
to the UN Secretary General
AIKSIMAR SINGH
To
Mr Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General
United Nations
Dear Sir:
I recently visited the United Nations building in New York City.
My parents, siblings and I took a tour of the site and learned a lot
about the mandate and mission of the organization. We visited the
different chambers and carefully observed the displays. We were
quite impressed by the history and achievements. Our tour guide was
very informative and helpful, and significantly improved our
knowledge of the United Nations.
One of the exhibits outside of the Chamber Councils was a
display-case presenting the different types of headgear worn by the
United Nations peacekeepers. All of these items sported the U.N.
uniform color of light blue, so as to identify the individuals
wearing them as peacekeepers. We learnt that a number of different
styles of headgear are used for this purpose. The most typical one
is the beret, but there is also the Kevlar helmet and the bush-hat.
We were surprised that one other form of head gear which is also
quite frequently used by UN personnel around the world - namely, the
turban - was absent from the display.
Not only is it used extensively by Sikh Peacekeepers serving the
United Nations or on its behalf, but it is obvious that the
organization's headquarters in New York and all of its divisions are
also fully cognizant of this fact.
Moreover, images of UN personnel in blue turbans have often been
shown in the media around the world. These peacekeepers have served
the organization and the international community in large numbers -
selflessly, fearlessly, with distinction, and often at considerable
peril to themselves.
We were deeply disappointed at this glaring omission - and do not
understand why the light blue turban has not been displayed
alongside the other gear proudly worn on UN missions.
We believe that the light-blue turban has rightfully earned its due
place and deserves to be honored, as are the other objects.
We urge you, sir, to look into this matter and have the error
corrected.
We look forward to hearing from you shortly. Thanking you and with
best wishes from my family and I,
Yours very truly
Aiksimar Singh
28 March 2007
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