PRINTER'S NO. 2515
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
505
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY QUINN, BARRAR, DiGIROLAMO, MEHAFFIE, MURT,
STEPHENS, WHITE, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, HILL-EVANS, BIZZARRO,
SANCHEZ, MILLARD, SCHLOSSBERG, HOHENSTEIN, FREEMAN,
CALTAGIRONE, KIM, READSHAW, HANBIDGE AND O'MARA,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating November 12, 2019, the 550th anniversary of the
birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, as "World
Equality Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is enriched by the diversity of its
residents, who have cultivated a climate of social tolerance and
intellectual pluralism that has sustained this Commonwealth
throughout its history; and
WHEREAS, The Sikh community, which originated in Punjab,
South Asia, and began immigrating to the United States more than
100 years ago, has played an important role in developing this
country and this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Sikhism is the world's fifth largest religion with
nearly 30 million adherents, including approximately 700,000 in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, A holistic understanding of peace, supported by
ideas of equality and fraternity is part of the Sikh tradition
and the very origin of Sikhism is linked to overcoming communal
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hatred and divisions; and
WHEREAS, The year 2019 carries a lot of significance for the
Sikhs across the globe due to the 550th anniversary of the birth
of the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak; and
WHEREAS, Guru Nanak, who lived from 1469 until 1539, was one
of the greatest religious innovators of all time and his most
famous teaching was that there is one God, named Truth, who is
eternal, formless and obtained only through His grace; and
WHEREAS, Guru Nanak preached to his followers to meditate and
remember God, earn their living by honest means and share with
the less fortunate; and
WHEREAS, Guru Nanak was an original spiritual thinker and
expressed his thoughts in extraordinary poetry that forms the
basis of Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib; and
WHEREAS, Guru Nanak was Southeast Asia's Renaissance Reformer
and his teachings denounced the caste system and taught that
everyone is equal, regardless of caste, creed or gender; and
WHEREAS, Guru Nanak's message was to recognize the entire
human race as one and he openly criticized caste and gender
inequalities, declaring that all men and women were equal;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
November 12, 2019, the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru
Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, as "World Equality Day" in
Pennsylvania.
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