| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 550 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, On April 13, 2015, members of the Sikh community |
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| 3 | 3 | | are coming together in Texas and around the world to celebrate |
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| 4 | 4 | | Vaisakhi, one of the most important dates on the Sikh |
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| 5 | 5 | | calendar; and |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the |
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| 7 | 7 | | world, with more than 25 million adherents, including an |
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| 8 | 8 | | estimated 700,000 in the United States; the majority of Sikhs |
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| 9 | 9 | | live in the Punjab province of India, in the region where the |
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| 10 | 10 | | religion was founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak Dev; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, A monotheistic faith, Sikhism teaches respect for |
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| 12 | 12 | | all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, or background; |
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| 13 | 13 | | it stresses the importance of doing good in the world and |
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| 14 | 14 | | demonstrating such positive values as humility, diligence, |
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| 15 | 15 | | generosity, and self-sacrifice in daily life; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Vaisakhi celebrates the founding in 1699 of the |
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| 17 | 17 | | devout Sikh fellowship known as the Khalsa; Guru Gobind Singh |
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| 18 | 18 | | bestowed on all Khalsa men the surname Singh, meaning "lion," as |
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| 19 | 19 | | a reminder to be courageous, and women accepted the surname Kaur, |
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| 20 | 20 | | or "princess," to emphasize dignity; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, The first Sikhs came to the United States in the |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1890s to build railroads, work on California farms, or labor in |
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| 23 | 23 | | the lumber mills of the Pacific Northwest; since then, Sikh |
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| 24 | 24 | | Americans in all walks of life have contributed to the social, |
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| 25 | 25 | | cultural, and economic vibrancy of the United States; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, The festival of Vaisakhi presents an ideal |
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| 27 | 27 | | opportunity to affirm the belief in justice, equality, and |
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| 28 | 28 | | freedom that is cherished by all Americans and by Sikhs the world |
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| 29 | 29 | | over; now, therefore, be it |
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| 30 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 31 | 31 | | Legislature, hereby commemorate the festival of Vaisakhi and |
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| 32 | 32 | | extend to all Sikh Texans sincere best wishes for a meaningful |
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| 33 | 33 | | and memorable observance. |
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| 34 | 34 | | Menéndez |
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| 35 | 35 | | ________________________________ |
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| 36 | 36 | | President of the Senate |
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| 37 | 37 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 38 | 38 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 39 | 39 | | the Senate on April 13, 2015. |
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| 40 | 40 | | ________________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 42 | 42 | | ________________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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