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| A rumāl, which looks an awful lot like a durag, is worn inside a Sikh temple |
That's what's happening in an ongoing dispute between two factions of Sikhs at Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Lehigh Valley. It's existed at least a decade. It's been chronicled in Lehigh Valley Live, and includes accusations that one group of seven has pulled a priest off the altar, dragged congregants outside and sawed off locks. As noted in the article, police have responded to each complaint. But anyone familiar with the Constitution should know that one must tread lightly and avoid interfering with the free exercise clause of the first amendment. According to DA Terry Houck, there are two open criminal investigations and he has met with the leadership of each faction twice in the last month alone. Both factions think they control the temple, but neither has a court order saying they do. That apparently doesn't matter to Houck's primary opponent, Steve Baratta.
A lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction against the sect of seven was filed February 15. Interestingly, it was filed by J Alexander Short, an immigration lawyer who works for Ray Lahoud. He's Baratta's biggest supporter.
In addition to the lawsuit, there was a "protest" at the temple on Monday. Baratta was guest speaker. Here's what he posted on his Facebook page: "Today I was proud to be with the leaders of Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Lehigh Valley and stand up for their constitutional right to practice their religion safely in their place of worship. The current District Attorney and law enforcement have neglected to protect these people and this Temple from harm. On the bench I was honored to provide equal treatment and as District Attorney I pledge to provide fair justice for all."
In addition to attacking the District Attorney, Baratta attacked police officers who have responded to each complaint.
I'm getting pretty sikh of his negativity.
Baratta will say anything and do anything to win. He is like SANTOS. His career as a Judge leaves a lot to be desired. Stay tuned. The shit will hit the fan. Opportunists like Baratta cannot and must not win. He is a nasty uncaring person.
ReplyDeleteThis Baratta guy is such an embarrassment. (oh, by the way, so is this law firm that staged this event) Baratta is all of a sudden a “friend” of the temple and there to help in their ten year battle with each other? The camera caught the real joke. Baratta’s so concerned he came armed with his political handouts for the event? I see how this goes. He is such an embarrassment and doesn’t even see how utterly ridiculous he looks.
ReplyDeleteI've heard but am unable to substantiate that his team had handouts, which are improper in a church. What I do know is that it is improper for a religious organization with nonprofit status to host an event and invite only one of two candidates.
ReplyDeleteTo substantiate just review the news footage. Shows clear as can be his political info. Being improper AND not knowing the law is apparently Barattas thing. What an embarrassing political show they put on in the guise of actually caring.
DeleteHe is clearly unhinged. What a Cultural tin ear he has. I am surprised he didn’t show up wearing a Nehru jacket and playing a sitar. Thank God he has confined his limited scope of talent to Northampton County and not to a larger World stage where he could foment Wars and damage international stability. What does this conflict among two sects of a faith have to do with a County DAs powers to investigate and prosecute? Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory- Houck was worried about this guy as an opponent?…To quote Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, “when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
ReplyDeleteThis is a shameless act by a former judge and political candidate. How low can you go. A candidate for DA attacking law enforcement is shameful. His facts appear baseless. Pull the records Bernie.
ReplyDeleteThe use of the term 'durag' is racist.
ReplyDeleteBaratta is becoming an embarrassment. Give it up already.
ReplyDeleteHe wanted free coffee at 7 Eleven !
ReplyDelete"To substantiate just review the news footage. Shows clear as can be his political info. "
ReplyDeleteI just saw it. I was unaware that WFMZ had covered it. https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/fight-continues-over-control-of-sikh-temple-in-lower-nazareth-twp/article_70460346-b164-11ed-a5df-6fb21672814e.html?minutetv=true
I like and admire Judge Baratta quite a lot, but whomever he is listening to for campaign advice is someone who is voting for Houck. Way too many missteps at this stage and unless he gets his campaign in order, Houck is going to have an easy primary win.
ReplyDeleteBarrata is so desperate that he will say and do anything, including lying about Houck. His wife doesn't even support him as he has told us at numerous candidate events. If your own spouse doesn't support you that says it all. And Barrata is dumb enough to tell us that.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the deadline to change my party registration from R to D so I can vote for Houck?
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible choice for voters. I'll gag as I vote for Baratta because I know how bad Houck is. The election has already been lost, by voters.
ReplyDeleteCurrent and retired law enforcement officers take note! Barratta is not the person best suited to be DA! This Sikh nonsense is a civil matter. He knows that he's a judge, yet to just throw the cops under the bus like that..............Eff him!
ReplyDeleteRun hard or don't run at all. If Steve was doing this to a Republican, that's what you'd be writing. Airing family laundry is uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteI think that judge Morganelli is his chief advisor
ReplyDeleteTo Steve Baratta
ReplyDeleteSteve, please do the county and your family a service by pulling out of this race, This is no way to end your career. This is truly sad.
A former supporter
"The use of the term 'durag' is racist."
ReplyDelete"Durag" is a word, not a term. It has a long history. What's racist are the many attempts to prohibit their use. Baratta's head covering looks very similar to what Thundercat wears in "Baby Girl, how do I look in my durag?"
"Run hard or don't run at all. "
ReplyDeleteThis is not running hard. This is running stupid. It is one thing to attack the DA for his failure to take action in what Baratta knows is a civil matter, but it is quite another to alienate law enforcement. That's exactly what he did. I know one colonial regional cop who was leaning Baratta. Not anymore.
"I think that judge Morganelli is his chief advisor"
ReplyDeleteI thought so, but this actually disproves it. John is not that stupid. There's no way he'd advise Baratta to try to make this a campaign issue. This comes from Ray Lahoud, whose prowess as a campaign manager is pretty bad.
Bernie. A disbarred lawyer, like yourself, is really going to try and disparage an accomplished lawyer like Ray Lahoud? You’ve really jumped the shark.
ReplyDeleteThere was a person on here pushing the Soros conspiracy which I thought was ridiculous. Then I got a “survey” by text that was clearly commissioned by the Barratta campaign. It asked a lot of biased questions about bail reform, police reform ect. Now I am wondering who exactly is controlling this guy because there was some pretty radical stuff being pushed as “reform”. Larry Krasner type crap. Please don’t vote for this guy!
ReplyDeleteBernie. A disbarred lawyer, like yourself, is really going to try and disparage an accomplished lawyer like Ray Lahoud? You’ve really jumped the shark."
ReplyDeleteI disparage people all the time. Where've you been? I got a message from Ray claiming he is not managing Baratta's campaign. So I can retract my claim that he's doing a shitty job as a campaign manager. That accolade applies to Leo Rooney, who I'm told is managing Baratta's campaign and is doing the kind of job I'd expect from someone who works for Promise Neighborhood.
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ReplyDelete8:10, I refuse to host outright misinformation about Baratta. I do not support him, but am not going to permit you to lie.
ReplyDelete6:35, I doubt very much that anything you have posted is accurate. There is nothing extreme left about Baratta's views.
Religious hate crimes against Sikhs account for 21% of all religious hate crimes in America as of 2021 according to the FBI. This is largely fueled by ignorant individuals who view the turban as impetus or reason to attack these people. Whether wearing a rumal or pagri, it’s inappropriate to compare a Sikh’s religious headwear to a durag. Although a durag has some cultural significance, it’s not a religious mandate in the same way the rumal is to be worn by Sikh men, or by visitors of a gurdwara. I understand the goal is to score some political points by calling what he wore a durag, but there is such a thing as playing in the mud, and most competent readers can tell when you’re covered in it.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone not find it problematic that Baratta is handing out campaign literature at a religious non-profit entity? The WFMZ story has video showing it. And is here there as an advisor for the larger group, or for a campaign event? I couldn’t tell.
ReplyDeleteFirst, this matter has nothing to do with religious hate against Sikhs. It involves a disagreement between Sikhs. Second, the simple reality is that a rumal is very similar to a durag, and I offered that as part of my description of the head covering, not as an attempt to score political points. Finally, when it comes to playing in the mud, Baratta has us all beat. He has fired off a letter to the Disciplinary Board that threatens the reputations of three lawyers. He has made false claims that Houck is anti-woman, when three of his four top deputies are female. He embarrassed himself at LV4All. And in this instance, he attacked both the DA and police without bothering to get the facts. He lost votes yesterday, mostly as a result of his negativity, not his head cover.
ReplyDelete11:15, The nonprofit certainly endangered its religious exemption by allowing political activity inside its gurdwara. You can't compel people to wear a heads covering inside the place bc it is sacred and at the same time play politics. I actually thing no organized religion should be entitled to a nonprofit status bc of violations like these that are all too common.
ReplyDeleteIt took tremendous courage to step inside that temple and risk looking utterly ridiculous wearing a rumal in order to help the most marginalized in our community , not only does Stephen have my vote.but I'll be fashioning my own rumal from the wife's undies to wear all day tomorrow I'm solidarity with my Sikh brothers
ReplyDeleteSikhs are peaceful. Just ask Hindus.
ReplyDelete