Thanks for the corrections. My original comment was based on a presentation a Sikh man made, at my school, about his culture.

That “must draw blood” think isn’t from Sikhism. It’s from the Nepalese Gurkhas.  And while they do have a military history, that doesn’t mean that they’re not peaceful. Their own religion teaches that human lives are more precious than anything else, that they should show tolerance towards all people, and that Sikhs should not just protect their faith and religion, but all faiths and religions. Has there been Sikh extremists? Of course. There are extremists in very single religion. Is there a history of warfare? Of course, again, just like every other religion. That doesn’t mean that they’re not peaceful.

I think you’re misinformed, at least in regards to what it is Sikhs in the present believe and what their religion’s guiding principles are. Religions and cultures evolve. Was there violence associated with Sikhs in the 17th century? Yes. But what relevance does that have? We’re talking about Sikhs living in the U.S. in the last decade. Are you really trying to imply that those people are not peaceful? As far as the sword, I guess you’re talking about the Kirpan, which is a ceremonial symbol which represents ” the constant struggle of good and morality over the forces of evil and injustice, both on a individual as well as social level.”: http://www.sikhs.org/art12.htm