People have shouted at him in the streets, simply because he wears a turban on his head.
Dr. Prem Singh Virdi, founder of the Virdi Eye Clinic/Laser Vision Center in Rock Island and member of a Sikh temple in Davenport, said Monday he has experienced discrimination because of his appearance and religious beliefs.
But Virdi, an ophthalmology practitioner and researcher, told students at John Deere Middle School in Moline during a MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe presentation that he knows what fuels such bullying: ignorance and hate.
That also is what he blames for the mass shooting recently at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee.
“They say the ‘turban guys’ are Muslims, Arabs and terrorists,” Virdi said before speaking on stage at the school. “But most are Sikhs. We are from a peace-loving, nonviolent religion.
“Accepting differences is very beneficial. Getting angry and violent is very destructive.”
Virdi was asked to speak briefly to John Deere students during the presentation by the nonprofit troupe called MWAH!, which stands for Messages Which Are Hopeful.
The troupe is affiliated with Kids Do Count Inc. and the Chicago Area Project, which is part of a statewide community services network that targets at-risk youth.
Performers ranged in age from 12 to 18, and their show — complete with music, dancing and skits — focused on recent tragedies stemming from intolerance, including the Sikh shooting. Other issues included the controversial shooting of teen Trayvon Martin in Florida, bullying-related suicides cases, drug use and abusive teen relationships.
Their message: Make good choices for yourself and others and accept differences.
The event also highlighted students and staff chosen by a school committee as good examples of friendship, tolerance and determination.
Principal Scott Verstraete told the students he “expects great things” this school year, urging them to think about what they want to do with their lives.
“If you can dream it, you can do it,” he said. “And you have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.”
He said reporting a problem is helping someone, not snitching, and reminded students, “You are never alone.”
Ernando Mendoza, 13, said his favorite part of the presentation was when a big group of fellow students stood up and joined the performers on stage in a choreographed hip-hop dance mix.
Sincere Foster, 12, said he didn’t know what to think at first when a man stood up in the audience and starting yelling about Trayvon Martin, but soon realized the outburst was part of the performance. He liked it.
“I thought it was really inspiring and wonderful,” said 12-year-old Alexis Williams. “I thought it had a good lesson for all of us to learn.”