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 Balpreet Kaur responded to the reddit conversation about her facial hair.
September 27th, 2012
02:53 PM ET
Photo of woman with facial hair leads to conversation, understandingBy Stephanie Gallman, CNN (CNN) - A picture of a woman with facial hair wearing a turban posted to the social media site Reddit has garnered a firestorm of Internet reaction and has taught at least two Ohio college students lessons in graciousness, humanities and religious studies. The picture was posted five days ago with the caption, "I'm not sure what to conclude from this." A 20-year old college student, who asked to remain anonymous, says one of his friends took the photo at a library at The Ohio State University. He's "not really sure why," but after he and his friends shared the picture amongst themselves, he posted it to Reddit. "It was out of the ordinary," he said. "It's not something that you see everyday. I was thinking about it more as a picture, not about the people in the pictures." For several days after it was posted, the picture elicited responses from those who teased to those who were disgusted with the post. Some blasted the person who posted it online, defending the unnamed woman. "This post is in poor taste," one commenter said. "What you should conclude from this is that it's not ok to take photos of strangers and post them on the internet without permission," said another. "Don't do this. Don't take pictures of people you think look weird and post them online," another chimed in. Some commenters chose to joke with posts like, "Beards on women are now in!!! yes!!!" "So is this a transgendered Sikh? Explains why they haven't shaved and the Turban. One of those things has got to go," commented one Reddit user. One person said, "It's Pat," referring to the Saturday Night Live character whose gender was always a mystery. The woman in the photo is Balpreet Kaur, a neuroscience and psychology student at Ohio State. After a friend contacted her on Facebook and told her about the picture, she responded to the post on Reddit. "If the OP wanted a picture, they could have just asked and I could have smiled," she wrote. "Yes, I'm a baptized Sikh woman with facial hair," she wrote. "Yes, I realize that my gender is often confused and I look different than most women. However, baptized Sikhs believe in the sacredness of this body - it is a gift that has been given to us by the Divine Being." Kaur said her religion believes in focusing on actions instead of the physical beauty. "I'm not embarrassed or even humiliated by the attention [negative and positive] that this picture is getting because it's who I am," she wrote. She encourages anyone who sees her on campus to "come up and say hello," and notes that it's not her face that's important, but the smile and happiness that lie behind it. "My attitude and thoughts and actions have more value in them than my body because I recognized that this body is just going to become ash in the end, so why fuss about it?" Her response led to more discussion on Reddit. "Just want to thank Balpreet Kaur for serving as an example to me of the best way to deal with hostility and ignorance. Thank you, Balpreet, you are beautiful." "I wish I could hug this woman. She makes my heart happy." "As a hirsute woman, I one day hope to have the peace and acceptance of my body that you do. You are a true inspiration, and I thank you for replying to this thread." The original poster returned to Reddit to apologize to Kaur and anyone he might have offended. "I felt the need to apologize to the Sikhs, to Balpreet, and anyone else I offended when I posted that picture," he wrote. He said he has reached out to Kaur and calls her an "incredible person." The next time he is in Columbus, the two plan to meet. "I've read more about the Sikh faith, and it was actually really interesting," he said. "It makes a whole lot of sense to work on having a legacy and not worrying about what you look like. Kaur, who works closely with Interfaith Youth Core, an organization that empowers college students to be interfaith leaders, released a statement through the organization saying she accepts the original poster's "sincere apology." "I'm glad this situation has been positive and inspiring for many people," she said, "We need to cherish those moments that allow us to feel bigger than our own bodies," she said. Interfaith Core President Eboo Patel said, "By responding to a moment of religious prejudice with grace, Balpreet taught hundreds of thousands of people about her Sikh tradition and showed them that religion can be a source of strength and bridge of cooperation." Perhaps no one learned more than the original poster of the photograph. "I hate using clichés, but I've definitely learned to not judge a book by its cover," he said. "Some of the people who may not be the most beautiful on the outside are beautiful on the inside." |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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I bet there are some guys who would love to chew on her beard and gets turned off by it.
...............Typing that made me puke a bit.
It's just a man with bo obs...big deal, visit any transbar and he'll fit right in.
its time some body talk sense in to this ignorant...
flatulence is natural (god given in her sense) process of the body..would u pass gas in public..grow up...
there are fricking societal norms..every body should stick to atleast the minimum...
immature people like this who interprest the religious teachings literally are the root cause of chaos in this society...
just pure ridiculous..I know evrything bout sikh religion...
i despise this girls' stupidity so much as I respect the sikh men's commitment to grow facial hair...
Sikhs treat hair as part of the body and don't believe in cutting/ shaving hair off the body. They also respect all religions.
Bible mentions about Samson, who had uncut hair. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson
Sikhs also wear a Kirpan- a Sword/ a weapon for the same reason as the 2nd Amendment rights in the U.S.
Some of the commentators here need to educate themselves. http://www.sikhnet.com has some more information about sikhs.
I thought that it was a decorative, dull bladed knife as a symbol of their dedication to their faith.
Too bad she is not a Muslim. A burqa would really do her justice. But seriously, I respect the freedom as an American to practice your chosen religion. But don't expect not to be ridiculed when your appearance sparks an innate feeling of disgust in the human brain. If this woman really wants a beard, then more power to her. It just disgusts me when people are FORCED( either by law or popular opinion) to censor or apologize for expressing their disapproval of someone because their feeling might be hurt. If this was a teenager or child, than yes I would say that mean spirited comments should be withheld, but this is a full grown woman fully aware of her environment and it's societal norms.
in big private firms they have dress code..for men they require to 'maintain' facial here..i wonder how they handle if she gets a job there..
So it's OK to bully an adult, but not a child? What business is it of yours how she looks/dresses/etc? women aren't put here to be your eye candy.
My mother taught me that it's not nice to go out and purposefully hurt people's feelings, especially just for the sake of hearing one's self speak. I'm sorry you weren't taught the same consideration of others' feelings.
When did we decide that our hurtful opinions shouldn't have consequences? It's tantamount to saying that I shouldn't judge you for judging me.
lol, for the record, you just got told by two separate Taras.
JJ – I believe you failed to read her response. She said she was neither embarrassed or humiliated by the OP. In fact she joked, that if she knew the pic was being taken, she would have smiled. It is other people who went on the defensive. She showed absolute acceptance of who she is and what the OP chose to do.
LOL! "Too bad she is not a Muslim. A burqa would really do her justice." Well said. couldn't have put it better myself!
This story boggled my scrotum!
she is just a hermaphrodite. nothing beautiful or special but rare. so am i possibly. i shave every morning although i am a woman. big f....ing deal.
No assimilating here, no sir. It's going to be Bombay all the way and how you dare you try to anglicize our names or make us fit in.
Remember when immigrants wanted to blend in?
For me someone who is beautiful is someone who has humanity and humility in equal measure – certainly this woman.
Let this be a challenge to to us to stretch ourselves to discover the true meaning of beauty.
This was a heartwarming story. I dig her principles even though they are based in religion and also I think it's cool that the kids who posted the picture had a learning moment. Very inspiring
Go kiss it then
This story is actually inspiring...for those who read it and are not too christian or muslim who'd reject everything not in their big books.
This woman has a definite health problem – she needs to go and be evaluated. Serious hormornal imbalance. DO NOT IGNORE – not worried about how you look – worried about your health.
It is also inspiring for cute babies like you who just lef home for the first time and got your very own little mind that you get to use to spout off your very own little thoughts!!! Cutie, cutie, you are!!
How'd you like to wake up next to that, bad breath, B O, and Hendrix in a headlock under arm hair? Give us a kiss.....OXOX
Do you wake up next to a person? or a doll
... dude ... don't give me nightmares ... I bet she also has more hair on her legs than my German Shepherd
Hendrix in a headlock. LOL.
you're an as-shole, jerk.
PUKE
And I puke back at you
Wish those people had shown half the maturity as that of this girl, it would have saved thousands of innocent lives including those of the poor US ambassador and his men who got killed in Libya recently!!
How? Sikh is not Muslim. Ohio State is not in Libya. What connection are you trying to make here?
I wish someone would give her a bic!
1> never ever say those people. Don't do it again ... ever.
2> the Sikh faith was born in Southeast Asia. It is not Islam. It has not to do with Islam or muslims.
Beautiful. That is the difference between sikhs and muslims
Wow, are you really that ignorant. You think everyone that has brown skin and wears something on their head is a Muslim right? You should Google about Sikh and broaden your view a bit.
Sikhism originated in India in 15th century as saintly community but later in 17th century got converted to warrior saint religion because of oppresion and forceful conversion by mughal (muslim) emperors, and one of the main reason why sikhs statrted wearing turban was because during those times only muslim kings were allowed to wear it , so sikhs fearlessly accepted it and challenged the mughal empire.
I don't know where to begin, you're just so stupid. Have you even considered what would happen to this..... person if she/he were in Libya? Or just about ANY middle eastern country for that matter?
I'm starting to understand the purpose of the burka.
Sikh ' ism is an indic religion, burqa is worn by muslims....don't be stu pid
Lack of general knowledge. pretty pathetic
Sikhism originated in India in 15th century as saintly community but later in 17th century got converted to warrior saint religion because of oppresion and forceful conversion by mughal (muslim) emperors, and one of the main reason why sikhs statrted wearing turban was because during those times only muslim kings were allowed to wear it , so sikhs fearlessly accepted it and challenged the mughal empire. I hope this information helps in understanding sikhs
He's referring to the fact that a burka (to cover her face) will allow her to grow what ever she wants under there peacefully. I think you guys missed Fsjunkie's point.
she is lesbian and loving it!
Even my 5 year daughter saw the pic and her face looked like....what the fu$@ !
This is PROOF that:
(a) Evolution is FACT.
(b) God is not real.
(c) God is real and is an @$$h0le.
(d) God is real and is incompetent.
Do you wanna get high with a towel?
The joke is on us. I can totally see her sitting around with her Gay and Lesbian friends laughing their a.s.s.e.s.off!
Great~~~~
This only proves how far we have fallen from perfection (creation) This is not her fault.
There is no extra credit here babe. You brand new thinkers are so sweet (well, the fact that you believe you are thinking is actually the cute part).
Co-Ed Facial Fun
CNN reported on September 27th, 2012
Photo of woman with facial hair leads to conversation, understanding
By Stephanie Gallman, CNN
~~
(CNN) – A picture of a woman with facial hair wearing a turban posted to the social media site Reddit has garnered a firestorm of Internet reaction and has taught at least two Ohio college students lessons in graciousness, humanities and religious studies.
The picture was posted five days ago with the caption, "I'm not sure what to conclude from this."
The woman in the photo is Balpreet Kaur, a neuroscience and psychology student at Ohio State. The article goes on to conclude that Miss Kaur handled the issue gracefully and afforded herself quite nicely, even garnering apologies from those that taunted her on-line.
TRUE OR FALSE?
False!
The person in the photo is actually Raheem Fabdula, a trans.e.xual MALE in the process of receiving a full s.e.x. change operation.
Mr. Fabdula is in fact a student at Ohio State but when contacted admitted no contact with the original poster of the image. “Balpreet Kaur” is a fraud.
~~
Update September 27, 2012 8:55 PM ET
From CNN News; Snopes Duped!!
In the aftermath following the report that "Balpreet Kaur", university student and baptized Sikh member is a woman, many Facebook followers have begun posting their own pictures.
Many of these photographs portray unshaved female gentalia, which appears to be a serious backlash against smoothly shaven pubic areas and Brazilian bikini waxes.
The shock of this should come as no surprise due to the "Arab" spring, as women around the globe are putting away their razors and showing their "pride in body hair". Now championed to the extreme by Miss Kaur.
what kind of stupidity was that?
Yes I understand the whole biological reasons why a woman might have more facial or body hair than another..
But considering she is a woman, I also don't understand her explanation for why she lives with it.When today it is so easy to eliminate it..
Unless she likes it.. Then of course , if she likes it., keep it.
I notice she is wearing glasses..
Well she can't see well without them obviously.. Isn't that not accepting something and doing something about it.?
This is just a observation..
She has aright to live her life as she pleases.. If the life with this , is pleasing. Then no one should be critical.
But if not.. How is having the hair removed , different from wearing glasses?
Mary, right on. This is a pure case of ident.i.ty crisis. I think a safe bet would be that she is a lesbian, feels like a man, is in the closet, religion is convenient as she can attribute her appearance to that. I bet she has a girl friend who like it.
It seems to me that glasses would be a matter of practicality. How will you drive anywhere when you can't see? How will you read, work, or function somewhat normally when you cannot see?
On the other side, the hair is purely asthetic in nature, and does not affect functioning in daily activities.
That seems to be the difference.
Glasses have nothing to do with beauty. Glasses are used for functionality, not beauty. Sikhs don't believe in focusing on outer-beauty. Removing hair is entirely for outer-beauty, while glasses are not.
The only thing she is focused on is being butch for her lover.
In fact, it is clear to me that she is cultivating a goatee'd Elvis look with sideburns.
@Mary in response to your question "How is having the hair removed , different from wearing glasses?"
Strictly on basis of logic they are very different.
Having hair removed is taking off something that God gave us
Wearing glasses is putting on something besides what God gave us.
In response to the remarks about the glasses..
She is altering something that defines who she is.. A person who for whatever reason can not see well without glasses.. She is a woman? Who has a beard.. So what would be wrong with "correcting" that flaw?
Unless , like I said.. She does not see it as a flaw..
But wearing glasses to correct a flaw , is, in the end the same thing..
The correction of a flaw that makes living easier.... Same thing..
@mary
"She is altering something that defines who she is.."
Not true. You are the one who is trying to alter something that she believes defines who she is
"However, baptized Sikhs believe in the sacredness of this body – it is a gift that has been given to us by the Divine Being."
Kaur said her religion believes in focusing on actions instead of the physical beauty.
As you can see from her remarks here(straight from the article above), she is talking about physical beauty(context hair) and not about medical need(context glasses).
I would appreciate if you could copy paste something from the article that even suggests what you are trying to say.