Loading

61°F

63°F

55°F

57°F

59°F

56°F

62°F

71°F

55°F
WJFW News

In Wake of Shooting, Local Priest Preaches Tolerance Submitted: 08/06/2012

RHINELANDER - A white supremacist skinhead - that's what we're learning about the suspect who killed six people at a Sikh temple outside of Milwaukee.

Police shot and killed 40-year-old Wade Michael Page, but not before he killed six people and wounded four, including a police officer.

As it becomes clear this was a crime of hate, we spoke to a local pastor about the importance of tolerance.

Father Tom Thakadipuram has been at Rhinelander's Nativity Catholic Church for about a year.

But until 2002, he lived in India, where Sikhism is based.

India and America, Sikhism and Christianity - Father Tom says there are more similarities than differences.

"My simple example is, just like we have different flavors of food we enjoy, and people have different tastes, there are different religions," he said. "Different religions means people have different temperaments, different likings, different appreciation of the divine. And that's a reason the different faiths come into existence, and they have a place."

Tolerance and coexistence was also the message this morning from the son of the temple's president, who was killed in the shooting.

"We as Americans are a melting pot of so many cultures," Amardeep Kaleka said. "We have to understand each other's cultures whether they be Italian, Polish, German or they be far east Chinese or Bangladeshi, we need to know the nuances because we live together we rub elbows right next to each other."

Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, with about 25 million followers worldwide.

America is home to about 700,000 Sikhs.

"Some of the principles of the faith are very similar to the principles this country was founded on," said Kavneet Singh, managing director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. "You see Sikhs being staunch advocates of religious freedom, of civil rights, and of gender equality, which are very much fundamental principles of the founding of America, and I think that's why you'll see a number of Sikhs here in America looking to make a permanent home here, because there's a synergy between their two beliefs."

Story By: Lex Gray

Text Size: + Increase | Decrease -
 Print Story Print Story | Email Story Email Story
Sponsored in part by HodagSports.com






 In Other News:
Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program Trains Volunteers Submitted: 05/21/2013

MINOCQUA - Memorial Day weekend will bring lots of boaters to our lakes and rivers.

But hopefully, those boaters won't bring water and plants from other lakes.

Oneida County's UW-Extension held a "Clean Boats, Clean Waters" workshop to help prevent that today.

Volunteers learned to identify aquatic invasive species.

They also learned how to properly clean boats when they come off the water.

+ Read More
Plan Looked at Marathon County Jail Troubles Submitted: 05/21/2013

WAUSAU - Plans that could have made Marathon County Jail safer, were never put in place.

Marathon County officials told a citizens committee about the unused plan during their review of an attack on two officers in March.

Marathon County Administrator Brad Karger said they made the plan after 2010 survey showed widespread unease with jail employees.

The plan would have come up with solutions for specific problems shown by the survey.

+ Read More
Help Stop Emerald Ash Borer Spread when Camping Submitted: 05/21/2013

RHINELANDER - The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest's 52 campgrounds will be a big draw this Memorial Day weekend.

But campers bringing in outside firewood hurts efforts to stop Emerald Ash Borer in the Northwoods.

The disease hasn't been found in the forest yet.

+ Read More
Man Accused of Lac du Flambeau Stabbing in Custody Submitted: 05/21/2013

LAC DU FLAMBEAU - James Peterson, 30, will be charged with stabbing a man in Lac du Flambeau over the weekend.

Peterson is accused of stabbing a 19-year-old man early Sunday morning.

It happened on Longs Point Lane in Lac du Flambeau.

The victim had been stabbed in the leg with a knife.

Peterson was also injured.

+ Read More
Man dies in Shawano County Crash Submitted: 05/21/2013

SHAWANO COUNTY - A crash in Shawano County killed a man.

Bonduel police were called to a wreck on north First street shortly after noon yesterday.

A car had slammed into a tree.

A 75 year old man riding in the car was pronounced dead at the Shawano Medical Center.

+ Read More
Stormy Kromer providing gear for USA Ski Jump Team in Winter Olympics Submitted: 05/21/2013

IRONWOOD, MI - When the Winter Olympic Games come on the NBC airwaves next year... you'll see a pair firsts.

The U.S. Women's Ski Jumping Team will compete for the first time ever... and they'll wear Stormy Kromer gear, produced by the company in Ironwood, MI.

The company announced the deal Tuesday.

Stormy Kromer will provide lifestyle and fashion apparel for both the men's and women's teams.

+ Read More
Home Sales Up Overall for the State Submitted: 05/21/2013

MADISON - Home sales in Wisconsin keep growing.

New numbers show April was the 22nd consecutive month of growth.

Sales were up 9 percent compared to April of last year.

The median price for existing homes rose 8 percent.

For the northern region of the state, sales were up five percent in April.

+ Read More
+ More General News
Search: 


Click Here


Copyright© 2013 Rockfleet Broadcasting / Northland Television, Inc.
WJFW is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
Neither Rockfleet Broadcasting / Northland Television, Inc. nor By Request Web Designs shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints.

Site Design By: