Sikhs Allowed To Carry Kirpan (knives) To Olympic Events

[ironsides]

Indeed. But it is interesting that even with their policy of zero tolerance; they still did make allowances for a religious symbol. They did not automatically ban the kirpan because it is supposedly a weapon (or were they mandated by a court?).

Mar 15, 2005
Becket Fund helps broker settlement allowing kirpan
For peacefully observing the commands of his Sikh faith, fifteen-year-old Amandeep Singh was suspended for eight school days last month from his school in the Greenburgh Central School District in Westchester County, New York. Despite the ninth-grade honor student's exemplary academic and disciplinary records, Principal Michael Chambless initially determined that Amandeep's kirpan, an element of Sikh religious expression, was a "weapon" and suspended him. Today, after the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty intervened in his case, Amandeep received a letter from School Superintendent Josephine Moffett expunging his record of the suspension and allowing him to wear his kirpan at school.

The Becket Fund--an international, interfaith, public- interest law firm that protects the free expression of all religious traditions--worked with the international civil rights organization United Sikhs to convince the school to obey the requirements of the First Amendment and allow the kirpan.

http://www.becketfund.org/index.php/article/367.html?PHPSESSID=2b9b5f3f54271f9a763ab02e5f7c8b97

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Ironsides, this is a classic example of how these problems should be worked out. There was no need to go to courts, both sides were willing to compromise, both sides were reasonable. There was no adversarial relationship between the two sides.

The school board did not cling to their zero tolerance policy in a doctrinaire manner. At the same time, Sikhs agreed to reasonable restrictions on the kirpan for the sake of safety, so the non Sikh majority can feel safe.

In a pluralistic society, every attempt should be made to preserve the freedom of religion.

 

[Kreskin]

But that is just the point; kirpan is not to attack somebody or even to defend oneself (these days, it won’t be much use against a bullet). I am sure Sikhs have been subject to violence in Canada (who hasn’t?), but they have never used kirpan to defend themselves (at least none that has been reported). So kirpan is not really to defend themselves.

Kirpan is a religious symbol to be carried at all times (unless government prohibits it for safety reasons, as on an airplane).

Assuming the carrier isn't a deranged nut. Some of these religions need to get into the right century. The religious reason was for practical reasons. There aren't any practical reasons inside the Olympics.

 

[petros]

What if a figure skater is really a terrorists and uses those sharp skates to disembowl several innocent spectators?

Dios mio man!

 

[Kreskin]

The athletes have been vetted. Who's verifying that the kirpan carriers are card-carrying harmless Sikhs? Do they carry a certificate of authenticity?

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Assuming the carrier isn't a deranged nut. Some of these religions need to get into the right century. The religious reason was for practical reasons. There aren't any practical reasons inside the Olympics.

Agreed, there is no practical reason for wearing kirpan, it is a religious symbol. But then why should a religious symbol have a practical reason? Is there really any practical reason for wearing a cross? Christians wear it anyway, because it has religious significance for them?

 

[petros]

I carry a pocket knife. It's not wrapped up in several layers of clothing and I can access it in a sec. It's a really nice knife. I got it at CanEx.

 

[Kreskin]

Agreed, there is no practical reason for wearing kirpan, it is a religious symbol. But then why should a religious symbol have a practical reason? Is there really any practical reason for wearing a cross? Christians wear it anyway, because it has religious significance for them?

They were instructed by a religious leader to wear them for defense. That was a practical reason for 1700 Pakistan, not a religious reason. Times have changed.

 

[Kreskin]

I carry a pocket knife. It's not wrapped up in several layers of clothing and I can access it in a sec. It's a really nice knife. I got it at CanEx.

Declare it as you enter the Olympic village and see how long it stays in your pocket.

 

[petros]

They were instructed by a religious leader to wear them for defense. That was a practical reason for 1700 Pakistan, not a religious reason. Times have changed.

So that would make my knife doubly legit because it is the same knife our soldiers carry when fighting Pakistani Taliban?

 

[petros]

Should Sikhs get their knives at CanEx too?

 

[Kreskin]

So that would make my knife doubly legit because it is the same knife our soldiers carry when fighting Pakistani Taliban?

It would be if you were in Pakistan fighting the Taliban.

 

[petros]

My money (funds from sale of Artillery Regiment knife not included) and military is there doing it for me.

 

[petros]

I bought the new Silvia Pecota calendar too. Cool stuff. Be sure to get one and support our troops.

 

[petros]

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[FiveParadox]

SirJosephPorter, there are two ways in which the notwithstanding clause can be used. First, the Parliament of Canada invokes s. 33 when it passes the legislation to start with. Second, Parliament reacts to a court decision and makes a later amendment to invoke s. 33 for that same Act.

 

[Liberalman]

let them have it

 

[AnnaG]

1 single incident involving kirpans and air travel. Air India allows kirpans to be carried on flights. But after the 1 single incident, there's a length restriction.

Re: Sikh passengers can carry Kirpan !! (Make your presence be felt)

 

[petros]

A lot of bedding needs to be shed to get to and use a kirpan.

There is no danger other than the xenophobia that brings crap like this up.

 

[Kreskin]

It's a matter of principle that I take issue with it. Just once I'd like to see one of these religious groups show some tolerance in return.