Sure they will, Dexter. I know a few Sikhs and they are an easy going bunch. I know a Sikh who had some good fortune a while ago (he had a granddaughter). As a celebration, he donated money to his Gurudwara and also to the nearby Hindu temple.
Sikhs Allowed To Carry Kirpan (knives) To Olympic Events
- Thread starter dumpthemonarchy
- Start date
Sure they will, Dexter. I know a few Sikhs and they are an easy going bunch. I know a Sikh who had some good fortune a while ago (he had a granddaughter). As a celebration, he donated money to his Gurudwara and also to the nearby Hindu temple.
That's an interesting twist you have there.
It specifically says, "freedom of conscience and religion", so one is able to express both their conscience and religion. The key word in the phrase is "and".
A$$uming Sikhs are all the same? Funny, I had a cab ride from an ex-military Sikh. It was impossible to get any sort of reaction from the guy at all. Might as well have tried getting a reaction from an on-duty palace guard in England. Definitely easy-going, yup. :roll:
Joey told me that many of them are "as dark as they come" but I think he is confusing them with another group of easy going people.
Yes, I understand what the constitution says. What it doesn't explain is why my beliefs and traditions are less important than that of a religious person.
That's easy, a few decades ago the people in charge started catering to each and every special interest group in sight and ignored the wishes of the majority.
That is a key aspect to the issue here. Why is one belief-the importance of wearing kirpans, which is not based on scientific facts, more important than another belief, also not based on scientific facts? Politics is one answer. Sikhs have the numbers and voting power.
Some of us, like me, get offended when one group gets a religious right/privilege but the majority are denied it. The majority here don't ever carry knives of any sort, and want the same rule applied to everyone, no exceptions. Because Sikhs don't know when to ease up on the throttle, constantly pushing for their exclusive religious rights, they get a backlash. They get a backlash because they have allies in the govt like the RCMP, which I do not.
And when was the majority (by majority, I assume you mean Christians) denied any rights? Majority don’t carry any knife (nor are allowed to) because it is not a religious icon to them. But I am not aware that the majority is denied any rights, the rights they are entitled to under the Charter.
As to Sikh pushing for their rights, they have the right to do that under the Charter. Charter cases have upheld Sikhs’ right to wear a turban for instance (I don’t know if there has been any case involving the kirpan).
Pluralistic society in Canada is of recent origin (a few decades at most) so it is understandable that some member of the majority community may be uncomfortable as to how a pluralistic society works. It will take time to sort out the kinks, to decide who is entitled to what rights etc.
What is required in the process is understanding, reasonableness on all sides, not a take it or leave it attitude on the part of the majority. Understanding, willingness to work together like it was displayed by the New York school system when it came to wearing the kirpan (as pointed out by ironsides on this thread).
Should we go into the "Merry Christmas" downgraded to xmas or happy hollidays by the political correctness police:roll:....Naaah! I don't think so;-)
im stabbing everyone this christmas with merry christmas, im serious im armed to the teeth with christmas greetings watch out non christians johnnnys charm and politeness is going to crush you....
It's great having the Kirpan as part of the day to day dress in mainstream society.
That being the case we should all be allowed to wear six guns. Better still now the
Terrorists know that the kirpan is acceptable, they can all dress as Sihks to get into
the events. I am sick of people getting special privileges to wear this or that and
allowed to carry this or that. We make laws and everyone should be bound by the
same law period.
That being the case we should all be allowed to wear six guns. Better still now the
Terrorists know that the kirpan is acceptable, they can all dress as Sihks to get into
the events. I am sick of people getting special privileges to wear this or that and
allowed to carry this or that. We make laws and everyone should be bound by the
same law period.
RCMP SGT. BALTEJ SINGH DHILLON RECEIVES WELL-DESERVED STANDING OVATION AT ‘STOP RACISM’ EVENT
By Indira Prahst
Instructor of Race and Ethnic Relations, Department of Sociology, Langara College, Vancouver
RCMP Sgt. Baltej Singh Dhillon, who waged a tenacious fight to become the first Sikh RCMP officer to wear the turban and who has served with the RCMP for 20 years, gave a very powerful and touching talk about his experience at the Stop Racism event to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racism.
Dhillon noted: “This is not about Baltej Dhillon, rather it’s a story of an individual that was given a responsibility, a task, if you will. Therefore, I am truly grateful that I was deemed worthy of this challenge.”
Dhillon’s story starts in 1983 when he came to Canada, and, like several immigrants, sought a better life. Dhillon pointed out that he was the first turbaned student in his school and added: “I think a higher power was starting to prepare me for what was coming, and what better place to do that, than in a school, where people go to learn the skills to prepare them for life's challenges.”
In 1988, he applied to the RCMP which led to recommendations to make exceptions to the RCMP uniform to allow members of the Sikh faith to wear their turbans. However, a hard journey followed and what transpired during the process was indeed a challenge for Dhillon.
Dhillon said: “It was a surprise to learn that there was a segment of the public that actually perceived this change to be a threat to Canada and what it meant to be Canadian.
Yet when asked what it meant to be Canadian, many who were quite vocal in describing what was not Canadian, could not explain what it meant to be Canadian!”
Dhillon continued to expose the reaction by some Canadians against the recommendations to wear a turban: “There were pins, calendars, postcards, all designed to do one thing - marginalize one group of people so it would be easier to hate them. Thankfully, there were many who stood up in opposition to this hate mongering and the truth of the matter was revealed that, for a few, this was an opportunity to openly further their racist agendas.”
Dhillon said the police training at the Academy was designed to prepare new police officers for the real world and during that time he received anonymous mail from strangers. He revealed: “Some were encouraging letters, but mostly they were letters and postcards, telling me that what I was doing was wrong and some even threatening my life, telling me that there was a bullet with my name on it, that I was going to be beaten if I ever came to their town, or that it would be dangerous for me to leave the Academy.”
Dhillon shared his story about when he was posted to a small town called Quesnel. Members of the media had arrived in town before him and had already interviewed the public about having a turbaned RCMP officer.
He recounted the horrendous pressures he faced: “And then there were the rumors that came from every corner of the country, that I had cut my hair, quit the RCMP from not being able to handle the pressure, given special privileges in training like not having to participate in swimming, having my own room, accepting a bribe and then being fired from the RCMP only to open a grocery store, being beaten up by a gang of thugs in a bar, getting into several serious accidents and so on. And this was all in my first year apparently.”
Near the end of his speech he said: “All I wanted was to be treated like any of the other members and be judged on my work and not on my appearance. I would be lying if I said to you that there were no instances of racism or discrimination from fellow members, but to the forces credit, they were dealt with expediently and to my satisfaction.”
Today, Dhillon has served in the RCMP for 20 years, He said: “I continue to do my work with the knowledge that I have an important role to play in the way Canada will accept and perceive orthodox Sikhs in the RCMP.”
Dhillon concluded with words of advice for Sikh youth which youth of other faiths can also learn from: “ First, become connected with your roots. Secondly, understand your legacy so that you can leave one behind that is meaningful. Third, be 10 times greater than us, and, fourth, make yourself available as mentors and role models and live up to that commitment.”
Dhillon received a well-deserved standing ovation for his inspiring speech and for having paved the way for Sikhs to wear the turban in the RCMP."
I grew up in that small town called Quesnel. It was a non-issue then. A turban was nothing new to us. The 'kirpan' they're talking about is about as long as a friggin' letter opener.
If you're that worried about it when you go to the Olympics, bring a friggin' taser. This thread is :-(.
Likelyguy,
Tasers are illegal for the public.
Having said that, I left Quesnel in 86, so I just missed his arrival. Half the population of Quesnel is Sikh so I don't think it would be too traumatic even if the other half of the population is mostly bigots.
I spent the better part of my 15 years in Quesnel fighting the racism against aboriginal peoples. When I fist arrived there from Montreal I went to a restaurant. Several patrons were sitting at the counter when an aboriginal man came in to order take out. Those patrons began harassing this fellow because he was aboriginal. When he got his order he turned to his antagonists and said, "You just wait and see. When the East Indians take over this town they are going to treat you like sh*t."
My friend and I gave him a standing ovation. And now the majority of the real estate in that town is owned by East Indians. Ironic!
Tasers are illegal for the public.
Having said that, I left Quesnel in 86, so I just missed his arrival. Half the population of Quesnel is Sikh so I don't think it would be too traumatic even if the other half of the population is mostly bigots.
I spent the better part of my 15 years in Quesnel fighting the racism against aboriginal peoples. When I fist arrived there from Montreal I went to a restaurant. Several patrons were sitting at the counter when an aboriginal man came in to order take out. Those patrons began harassing this fellow because he was aboriginal. When he got his order he turned to his antagonists and said, "You just wait and see. When the East Indians take over this town they are going to treat you like sh*t."
My friend and I gave him a standing ovation. And now the majority of the real estate in that town is owned by East Indians. Ironic!
Ironic and yet innacurate, Cliffy. 'Majority of the Real Estate"... Oh, please.
Though I can't say much to you in regards to your incident in the restaurant, I do respect your opinion and believe that it happened.
As an aside Cliffy, do you know that at one time Quesnel was 1/3 Aboriginal, European and Chinese? In the rural times of those days we had to get along. (Read Faith Moosang's pictoral essay about C.D. Hoy).
I just wish that we could one day, get back to that day.
Though I can't say much to you in regards to your incident in the restaurant, I do respect your opinion and believe that it happened.
As an aside Cliffy, do you know that at one time Quesnel was 1/3 Aboriginal, European and Chinese? In the rural times of those days we had to get along. (Read Faith Moosang's pictoral essay about C.D. Hoy).
I just wish that we could one day, get back to that day.