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2004-07-29 Home Front: Culture Wars

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Posted by Dragon Fly 2004-07-29 13:18|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I say more power to the guy. Sikhs have no universal ambitions to establish their religion uber alles and they have a long distinguished tradtion of serving their governments well no matter if it is secular or otherwise. This doesn't mean that they never resort to violence in their defense, but they have demonstrated that they can be rationally dealt with and that they value assimilation into whatever society they live in.

Has anyone ever heard of a lick of trouble these folks have caused in our country?

However I have to wonder just how authoritative some cop in a turban would be in New York but thats just me I guess. Probably wouldn't make much of a difference.

Posted by peggy 2004-07-29 1:32:32 PM|| 2004-07-29 1:32:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 You are right, #1, Sikhs have not caused trouble for America[though they have been problematic in Canada on occasion but that's another story] BUT once again this is a perfect example of immigrants not assimilating into their new home. If they want to wear their turbans then they can stay as low paid taxi drivers. If they want to move up the economic pecking order of our society, then they bloody well need to conform to the rules for the profession that have been in place for the past 100 years - policemen in NYC wear hats not turbans. End of story. Get with the program or stay a taxi driver. This uber cultural "sensitivity" nonsense is plain misguided and disrespectful of America's history and culture.

Posted by rex 2004-07-29 1:40:44 PM|| 2004-07-29 1:40:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Sikhs in the British military are allowed to wear turbans instead of berets, helmets etc. Fair enough , IMO - they accept the possible consequences of not wearing a helmet. Because they don't shave, gas masks are pointless, too. Again, they know the risks. It's central to their religion that they do not cut their hair. A bit strange, maybe, but at least it's not anti-social (Beyond letting down your mates in battle because you've got shrapnel in your head and are choking on mustard gas...).

Posted by Bulldog 2004-07-29 1:48:46 PM|| 2004-07-29 1:48:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Not all Sikhs follow these hair rules. I have met several who don't.

Posted by buwaya 2004-07-29 1:57:28 PM|| 2004-07-29 1:57:28 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Sikhs in the British military are allowed to wear turbans instead of berets, helmets etc

No offense, BullDog, but NYC is not the UK, and India was not one of our former colonies. What I'm saying is that because of the British Empire being a big part of UK history, there has been a natural co-mingling of colonists' traditions in UK society.

However, a turban on a NYC cop's head has no historical precedent. Sorry but I think this is a bunch of PC nonsense that flies in the face of commonly accepted US history and tradition.

Posted by rex 2004-07-29 2:03:24 PM|| 2004-07-29 2:03:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Not all Sikhs follow these hair rules. I have met several who don't.

True. More than a few 'forget' they shouldn't visit the barber once a month. LOL. Doesn't mean the rest should be obliged to too.

Rex - if devout Sikhs want to serve in the NYPD, I'd say that's good news all round. It may seem like PC nonsense, but people would soon get used to it. The NYPD must know that having Sikhs on side is no bad thing.

Posted by Bulldog 2004-07-29 2:09:58 PM|| 2004-07-29 2:09:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 They just need a bigger hat.

Posted by Grunter 2004-07-29 2:15:24 PM|| 2004-07-29 2:15:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Check how many sikhs have won the Victoria Cross - there's a few 'Singhs' in there. A noble and warlike breed.

Posted by Howard UK 2004-07-29 2:25:32 PM|| 2004-07-29 2:25:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Make no mistake about my previous comments. I have no issue with Sikh's fighting prowess and valour...that's a given. I just don't think they should be allowed to wear turbans as NYC police. Perhaps the Sikhs could get an exemption from their clerics to be allowed to not wear turbans on the job? But I don't think the tradition of the NYC police force should be turned upside down to accomodate police applicants' religious garb requirements. It should be the other way around. You want the job, here are the rules of dress. It's up to you to find a way around the uniform requirements if you want the job. End of story.

Posted by rex 2004-07-29 3:12:10 PM|| 2004-07-29 3:12:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Agree with the sentiments Rex - letting the Sikhs wear turbans means ultimately we'll have burkha-clad and cross dressing bobbies. We've probably shafted ourselves somewhat unwittingly.

Posted by Howard UK 2004-07-29 3:44:11 PM|| 2004-07-29 3:44:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Peggy, in answer to your question - yup. Seattle - a tribe of taxi cab drivers moved into Seattle from Canada and threatened used those knives they carry "to fight injustice" to carve out their own slice (no pun intended) of the hack trade. - this from one of the few non-turbanized cab drivers left in the town.

Posted by Anonymous5943 2004-07-29 4:16:37 PM|| 2004-07-29 4:16:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 I've never had anything but good experiences with Sikh's here in California; they are fine citizens 99.9% of the time. I say as long as a Sikh policeman stops muggers, rapists, and burglers effectively then let him keep his funny headgear & chops. There haven't been any noticable assimilation problems with them here.

Posted by Secret Master 2004-07-29 5:37:30 PM|| 2004-07-29 5:37:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 I saw these guys on TV and the turbans matched their uniforms. I certainly think they ought to be able to wear the turbans especially since they have been doing so for years and are employed by government. I'm sure so idiot will make a mockery of this type of tolerance and try to show up for work at Wal-Mart, a private employer, in drag - not tastefully, of course, but more likely decked out like Celine Dion or Cher.

Posted by Super Hose 2004-07-29 8:51:04 PM|| 2004-07-29 8:51:04 PM|| Front Page Top

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