Sihk kirpan controversy in Quebec

[CMcG]

Members of the Sihk religion carry a ceremonial dagger known as a kirpan. They have recently been taking heat for it the province of Quebec, which leads me to wonder how the Quebecois administrators feel about the sgian dubh?

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/quebec-legi...90002-803.html

[Biathlonman]

Both are about the same size - but I would imagine that Sikhs are an uncommon sight in many parts of Quebec. I know that in the US, where Sikhs are not well known, some people confuse them with Moslems.

You will never find a better soldier or policeman than a Sikh - or a stronger worker, but that being said, Scots have been in since 1759, the Black Watch is a Montreal regiment, and I doubt anyone's been turned away with a skean dhu or dirk for that matter.

I wonder when was the last time a skean dhu or dirk was used to stab someone?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Sikhs are under a religious obligation to carry a kirpan, although not all Sikhs are observant of the tenets of their faith. Since the kirpan is a religious object, unlike the sgian dubh which is an item of cultural value, one could reasonably argue that there is no possible legal similarity between the two.

[CMcG]

Sikhs are under a religious obligation to carry a kirpan, although not all Sikhs are observant of the tenets of their faith. Since the kirpan is a religious object, unlike the sgian dubh which is an item of cultural value, one could reasonably argue that there is no possible legal similarity between the two.

It is true that the reasons for carrying the knives in question are different. I suspect, however, that the official position of intolerance towards them in Quebec is the same.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects both cultural and religious expressions. I didn't realize that Quebec never ratified it, as I thought it was a federal issue but Quebec is apparently a special case...

Does anyone have current experience with wearing a sgian dubh in Quebec?

[slohairt]

That's not surprising to hear really. There's been some issues recently in Québec with Islamic headdress.

[Zardoz]

Never knew about these issues, I learn something new every day!
But if the largely failed experiment of 'multiculturalism' doesn't work for the Quebecois, good for them!

[muirkirkca]

I believe the Sikhs could have left their kirpans at the door. The issue is about wearing weapons in the legistature and similar public environments. I doubt if they would get very far in trying to enter the US and other parts of the world by international airline airline. I imagine similar reaction if one was wearing a dagger with a kilt as it should be.

[macwilkin]

Never knew about these issues, I learn something new every day!
But if the largely failed experiment of 'multiculturalism' doesn't work for the Quebecois, good for them!

While I'm not normally a proponent of forced 'multiculturalism', in this instance, I stand with the Sikhs, given the long-standing connections between Sikh soldiers and the Jocks. The Pipes & Drums 3rd Battalion of the Indian Army's Sikh Regiment wears the Rattray tartan in honour of the Scot who raised them during the Raj. Lord Singh, a Sikh, has been instrumental in promoting the works of Burns in Scotland, as well as designing two Sikh tartans.

My grandfather saw first-hand the bravery and courage of Sikh soldiers in Burma. He rated the Gurkhas, Sikhs and Scots as some of the best soldiers he saw. Sikh children are taught their history, and many a Sikh web site discusses the Sikh Regiments and their history.

Good for the Sikhs.

T.

[Spc. Scott]

Now mind you I have only met 3 total so this is anecdotal at best but this is similar to what they were carrying.



Now this might, and likely isn't, what every Sikh carries but I'm having a hard time seeing the problem with this. It's not as if Sikhs are walking around on a daily basis carrying a shamshir. It just wouldn't be practical.

[Lallans]

There has been a huge multiculturalism backlash in Quebec: the folks there (1) want to preserve their uniquely North American French society, (2) look across the Atlantic and see what's happening in Europe and (3) have the lowest cultural birth rates in western society. I don't know how Scots would have fared in the same situation but anything that smacks of a threat in QC will be dealt with in short order- I guess the Sikhs were caught up in that. To add to the story, the Sikhs in question were appearing before legislators to discuss cultural issues and had called ahead to ask about the kirpans- they got mixed messages until they showed up wearing them and I guess got the definitive answer.