Sihk kirpan controversy in Quebec

[Father Bill]

I smile and note that for many folks, being non-religious has in a very strange way become a religion. I also note that most folks make rather massive assumptions about what I believe, based on my title of address. In every case to date, they have been wrong.

Symbols are of tremendous importance: a flag, a turban, a cross, a tartan, a swastika, a crown, a clerical collar, but never assume that you know what it means to the person who is displaying it. Just ask politely, and surely they will tell you. On this bulletin board we all share one symbol in particular - the kilt, but its meaning to each of us will vary.

Thus too with the kirpan and how the religious requirement is followed - to some a hairpin or small symbol will be sufficient. To others, this may be an insult to their understanding of the religious requirement. For example, I am not to wear a cross on a necklace. That may surprise many of you, but in my tradition only Bishops wear a cross, and it's normally a great huge one.

We need to spend more time over meals with one another. It's hard to argue with someone with whom you have broken bread. (That's one small part of the symbolism and meaning in the Holy Communion over which I have the privilege of presiding.)

And I would assume that many in this bulletin board would also add a good shot of single-malt to the thought of sharing a meal, but then there are many in my faith who will be offended by the avatar I have chosen, saying that a priest should shy away from alcohol. I sincerely don't want to fuel any new discussion on that one, but my point is merely that interpreting somebody else's symbols or religion is a dolt's game. Dont interpret - ASK!

Lovingly,

Father Bill

[CMcG]

As an experiment, it would be interesting for someone to kilt up and go to the Quebec legislature with a sgian brew (or other sgian don't) in their hose. I'd like to see if the security would stop the person with the assumption that it was actually a sgian dubh.

This would allow us to determine a couple related things while preventing the investigator from any legal repercussions.

1) Is it a no knife policy or a no kirpan policy?
2) How is Scottish heritage officially perceived to fit into Quebec i.e. could it be no knives except for the sgian dubh?

[Lallans]

As an experiment, it would be interesting for someone to kilt up and go to the Quebec legislature with a sgian brew (or other sgian don't) in their hose. I'd like to see if the security would stop the person with the assumption that it was actually a sgian dubh.

This would allow us to determine a couple related things while preventing the investigator from any legal repercussions.

1) Is it a no knife policy or a no kirpan policy?
2) How is Scottish heritage officially perceived to fit into Quebec i.e. could it be no knives except for the sgian dubh?

If you volunteer, I'll see if I can arrange for the video....

[xman]

We need to spend more time over meals with one another. It's hard to argue with someone with whom you have broken bread.

Well said, Bill. We are all individuals and unique from others, but we needn't let those differences become problems between us.

[Graham A. Robieson]

Greetings,

As I don't know much about Canada and it's interior, I am just popping this in, I can say from my experiences here in Scotland, one of my first friends was a Sikh when I was 'I think around the age of 4-5' I don't remember his name, but I remember his father wore a turban, his head dress didn't make much of an impact on me except I simply thought it was an hat, my friend was my age and from a child's point of view I saw him as a friend without cause to his beliefs or dress code. They moved away later, after I think his father started a larger shop in Edinburgh or something, anyway as I read on an earlier post someone mentioned about a Sikh tartan, of which I am aware of and also the same man designed a Singh tartan for his family (Mr A J Singh). I read about him in the Scots Magazine about the connections between Scottish Culture and Sikh Culture, both have Clans and lots of others things, yeah he was looking at transulating 'Burns' into Punjabi and also looked into renaming an airport to 'Robert Burns' airport like in America they have 'JFK' airport.

I also saw a programme about how Muslims, and Sikhs and those of other cultures find it easier to intergrate in Scotland than other parts of the UK, I think this is because Scots have a strong cultural identity e.g. tartan, bagpipes, kilts and Robert Burns...I read on another post someone said something about there legacy being that of beer and hockey, I think those who feel like they haven't got a strong destinctive culture will fear other cultures which have a strong distictive practice, in short I think people who fear they are loosing there identity will object to those who have strong identity, be it religion or language or dress code. People are people, if you fear those who are different you will be isolating yourself from bridging any gaps in communication and understanding, and will leave a hole to be filled with mocking and hatred by ignorance.

Anyway that's what I wanted to pop in,

All the best,

Graham

Another Note: the Kirpan from what I have seen here in Scotland, has been fashioned into a neckless version as bladed instruments are not allowed in schools, and so the Sikh community was willing to be flexible and make a Kirpan that could be worn around the neck, and could not be deemed a health risk by the authorites, it's is still illegal to carry a Sgian Dubh by itself (or any bladed instrument) however it can be carried even in public if worn with full Highland Dress.

[Lallans]

I think the 'beer and hockey' remark was made about english-speaking Canada. Quebec however has a very distinctive culture based on their French origins and 400 years of self-imposed cultural isolation. I don't blame them for wanting to preserve their unique culture, but a large part of their method is to remove all trace of everyone else that lives there, or in the case of areas that were actually settled by British descendants, has ever lived there. Those areas are where Quebec matters get racist and inbred and backwoodsy.

[be da veva]

As an experiment, it would be interesting for someone to kilt up and go to the Quebec legislature with a sgian brew (or other sgian don't) in their hose. I'd like to see if the security would stop the person with the assumption that it was actually a sgian dubh.

I'm game. I've been to quite a few govermental buildings without any problem, but then again, very few govermental building have security personels...

[Lallans]

I'm game. I've been to quite a few govermental buildings without any problem, but then again, very few govermental building have security personels...

Seriously? Let us know what happens. While it's not in Quebec, I know it is necessary to empty one's pockets and go through a scan upon entering the federal House of Commons, and they have swiched to plastic cutlery in the cafeteria there just like an airline....

[Drac]

So are they banning the carrying of all knives or just saying that they won't have sihks carrying them? Also is the ban on the full size kirpan or just kirpans? If it's just kirpans that would be a opening for attacking even the ceremonial and jewelry based ones.

I can feel sad for their lose. There is at least one gentleman who is sihk in my company and while we were at a black tie event for our company he was in his full gear as was I and I will tell you he made a much more impressive image than I did in my kit. His wife was a vision in her sari.

Jim