Sihk kirpan controversy in Quebec

[Biathlonman]

Amen Cajunscot. Sikhism was born in adversity, they were assailed by both Muslims and Hindus and had to defend themselves.

Orthodox Sikhs adhere to the five "Ks": the kirpan, not cutting one's hair, wearing special underwear, wearing a bangle on the right wrist and one more I can't recall.

At the same time, an oath sworn by a highlander on a dirk was a holy thing - going back to pre-Christian beliefs. It was something more than culture, something less than religion. Banning kirpans is a tough call - but they are a weapon after all. A cop would likely assess a skean dhu ban depending on the situation.

But Quebec outside Montreal tends to be increasingly made up of descendants of the original French habitants, and they're generally less familiar with other cultures than we are here in polyglot Toronto. Folks know their genealogy too, though they commonly imagine we Anglo-Scots arrived recently. It surprises them to hear that my first ancestors turned up on this continent in the 1630s, for example, or that another ancestor fought to defend Quebec from American invasion during the Revolution, or that some of us actually speak passable French. Wearing a kilt in Quebec is a statement they do respect - the Scots who settled in after New France had been beaten themselves, and were less heavy handed than the English. It isn't uncommon either in Quebec to find someone who only speaks French, with an Irish or Scottish surname. We're a funny country up here. A famous "French" former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, wore an Elliot kilt on occasion. I can't think of a PM who's done that since.

As for Gurkhas, they love tartan and the pipes. Met some attending a winter exercise at a huge army base near Quebec City last winter. Much mutual language incomprehension and laughter when they tried to buy the rice they liked in the army supermarket. Very fit and formidable though - I felt you could trust them with your life.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Orthodox Sikhs adhere to the five "Ks": the kirpan, not cutting one's hair, wearing special underwear, wearing a bangle on the right wrist and one more I can't recall.

Kurry?

[Biathlonman]

Wherever you go in Britain, there's one food you can always rely on - Indian.

The best dinner I ever had in two trips to Scotland was a slap-up curry in Inverness, of all places. Those alliances between Sikhs and Scottish highlanders were about more than watching each other's backs in the Khyber Pass.

And to the member who posted the photo of a kirpan - its a toy, really. More ceremonial than a weapon. A skean dhu looks bigger.

[robthehiker]

Orthodox Sikhs adhere to the five "Ks": the kirpan, not cutting one's hair, wearing special underwear, wearing a bangle on the right wrist and one more I can't recall.

from wikipedia

Kesh – uncut hair. Sikhs believe that hair, like everything else, is a gift from God, therefore it remains uncut.
Kanga – a wooden comb. Used for combing the hair and keeping it tidy and in place under the turban.
Kara – an iron bracelet. Serves as a reminder for Sikhs to follow the morals of their faith.
Kachera – a specific style of cotton underwear. Reminds Sikhs of the Guru's message regarding the control of the Five Evils.
Kirpan – a strapped curved sword. Symbolises the safety of all and the carrier's personal duty and responsibility as a Sikh to protect the innocent in the message of peace.

[Lallans]

The Canuckistanian news this morning has the item that the Bloc Quebecois, the Quebec independence party that has a heavy presence in our federal House of Commons, is now demanding that kirpans be banned from there as well. Welcome to our nightmare....

[auld argonian]

Seriously...it's a symbol...whaddaya want...should Christians be hauling a full size wooden cross around with them instead of wearing a wee cross on a chain around their necks?

There's always a reasonable way to resolve these kind of things.

Best

AA

ps: I also hear that Sikhs abstain from alcoholic bevvies, too...tell that to most of the Sikhs of my acquaintance!