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Politics : Impeach George W. Bush -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Land Shark who wrote (55046)	3/2/2006 11:04:18 AM
From: average joe	Respond to of 93284

How about this? Is this satire? Top court rules in favour of Sikh boy Last updated Mar 2 2006 10:58 AM EST CBC News The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of a Montreal teenager who wanted to wear a kirpan to school. The high court says the school board which told the boy to leave the religious symbol at home went too far. In its 8-0 judgment, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday that a total ban infringes guarantees of religious freedom under the Charter of Rights. It all started when an elementary school wouldn't let Singh go to class unless he left his kirpan behind. The Sikhs say the kirpan is a religious item that must be carried at all times. It's a steel blade about as long as a hand, and it's no sharper than a letter opener. A devout Sikh, Gurbaj Singh, then 12 years old, wore the kirpan around his waist, tightly wrapped in cloth. For years, no one even knew it was there, until one day in November 2001 when the cloth came loose, and the kirpan fell to the ground. Singh was playing with friends in the yard of the Ste-Catherine Labouré School when it happened. Singh was told to go home and not come back until he promised to stop wearing the kirpan. What followed were months of suspensions, protests and court cases. The issue has tested the Quebec education system and challenged the notion of a tolerant, inclusive society. Five Sikh articles of faith Kesh means uncut hair. For Sikhs, the hair is a symbol of faith, and keeping long hair confirms a Sikh's belief in the acceptance of God's will, and teaches him humility and acceptance. Kangha is a comb. Sikhs use a small wooden comb in the hair at all times. Apart from its practical utility, a comb is clearly a symbol of cleanliness. Karra is a bracelet. A special steel bracelet is worn on a Sikh's right wrist that signifies a bond. It's is the Guru's symbolic ring to all his Sikhs, signifying their unbreakable link or bond with the Guru as well as among themselves. The circle is also a symbol of restraint and in practice a constant reminder to the Sikh of ideal behaviour in a moment of weakness. Kachera is shorts. This special pair of knee-length shorts is symbolic of continence and a high moral character. Kaccha can be worn on their own without causing embarrassment. Kirpan is a sword. Kirpan comes from the words Kirpa and aan. Kirpa means an act of kindness, a favour; and aan means honour, respect, self-respect. It is an instrument that adds to self-respect and self-defence. Thus for Sikhs, Kirpan is the symbol of power and freedom of spirit. All baptized Sikhs should wear a short form of Kirpan on their body. To call it a dagger or knife is rather insulting to this article of faith, which functions quite differently from the other two. Parents signed petitions, picketed and kept their children home from school. They said it was too dangerous for them to go to school with a child carrying what was seen as a potentially dangerous weapon. Singh eventually changed schools, but his family took his case to court. RELATED: Kirpan Controversy in the Classroom In May 2002, the Quebec Superior Court ruled that the kirpan could be worn at school, but that it would have to be sheathed in a wooden case, wrapped in heavy fabric and worn under the clothes, the belt sewn into Singh's clothes. The Quebec government of the time, the Parti Québécois, appealed that court decision. Looking for guidance In 2004, the Quebec Appeal Court struck down the decision. It concluded the article of faith has all the physical characteristics of a weapon and was therefore dangerous to everyone in the school. It said banning the kirpan was a hindrance to freedom of religion, but that community safety and security came first. McGill University professor Jack Jedwab said Canadians are looking for guidance in determining where to draw the line when it comes to issues of religious freedom. Manjeet Singh, the Sikh chaplain at McGill and Concordia universities, who also assisted Gurbaj Singh's legal team, said baptized Sikhs believed the kirpan is a symbol of courage, freedom and responsibility to stand up for their rights. "It is one of the five articles of faith that every baptized Sikh is supposed to have on their person, all the time," said Manjeet Singh. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada ensures that every citizen in Canada can practice their religion without any hindrance, he said. cbc.ca