Posted on 09/28/2013 11:21:13 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
On Jan. 16, Jagjeet Singh, 49, a long-haul truck driver from California on his way to pick up chickens for delivery in Texas, was pulled over for driving with a flat tire in Pike County, Miss.
Officers at a weigh station operated by the Department of Transportation demanded that Singh turn over his "kirpan," a 3-inch ceremonial blade carried by all Sikh men and frequently sewed into the waistband of their trousers, according to the ACLU.
"Contending, wrongly, that his kirpan was illegal, the DOT officer demanded that Mr. Singh turn it over. Mr. Singh tried to explain that he was a Sikh and that the kirpan was a sacred religious article," the ACLU wrote in a letter of complaint to the DOT. "In response, however, the officer laughed at him and mocked his religious beliefs.
"One officer declared that all Sikhs are depraved and 'terrorists,'" the ACLU said in its letter. DOT officers then arrested Singh for "refusing to obey a command" when he would not turn over his kirpan to police, according to the ACLU.
-snip-
Singh appeared in court on March 26, when, his lawyers said, he was further demeaned by Pike County Judge Aubrey Rimes.
"Court officers told him he had to leave because he was wearing a turban and the judge wanted it removed. He was intimidated and horrified," said the ACLU's Atwood.
Rimes allegedly called Singh's turban "that rag" and insisted he remove it or his case would be called last on the docket after everyone else in the courtroom had left. Singh refused to remove the turban and was called last.
According to the ACLU, Singh pleaded guilty to the charge of refusing to obey a command and paid a fine.
(Excerpt) Read more at gma.yahoo.com ...
Yeah well, banning of a three inch blade isn’t really an American custom, I think. Nor is it an American custom to expel pupils for drawing a gun, or any of the other bizarre PC nonsense.
Custom and idiocy in retard groups are different things.
More "courts of law" than we care to know about are cruising along on yesterday's reputation. The level of ignorance in our country is of Biblical proportions.
Something similar may have happened in Mississippi, but the incident I’m relating happened in Mesa, Arizona, just a few miles from where I lived at the time.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_c81a3ee0-d8e3-11e0-9bb5-001cc4c002e0.html
What makes any people 'good' in your eyes? Do they have to be Christians? I ask only because you quoted a biblical verse. Can they still be 'good' if they espouse and follow Christian like beliefs?
Do you know anything about the Sikh religion or the history of Sikhs? Google it and see if its adherents share any beliefs that are in conflict with the basic tenets of Christianity with respect to behavior and how to treat others.
Among other things, Sikhism was created as an offshoot of the Hindu religion specifically to combat Muslims. It also abhors the Hindu caste system, because in the eyes of the one God, all men are equal.
Are there bad Sikhs? Absolutely. Just like there are bad Christians, bad Buddhists, bad Jews, bad Muslims (though I tend to think of Islam as more of a cult than a true religion), etc.
The poster you responded to was no doubt basing their opinion on their personal experiences with Sikhs and/or their knowledge of the religion.
If you're of the opinion that only Christians can be good, then this is lost on you, and I apologize for wasting your time :-).
Cheers.
“...the Texas DOT officers and judge, in this case, have exhibited.”
The police and judge in the story for this thread are in Mississippi.
Over the ears,
Calm your fears.
Ears are showing,
Danger growing.
There are many Sikhs in Marysville/Yuba City, Calif.
They are the least troublesome part of the population there.
Yes, IF TRUE.
I suspect there is much embellishment for theatrical purposes (and lawsuit money).
The ACLU decides what religion they want to protect.
It’s no accident they are called the Anti-Christian Lawyers Union.
I didn’t claim Sikhs were saints. I was trying to make the point that just because they are different from you or me, doesn’t mean they should be suspect out of hand because they wear turbans just because their religion requires it.
But then all races and religions include people who are not saints. Should we discriminate against all Christians simply because they pray to God, “cling” to their bibles and may wear a cross around their neck? Or against all of the Amish simply because they dress differently and shun many of our modern ways? Or against all of the Jews simply because they wear skull caps and the cross of David around their necks? And things are just a few examples. The answer is no, we should not throw them all into one category of “bad” people just because a few may break the law or fall out of line. Just as we shouldn’t condemn all of the Sikhs simply because they wear turbans and carry a traditional kirpan knife.
What we should condemn is the unprofessional and inappropriate actions and behavior of the DOT officers at the weigh station and the judge in the courtroom for calling the Sikhs turban a “rag”. That is what is wrong with this picture, not the fact that this man was a Sikh. It is embarrassing to myself and other Americans to see such ignorant and degrading behavior from our so-called officials in this particular case and by ignorant citizens, as was case in the murder of the Sikh in Mesa, Arizona after 9/11.
If this man broke the law, then fine, arrest him and prosecute him. But he just looks “different” from others, then shame on us.
Our righteousness is as filthy rags in the eyes of God. No, none of us are good.
By faith alone, He imputes righteousness to us by His grace.
In the case of the Sikh. He failed to respect legitimate authority in the court of law. All men in that court are to expose their head. Nothing keeps him from having faith in what God provides and worshiping God. The court administers justice in local governance, which is also an institution established by God for believer and unbeliever alike.
Both may enjoy the benefits and fruits of those institutions, provided they respect the legitimate authority within those institutions. If we don’t, we have volitional responsibility and are accountable for our actions.
If the judge or the LEO acted inappropriately, then they may be charged and adjudicated by a higher authority. Those submitting to judgment are not the ones making the rules and adjudicating their sentence. If they did, their judgment would be unrighteous.
I stand corrected. Thanks. I read he was making a delivery of chickens in Texas and missed that Mississippi was where this man was stopped.
My apologies to you and those Texas officials I maligned.
New Rule: In this day and age if you are too stupid to understand why we cannot let people walk around with masks, burkas, and headgear that could contain a bomb, then you are too stupid to be allowed in the country.
I hope both those Texas cops and judges and I have tougher skin than to take offense!
Good thing they didn't pull over a Mitre Bishop.
The courts weren’t established by any “God”, they are human-created institutions and suffer from the same failings as anything else humans have created.
Next, you’ll tell me King George III was “divinely appointed” and therefore American independence was immoral for violating the said king’s diktats.
Thanks, Cvengr.
Thanks, Cvengr.
The ones I know are hard working and the men have concealed carry permits. One in particular is very conservative.
They seem to want to be left alone.
“A sturdy ball point pen is a more dangerous weapon than a ceremonial kirpan.
Serious? You must carry a much higher grade of ball point pen than I do.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kirpan&id=38A705FB0D578C7F0A2C76A0CF7E70A5D5487667&FORM=IQFRBA
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