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Sikh-American Army Officer Wins Ability to Serve with Beard, Turban
NBC News ^ | 04032016 | FRANCES KAI-HWA WANG

Posted on 04/03/2016 10:06:07 AM PDT by MadIsh32

In a decision by the U.S. Army Thursday, Capt. Simratpal Singh, a decorated Sikh-American officer and combat veteran, has received a long-term religious accommodation to serve with long hair, a beard, and turban in accordance with his Sikh faith.

In December, Singh — a West Point graduate, Army Ranger, and Bronze Star recipient — received a temporary accommodation to serve in the military with his articles of faith intact.

In March, a U.S. district judge issues a temporary restraining order against additional non-standard, discriminatory testing. According to The Sikh Coalition, which is representing Singh with The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery, Singh is the first Sikh American to receive religious accommodation while already actively serving in the U.S. Army.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Daily Prayer
KEYWORDS: religion; sikhamericans; usmilitary
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1 posted on 04/03/2016 10:06:07 AM PDT by MadIsh32
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To: MadIsh32

The U.S. Army already went through this same exact bull**** back in the 70s. History does repeat itself.


2 posted on 04/03/2016 10:09:31 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (America is not a dump, sewer or "refugee" camp. It's my home.)
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To: MadIsh32

This will be great when he cant get a good seal on his gas mask. There is a reason for no beards. Long hair is always a good grab point in a fight as well. But that is ok if he gets killed right. I mean who cares about protecting his buddies anyway.


3 posted on 04/03/2016 10:10:08 AM PDT by jimpick
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To: MadIsh32

This is bullcrap! The sikh can go be a security contraxctor, get the hell out of the US Army.


4 posted on 04/03/2016 10:11:19 AM PDT by biggredd1
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To: MadIsh32

Sad. Now the army will be a rabble of ethnic crap. For starters every damned moslem will now be allowed to grow a jihad beard. Gas mask? Forget it.

He needs to put America before his imaginary friend.


5 posted on 04/03/2016 10:12:00 AM PDT by DesertRhino ("I want those feeble minded asses overthrown,,,)
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To: DesertRhino

Excellent point.


6 posted on 04/03/2016 10:12:53 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: MadIsh32

Who needs military discipline? If the rules bother you, just remember that you are a special snowflake, and we will adjust all the rules to accommodate any religious, sexual or cultural tendencies you may have. As long as you’re not Christian.


7 posted on 04/03/2016 10:17:07 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I don't know what Claire Wolfe is thinking, but I know what I'm thinking.)
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To: MadIsh32

This is wrong to make exceptions in rules for an individual.


8 posted on 04/03/2016 10:25:17 AM PDT by maxwellsmart_agent (EEe)
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To: MadIsh32

Consider that Sikhs are to Muslims what a mongoose is to a cobra, the beard, uncut hair (does the name Samson ring a bell?), and turban are tenets of their Hindu derived warrior religion, and this particular officer is a West Point graduate, Ranger, and combat Bronze Star recipient. He’s not a 1970’s wannabe hippie.


9 posted on 04/03/2016 10:26:47 AM PDT by katana (Just my opinion ... I've been wrong before, but not today)
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To: MadIsh32

Just another enemy alien.


10 posted on 04/03/2016 10:27:03 AM PDT by Regulator
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To: maxwellsmart_agent
Won't be long before some in the female military demand to wear burkhas, correct?

Leni

11 posted on 04/03/2016 10:27:34 AM PDT by MinuteGal (GO TRUMP GO !!!)
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To: katana

I like Sikhs. I respect Sikhs.

But the rules are about the uniform, not the individual.


12 posted on 04/03/2016 10:33:07 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I don't know what Claire Wolfe is thinking, but I know what I'm thinking.)
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To: katana

I had classmates in HS who were Punjabi and Sikh. Very patriotic and independent, unlike other demographics. However, I’m on the fence on this one. If he passed the Ranger school and served in war for America, I may have to give a pass on this one. Maybe I woke up this morning in a good mood...


13 posted on 04/03/2016 10:40:54 AM PDT by max americana (fired every liberal in our company at every election cycle..and laughed at their faces (true story))
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To: MadIsh32

The Sikhs were allowed to serve in the British army in India in their native costumes.

I don’t really mind if the military makes an exception for Sikhs. The problem is that then it would be hard for them to deny similar exceptions for Muslims—and that would be terrible. In fact, we really shouldn’t allow Muslims in our military—or our country—at all.


14 posted on 04/03/2016 10:42:35 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: DesertRhino

Even Hitler knew better. The reason he wore his mustache cut down to eraser size was to facilitate a gas mask when he was a corporal in the trenches of WWI. There goes history, rhymin’ again.


15 posted on 04/03/2016 10:45:13 AM PDT by sparklite2 ( "The white man is the Jew of Liberal Fascism." -Jonah Goldberg)
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To: max americana

If the Army has Jewish officers wearing kippahs or Catholic officers are permitted to wear a crucifix then is it such a stretch to permit a Sikh to have his turban and beard? I can understand having an honest disagreement about it, but don’t really see why anyone’s especially upset. This is the same military that has gone way beyond reason accommodating Wiccans, Muslims, and Sodomites. Sikhs at least bring along some martial values.


16 posted on 04/03/2016 10:52:45 AM PDT by katana (Just my opinion ... I've been wrong before, but not today)
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To: MadIsh32

Title said he “won”. No, he was granted an exception to policy. He didn’t win anything.


17 posted on 04/03/2016 10:54:59 AM PDT by taxcontrol ( The GOPe treats the conservative base like slaves by taking their votes and refuses to pay)
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To: katana

usually I would be up in arms about this but thinking about it and having Sikhs as classmates and friends, they’re not some liberal group of assholes. Like i stated, i give the dude a pass.

I wont give a pass however to situations like say, fags who want to crossdress the uniform, which I think is coming within the year before Buttcrack odumbo gets out of office...


18 posted on 04/03/2016 11:06:32 AM PDT by max americana (fired every liberal in our company at every election cycle..and laughed at their faces (true story))
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To: MadIsh32

Progress?

In fact, no.

How much longer until we have Army people wearing the khaffeiyah..?

only SOUNDS ridiculous.

19 posted on 04/03/2016 11:06:52 AM PDT by gaijin
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To: gaijin
Army pregnancy simulator


20 posted on 04/03/2016 11:08:11 AM PDT by gaijin
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