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Sikhs challenge US Army's ban on turbans, beards
Sacramento Bee ^ | June 14, 2009 | By DEEPTI HAJELA

Posted on 06/14/2009 8:57:35 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

NEW YORK -- Military service is in Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi's blood. But his plans to go on active duty in July are now on hold. An Army policy from the 1980s that regulates the wearing of religious items would mean he would need to shave his beard and remove the turban he wears in accordance with his religious precepts.

Sikhs have a long history with the U.S. military, serving in World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and in the Persian Gulf.

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: sikhs; uniform; usmilitary
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1 posted on 06/14/2009 8:57:35 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Sikhs have a long history with the U.S. military, serving in World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and in the Persian Gulf.

how many precisely, I have no quibble with Sikhs really but rules are rules...esp in the military

2 posted on 06/14/2009 9:00:32 AM PDT by wardaddy (Obama may lie better than Slick did.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

US Army shooting itself in the foot. Sikhs have served with honor defending this country in the past and the Brits seeing how fearsome warriors they make had no problem with their turbans and facial head serving King/Queen and country.


3 posted on 06/14/2009 9:00:51 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: C19fan

Easy, Kevlar turbans. Will stimulate some additional growth in the armor sector.


4 posted on 06/14/2009 9:02:25 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The Army can solve this by creating a special unit of Sikhs, thus allowing them to wear their turnans, keep their facial hair, etc.


5 posted on 06/14/2009 9:02:42 AM PDT by cranked
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The uniform is what it is. There are no turbans. You cannot have a beard because your protective gas mask will not seal properly with one. Like it or not, there are good reasons for the rules.


6 posted on 06/14/2009 9:03:08 AM PDT by edpc (01010111 01010100 01000110 00111111)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Military service is in Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi's blood. But his plans to go on active duty in July are now on hold. An Army policy from the 1980s that regulates the wearing of religious items would mean he would need to shave his beard and remove the turban he wears in accordance with his religious precepts.

Regulations on facial hair and scalp hair length date from WW I and have nothing to do with prohibitions on religious items. They have to do with ensuring that gas masks make a seal with the skin around the nose and mouth in the matter of the former and in giving lice fewer places to hang out in the latter.

7 posted on 06/14/2009 9:03:46 AM PDT by SampleMan (Socialism enslaves you & kills your soul.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
.... The British Police Sikh Association is pushing for development of bulletproof turbans. That would allow Sikhs to be part of firearms units, since safety helmets don't fit over them.

Already invented.


8 posted on 06/14/2009 9:04:00 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The only thing you get to publically demonstrate in the wearing of the uniform, is that you are an American. This mans head isn’t in the right place.


9 posted on 06/14/2009 9:05:24 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs earn the title of "man's best friend", Muslims hate dogs,,add that up.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Sikhs have a long history with the U.S. military,

Ok, then why can’t the modern day ones respect the fact that their predecessors accepted this policy.


10 posted on 06/14/2009 9:06:54 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: cranked

Why, we have one military. Why not have one all white or black or women - that is not a solution.


11 posted on 06/14/2009 9:08:32 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't have to say much.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

This debate pops up about every ten years. In the past there have been some minor accommodations... very short beards and small turbans. Then the question of where they carry the little curved knife.


12 posted on 06/14/2009 9:09:56 AM PDT by Mercat
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To: C19fan

Where does it stop? Skullcaps? Those hasidic mutton chops? Cowboy hats? England did it as a way to reinforce to colonial troops that they were most assuredly not British. It wasnt that England was culturally sensitive. They were well aware that if they wore the standard British Army uniform, they would feel equal.

This guy needs to hold being “American” above being a Sihk.


13 posted on 06/14/2009 9:11:13 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs earn the title of "man's best friend", Muslims hate dogs,,add that up.)
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To: edcoil

Did you have any problems with all black units during WWII?
Other examples can be readily utilized, as well.

Accordingly, there is no “solution” other than to follow Army regulations.


14 posted on 06/14/2009 9:11:20 AM PDT by cranked
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

If you join an organization that wears a UNIFORM by choice, then you wear the uniform... SIMPLE!


15 posted on 06/14/2009 9:13:08 AM PDT by Mr. K (physically unabel to proofreed (<---oops))
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To: C19fan
US Army shooting itself in the foot. Sikhs have served with honor defending this country...

LOL...yeah, OK, well I'd take my chances, regardless. This guy's a turd. Drop him in the toilet and move on. Screw 'im. The Army doesn't need Captains this bad.

16 posted on 06/14/2009 9:15:35 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater ("Get out of the boat and walk on the water with us!”--Sen. Joe Biden)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

17 posted on 06/14/2009 9:15:50 AM PDT by stormer
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To: wardaddy

True. . but they shaved, cut their hair and didn’t wear the diaper on their head.


18 posted on 06/14/2009 9:21:04 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
The Sikhs are an honorable warrior race and were among the best troops in the British army where they were always allowed to wear their turbans and beards. The US Army is lucky to have them. I believe they have won at least 6 Victoria Crosses.

Sikhs

19 posted on 06/14/2009 9:21:08 AM PDT by Larry381 ("in the final instance civilization is always saved by a platoon of soldiers" Oswald Spengler)
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To: C19fan

Then, of course, equal protection and all that, muslims would be able to serve while wearing their long craggy dirty beard as well.


20 posted on 06/14/2009 9:22:13 AM PDT by Hulka
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