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Sikh Soldier Allowed to Keep Beard in Rare Army Exception
The New York Times ^ | 13 Dec 2015 | Dave Philipps

Posted on 12/14/2015 9:44:31 AM PST by Theoria

On his first day at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Simratpal Singh sat in a barber chair where new cadets get their hair buzzed short, forced to choose between showing his faith and living it.

Cadet Singh had grown up a Sikh. As part of his faith, he had never cut his hair or beard. But his faith also encouraged protection of the oppressed, which inspired him to join the Army.

The Army would not allow a soldier with long hair or a beard, so that day he watched his locks drop to the floor.

“Your self-image, what you believe in, is cut away,” he said in an interview. For a long time after, he would shave without looking in the mirror.

That was almost 10 years ago. The cadet graduated, led a platoon of combat engineers who cleared roadside bombs in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star.

Last week, the Army finally granted now Captain Singh, 27, a religious accommodation that allows him to grow his beard and wrap his hair in a turban.

“It is wonderful. I had been living a double life, wearing a turban only at home,” he said. “My two worlds have finally come back together.”

It is the first time in decades that the military has granted a religious accommodation for a beard to an active-duty combat soldier — a move that observers say could open the door for Muslims and other troops seeking to display their faith. But it is only temporary, lasting for a month while the Army decides whether to give permanent status to Captain Singh’s exception.

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: army; beard; military; religion; sikh; sikhamericans; singh; usarmy
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1 posted on 12/14/2015 9:44:31 AM PST by Theoria
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To: Theoria

I’ve long felt we should make an exception for Sikhs. We are denying our military a lot of fine soldiers be demanding that they adhere to 1950s hairstyles.


2 posted on 12/14/2015 9:50:57 AM PST by CondorFlight (I)
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To: Theoria

No horse, no wife, and no moustache!


3 posted on 12/14/2015 9:51:10 AM PST by sparklite2 (Islam = all bathwater, no baby.)
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To: CondorFlight
I’ve long felt we should make an exception for Sikhs. We are denying our military a lot of fine soldiers be demanding that they adhere to 1950s hairstyles.

I can live with exceptions for Sikhs, provided that if they need to don gas masks, they are prepared to shave if necessary.

But what I can't tolerate are the same exceptions that will be instantly demanded by Muslims.

4 posted on 12/14/2015 9:54:36 AM PST by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Theoria

I have no problem with Sikhs. But if you allow it, the muzzies will come crying for the same thing.


5 posted on 12/14/2015 9:57:09 AM PST by I want the USA back (Patriarchal binary all original-equipment breeder and White-privileged crusader.)
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To: I want the USA back

Jews and Muslims have already asked for a similar exemption.


6 posted on 12/14/2015 9:59:26 AM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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To: CondorFlight

The military hairstyle of the 20th century had practical purposes. They were intended to minimize lice and allow a seal for gasmasks. Those are still issues, unless chemical gear has changed a lot in the past thirty years.


7 posted on 12/14/2015 10:01:24 AM PST by Psalm 144 (The mill grinds exceedingly fine.)
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To: Theoria

The Sikhs could be useful allies against the Muslim animals, and they don’t ask for much in return. It would be wise to accomodate this demand.


8 posted on 12/14/2015 10:05:28 AM PST by Objective Scrutator (All liberals are criminals, and all criminals are liberals)
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To: Psalm 144

Yes, I was just going to say good luck getting a seal on your gas mask!
I also think the turban would be in the way!


9 posted on 12/14/2015 10:09:05 AM PST by Jaxmum
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To: Objective Scrutator

Should be all or nothing.

If a religious exception is granted then it will, by law of the courts, have to be available for all.

There is a Church of Body Modification out there.


10 posted on 12/14/2015 10:09:35 AM PST by PeteB570 ( Islam is the sea in which the Terrorist Shark swims. The deeper the sea the larger the shark.)
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To: Jaxmum

Maybe a turban that pulls down over your face and becomes gas mask.


11 posted on 12/14/2015 10:12:26 AM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: Theoria

I have no problems with Sikhs.


12 posted on 12/14/2015 10:13:28 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Theoria
I'm sick and tired of the destruction of our military. I hope if Trump or Cruz is elected that they will have the courage to undo this madness.

No females on submarines. No females in the SEALs or combat roles. Hell, no females in the military! No special hairstyles for those who seek to 'be different' from other troops. ENOUGH ALREADY! What next, civilian dress instead of military uniforms?

0dunga has systematically degraded our military to third world country status. This is what happens when a Marxist Muslim gay illegal alien raised by a cross-dressing transgender nanny takes the White House.

13 posted on 12/14/2015 10:16:45 AM PST by CivilWarBrewing
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To: DiogenesLamp

This is basically about accommodating the Romney boys, Sununu boys & the similar ilk who don’t want to serve in uniform. Watch the standards slide. As regards the 1950’s style haircut, we’ll see what happens if & when we have a 1950’s style war.


14 posted on 12/14/2015 10:21:56 AM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: DiogenesLamp

This is basically about accommodating the Romney boys, Sununu boys & the similar ilk who don’t want to serve in uniform. Watch the standards slide. As regards the 1950’s style haircut, we’ll see what happens if & when we have a 1950’s style war.


15 posted on 12/14/2015 10:23:34 AM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: MSF BU

Worth Saying twice.


16 posted on 12/14/2015 10:23:56 AM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: CondorFlight
Iive long felt we should make an exception for Sikhs.

Why stop there? For numerous Native American tribes, long hair is part of their tradition, so I don't see the difference. There was an Apache officer who was a classmate of mine at Officers Basic Course at Fort Bliss, TX. He spoke of that tradition often, though the farthest he went was a bushy moustache that sometimes went beyond Army regulations.

I fully understand the reasons for the old/current policy, but when you're in garrison, it really shouldn't matter, not when you have tens of thousands of women on active duty.

Forty years ago, I was in ROTC, and our CO allowed the men to wear their hair until it touched the collar. It didn't affect the quality of our training or discipline. However...

It did set the stage for a memorable moment during Spring Camp, 1976 at Fort Lewis...lolol. Our senior advisor suggested that the seniors should cut their hair to standard, as we were on an Army base. Five or six of us were affected by this "suggestion", and we grumbled about it, but finally acceded to his wishes.

I got the idea to make a poster from it, gathering the clippings and with wide strips of masking tape, created "scalps" for the Major. We took a group picture with the poster before we presented it to him. As part of our graduation gift, we gave him a framed copy of the picture.

Several years later after I returned from a tour in Germany, I stopped by to see him in DC. That picture occupied a prominent place on his desk.

Hopefully we'll have a good turnout in May, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our graduation and commissioning.

17 posted on 12/14/2015 10:41:11 AM PST by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Mississippi! My vote is going to Cruz.)
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To: Theoria

That’s not funny, that’s Sikh!


18 posted on 12/14/2015 10:46:59 AM PST by j.havenfarm
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To: Theoria

That’s not funny, that’s Sikh!


19 posted on 12/14/2015 10:47:12 AM PST by j.havenfarm
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To: Theoria

Military should not make an exception and if that causes the man to resign, that would be just fine.


20 posted on 12/14/2015 10:48:09 AM PST by mulligan (I)
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