Posted on 08/05/2004 12:33:25 PM PDT by presidio9
The New York Police Department wasted a lot of time and taxpayer money with an absurd defense of its policy barring two Sikhs from wearing turbans while working as traffic agents. So reinstating the two men last week was a welcome if belated recognition of the obvious - that the NYPD dress code is no match for First Amendment rights.
Described by a Sikh adherent as "our first big civil rights victory in this country," the achievement didn't come easy. Police claimed for two years-plus that turbans and beards, both tenets of the Sikh religion, violated the dress policy. The more salient point was that constitutionally protected religious expression wouldn't compromise public safety in this case.
So rather than simply altering the policy in deference to the law, not to mention common sense, officials waited for one of the men, Amric Singh Rathour, to drag them into federal court on discrimination charges. Meanwhile, Jasjit Singh Jaggi's case made its way to the city's Commission on Human Rights, which recently ordered the NYPD to reinstate him. Mercifully, police officials decided not to appeal.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
A Turban? No problem.
But how about a gold cross on your lapel?
Hello, my name is Officer Sean O'Patel from the Sikhth Precinct.
Also I think we should be giving these guys paid holiday leave for Ramadan.
...and the part of their plan that entails using our weak PC political and judicial system against us continues in its effectiveness. GRRR!
And we will have to pay for it by taking away Christmas and Easter from the Christians.
Fair is fair.
Thank you Captian Obvious!
There are a lot more muslims thank sikhs. Who do you think is going to benefit more from this policy?
They should be allowed to wear whatever they want on their heads... as long as it fits under their uniform cap, does not detract from the professional appearance standards of the department (i.e., not visible to the public), and does not constitute a safety hazard to themselves, their co-workers, or the public.
In 1984 Gandhi crushed a secessionist movement of Sikh militants. But in doing so one of the holiest Sikh temples was damaged. In November of that year she was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards.
Do we want this type as police?
I can see NYPD officers wearing pope hats now.
Henceforth, the officers will be SUBSTITUTING turbans for the uniform cover.
They have an opportunity to really redeem themselves by;
1. Put up creches all over the place during Christmas (starting after Halloween, like the retailers do)
and
2. When the call is raised from the ACLU to have aforementioned creche's removed .. Dear NY police ... I'll buy the coffee and doughnuts ... stay where you are ... don't go.
Offer a trade ... the turbans for the mangers.
Turbans are fashionable in the Muslim world, they are not a religious requirement. Something like a big yarmulke under the police hat would do. And a terrorist infiltrator wouldn't wear distinguishing religious garb.
And BTW, the early history of the Sikhs is fighting against Muslims.
I was not commenting on how it is, I was commenting on how it should be.
If these Turban Top Cops can wear Turbans, why can't I display my Ten Commandments plaque in my Federal Government office or wear my Republican Pachyderm pen on my shirt?
Friggin' RINO Bloomberg makes a farce of republicanism once again!
What plans do Sikhs have that is against America?
For Muslims, turbans are a cultural, rather than religious item. There is nothing preventing a ban on items worn for a cultural reason.
Yes. Sikhs have never been anything other than loyal Americans.
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