Here comes that "discrimination" word again....

[Aldgate West]

Now it's Sikh kids should be allowed to bring knives to school?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8500712.stm

Next, we'll have kids from Texas going to school in England wearing six-shooters.

[valk]

It only takes one deranged kid to go on a killing rampage, and sadly it has happened more than once.

[Grundle]

A Sikh I used to work with showed me his Kirpan. It was knife shape cut out of tin foil and kept between the pages of his diary. Sikhs have a reputation for being honest hard working people who would not think of using a symbol of thier faith to harm anyone, no more than I would stab you with my crucifix................................(if I was allowed to wear one without upsetting someone)

[Barryoneoff]

Sorry Grundle. Can't help laughing thinknig about you and your avatar along with paint shop and a turban!

[Aldgate West]

A Sikh I used to work with showed me his Kirpan. It was knife shape cut out of tin foil and kept between the pages of his diary. Sikhs have a reputation for being honest hard working people who would not think of using a symbol of thier faith to harm anyone, no more than I would stab you with my crucifix................................(if I was allowed to wear one without upsetting someone)

I know very little about the Sikh faith, and I agree with you that Sikhs do have a good reputation, Grundle. If what the judge was referring to is just a harmless tin foil icon, that's one thing. But what this news article is referring to is actual knives or daggers in the hands of kids at school, and something very different than a tin foil icon. A crucifix can't be considered (or used) as a "weapon" any more than a pen or pencil can be considered as such. But a genuine knife or dagger can be considered as little else, even if it IS only a representation of something iconic.

[Vic]

A knife made out of tinfoil instead of a real one makes sense to me, if it meets the religious requirement.
I'm amazed though that with all the violence about including in schools, kids would be allowed to carry a real knife,
even if it is to do with religion,

[ladyDeWint]

I know very little about the Sikh faith

nor do I maybe it's because they just get on with their own lives and are not always demanding this and that, on this subject of the knife there was someone from the Sikh community yesterday and he explained that when the British army was recruiting in India a 100 years or so ago the only Sikhs that were allowed to join were those practicing their religion by not cutting their hair, wearing a turban,the bracelet and certain underwear, carrying the knife and were vegetarian. Nothing to do with this case but I thought it was an interesting fact.

[Grundle]

All christians should take to carrying " the jawbone of an ass"

[Barryoneoff]

It's the five 'K's I don't know wht the words are but they all begin with K and are part of the religion. As LDW says, the bangle, the hair, the turban, the shorts and the dagger.

[marilyn]

I know very little about the Sikh faith

nor do I maybe it's because they just get on with their own lives and are not always demanding this and that, on this subject of the knife there was someone from the Sikh community yesterday and he explained that when the British army was recruiting in India a 100 years or so ago the only Sikhs that were allowed to join were those practicing their religion by not cutting their hair, wearing a turban,the bracelet and certain underwear, carrying the knife and were vegetarian. Nothing to do with this case but I thought it was an interesting fact.

I think so too m'lady

Does anyone remember the Sikh bus conductor on the No. 8s? He wore the turban etc and was really nice and friendly; always smiling, probably during the 80s and maybe into 90s (no, not his age!)

[Grundle]

A Christian has lost her appeal against a ruling which cleared British Airways of discrimination by stopping her wearing a cross visibly at work