I know only what is in the article below. I have no idea what provoked this boy to draw his kirpan as a weapon. Was he under attack, so it was self-defence? Or was he simply frustrated, annoyed, with no physical threat, as the article implies? I personally have three times used my kirpan in self-defence, always as a response to a physical attack, always, I'm sure, within the boundaries of 'righteousness.'
I do know that the frontal lobes of a 13 year old are not fully developed. This affects judgement, as the young person's brain simply does not fully understand consequences. Very few young teenagers have the maturity necessary to be trusted with a kirpan. Am I saying that very few young teenagers should be blessed with Amrit?
Yes, I think I am. I don't think a young Amrit should be forbidden. There are a few and there are also special circumstances. My own son became Amritdhari at that age. The circumstances were extraordinary; under normal circumstances, he would have waited, albeit impatiently, for a few years.
Amrit is as large a commitment as marriage, even larger, yet we would not think of letting a young teenager impulsively marry, would we? I am not saying a very young Amrit should be forbidden, only that it should not be the norm and that the Panj Piyare should be thoroughly satisfied that the young person is ready for such a serious step.
Another concern is the status of Sikhs in Canada. Bluntly, we are not popular. More bluntly, in some quarters, at least, visible Sikhs especially are considered unCanadian, unpatriotic, disliked, suspected, even hated. Let me direct your attention to the discussion in Dust My Broom, about a Keshdharin Sikh, Jasbir Singh Tatla, in the Canadian Air Force, the first turbaned Sikh in the Canadian Armed Forces. I participate in this discussion as 'simayanan,' always attempting to remain calm and polite, perhaps even too calm and
too polite!
Very likely, Dust My Broom will pick up this story, about the kirpan threat in the schoolyard as well. If so, I will put in a link to that.
On 6 May 2006, our young people won a very hard legal battle to receive the legal right to wear the kirpan to school in Canada. A similar legal battle is now underway in Australia. I'm afraid this incident might have severe repercussions for Sikhs worldwide. In addition, we are all aware of the case of Sarika Singh-Watkins in Wales, who had to go to court for the right to wear her kara in school. And need I mention the ban on turbans in school in France? Our Sikh articles of faith are under attack, it seems, all over the 'liberal' Western world. An incident like this really doesn't help our cause. I hope this particular case is thoroughly investigated and whatever discipline is merited is imposed on the boy by the Panth. I'm afraid we will all be called upon to re-establish our credibility, as well as the credibility of the kirpan as an article of faith rather than a weapon.
The young man in the picture is Gurbaj Singh Multani who brought and won this suit in Quebec, Canada - incidentally, where I was born and raised. (picture from globeandmail.com)
Saturday, 2008-09-13 16:40.Parents of students attending a high school in LaSalle are outraged after a 13-year-old Sikh boy pulled his kirpan on another student this week.
Montreal police say the boy became frustrated with two other students during recess on Thursday, and waved the ceremonial dagger at them in a threatening gesture.
Police have pressed charges.
In March 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Sikh students are allowed to wear kirpans to school for religious reasons.
WHY TRY TO FIT IN? YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!
Mai,
ReplyDeleteA few points I wanted to make after reading your posting. First, the incident didn't happen in a school yard so your title is incorrect (according to the Montreal Gazette it happened outside the school grounds). Second, the first point shouldn't make any difference to the contention that Sikhs should be allowed to wear their kirpans to school. There are other items that are equally or more lethal if used inappropriately at a school or other place, such as, scissors... Thirdly, what difference does the popularity of Sikhs matter? Personally, I couldn't care less if Sikhs are liked or disliked in Canada. If people who know about Sikhs dislike them, then that's their choice. If people who don't know about Sikhs and dislike them, then that just shows their ignorance. Sikhs can't control if someone likes us or not. We should just live free and let live.
What Sikhs need to do is to ensure that anyone taking Amrit knows what the obligations are on the person and under what circumstances to use their kirpan. Sikhs should start their own schools and forget about the public system if the kirpan is not allowed or is subject to burdensome restrictions in my opinion. Finally, Kirpans don't hurt people, people hurt people.
Dear Kaptaan Ji,
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you for reading this blog. I also read yours; it is excellent.
The title is, indeed, incorrect. Thank you for the correction. It was the best information I had yesterday, however.
Popularity has never meant much to me personally, either. I do think, however, that life in itself is difficult enough for our Sikh children, so we need not make it harder than it needs to be.
I also think it is most useful to be aware if the people we live among have an antipathy toward us. I think being a Sikh goes beyond 'just live free and let live.' We are here to serve humankind and, I believe, must therefore hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Am Amritdhari Sikh is a representative of Guru Ji at all times, 24/7/365. This needs to be made clear to the candidate; the proper use of the kirpan would follow naturally from that. I believe this whole concept takes a certain degree of maturity to understand - and a lot more to actually live, even very imperfectly.
I certainly second the idea of having Sikh schools for our children, but there is a problem. We have a tendency to be an insular community as it is. I believe we need to be a vital, integrated - but not assimilated - part of the larger society. We have a great, beautiful way of life. The world will be a much better place when others see and understand what we are about.
I want to make this world a better place. And, yes, I do believe that is possible.
Personally, I would love to live in a Sikh society; that is one of my fondest dreams! KHALISTAN ZINDABAD!