An emotionally charged debate over multiculturalism, which has raged in Quebec in recent years, has finally landed on the national stage and it centres on a ceremonial dagger worn by Sikhs.
See, the Bloc isn't all bad. But this won't go anywhere. All parties except the Bloc have too many votes to loose by supporting this, and none or very few to gain. The mental knots we twist ourselves into to accommodate religion is just nuts. If that Bains guy can carry a knife, let every member carry one. That's the reason the aisles are two sword lengths apart and the speaker has a mace. Let's embrace our Anglo tradition, here, let all MP's carry swords.
"DanSC" said Would it be possible to carry a blunt kirpan, or does it have to be sharpened?
They're usually not sharpened like a knife. But they still have a point, can and have still inflicted damage. The point is that Sikh's themselves have said that it can be less than 2" long, or even shorter and worn on a chain around the neck. It's supposed to be a symbol, not an actual weapon. The guys who insist on wearing actual knives, and insist on entry everywhere are just being dickheads. But we reward dickheadism in Canada, so who can blame them.
"andyt" said Would it be possible to carry a blunt kirpan, or does it have to be sharpened?
They're usually not sharpened like a knife. But they still have a point, can and have still inflicted damage. The point is that Sikh's themselves have said that it can be less than 2" long, or even shorter and worn on a chain around the neck. It's supposed to be a symbol, not an actual weapon. The guys who insist on wearing actual knives, and insist on entry everywhere are just being dickheads. But we reward dickheadism in Canada, so who can blame them. That's actually what an elderly Sikh gentleman told me on a train in France nearly 20 years ago. He said that those particular individuals rely on our absolute ignorance of their religion. As he told me, when living abroad in foreign cultures, a kirpan is not only acceptable but encouraged, except when they're at temple.
I can't think of a single reason to go into the House of Commons armed.
current-events-f59/sikhs-wearing-kirpans-denied-entry-to-national-assembly-t93912.html
Would it be possible to carry a blunt kirpan, or does it have to be sharpened?
They're usually not sharpened like a knife. But they still have a point, can and have still inflicted damage. The point is that Sikh's themselves have said that it can be less than 2" long, or even shorter and worn on a chain around the neck. It's supposed to be a symbol, not an actual weapon. The guys who insist on wearing actual knives, and insist on entry everywhere are just being dickheads. But we reward dickheadism in Canada, so who can blame them.
Would it be possible to carry a blunt kirpan, or does it have to be sharpened?
They're usually not sharpened like a knife. But they still have a point, can and have still inflicted damage. The point is that Sikh's themselves have said that it can be less than 2" long, or even shorter and worn on a chain around the neck. It's supposed to be a symbol, not an actual weapon. The guys who insist on wearing actual knives, and insist on entry everywhere are just being dickheads. But we reward dickheadism in Canada, so who can blame them.
That's actually what an elderly Sikh gentleman told me on a train in France nearly 20 years ago. He said that those particular individuals rely on our absolute ignorance of their religion. As he told me, when living abroad in foreign cultures, a kirpan is not only acceptable but encouraged, except when they're at temple.