My favorite Bangles
A teenager has been temporarily excluded from her school for refusing to remove a symbol of her faith.
Sarika Singh, 14, refused to take off her iron bangle worn by devout Sikhs as a reminder not to sin. The Aberdare Girls’ school in south Wales excluded her for failing to accept its uniform guidelines and the rules of its governing body.
So, what’s the back story on the schools rules and regulations?
The school is known for its strict policy on uniform and does not allow students to wear any religious symbols such as the Muslim headscarf or Christian cross.
The girl’s family have said they intend to contest the decision and may take legal advice. Her mother, Sinita Singh, said she had argued her daughter’s case in a meeting with the governing body, but had been unsuccessful.
Anyone bet she took “legal advice” before she signed her daughter up for the school?
Meanwhile, the daughter gives us insight to her religious beliefs:
Sarika said her bangle was very important to her. “It constantly reminds me always to do good and not do anything bad, especially with the hands.”
Uh, OK.
I’ve never heard of Sikh playing games or trying the victim card (“Sikh” means “lion” and the religion was founded on being warriors).
I’d say “Tough bannannas. You want to attend this school, you obey these rules.”
What a weak freaking bunch of people if they need these constant reminders to not sin. If she were older with a nice rack, I’d say take that anti-sin device off this potential slut and unleash her true potential…
Daddy wants to play, inshallah…
But maybe this story will help dispell the bullshit we keep hearing about how we are all caving in to unreasonable Islamic demands.
I agree entirely, I mean, you can’t just let people believe whatever they want to believe. If everyone believed in something different, there would be chaos and wars and no national security! What need is to be united: one people with one belief, ideally governed by one leader, someone strong and wise who can tell us all what to believe….
Nice job of constructing a strawman out of 99 & 44/100% pure horseshit, Ben. Do they teach you to feign martyrhood on false pretenses at church or is it a natural gift?
But anyway, just for laughs, please cite the relevant bit about someone “not letting her believe in whatever she wants to believe.” I think a lot of us must’ve missed that part…
The new religionist ploy, dishonest, unethical and false to boot: when you aren’t permitted to push your beliefs on, or parade them before, an unwilling audience, immediately screech that you’re being “oppressed.” Just what Jeebus would do, no doubt.
Religions use their “beliefs” to get away with just about everything.
Well, after all, when you have “faith,” you’re supposed to be allowed to get away with anything – since you already “know,” beyond any doubt and with no need for proof, that you’re right and everyone who thinks differently is wrong…
> #2 But maybe this story will help dispell the bullshit we keep
> hearing about how we are all caving in to unreasonable Islamic
> demands.
I can only hope you don’t really consider the Sikh to be Muslim. It was hard to tell from this statement.
Bullcrap !!!
The only reason she is being denied permission to wear the bracelet is discrimination. It can cause no harm any more than a crucifix or yarmulke.
Yes yes I know. Religions are all bullshit, fairy tales, stupid beliefs, yada, yada, yada. But people have a right to be stupid and believe in stupid things.
#8 “The school is known for its strict policy on uniform and does not allow students to wear any religious symbols…”
Now, if they allow the students to wear secular symbols then you have discrimination.
#7 – I stand corrected… I read Shi`a when it said Sikh…
I know the difference but I misread it… Thanks for pointing that out.
Well when you combine this with a ban on homeschooling, that amounts to a war on religious beliefs.
#8 – The only reason she is being denied permission to wear the bracelet is discrimination. It can cause no harm any more than a crucifix or yarmulke.
But those things are forbidden too… So no, it isn’t discrimination…
But I have two minds on this… On the one hand, school enforce uniform policies for clear reasons and I reluctantly agree that uniform codes have a positive effect on academics so I offer no complaint.
On the other, banning the religious symbols, typically small and unassuming, in the form of necklaces and bracelets and such crosses a line into absurdity. Are we really comfortable teaching kids to hide their beliefs and refrain from expression? Do we honestly think that maintaining the illusion of order is better than allowing exposure to diverse cultures? What kind of adults are we going to be turning out?
Now I know the Persecution Complex Christians aren’t going to be here to defend this non-Christian girl and I’m surely not going to get credit from them for recognizing the complexity of the issue (because fundies are allergic to complexity, I guess), but whatever…
I still believe that its weak and dumb to believe that the symbol is what prevents sin, which I believe creates people with no sense of confidence, self-reliance, or self-esteem (I know you Randians think esteem is bad in anyone but yourselves)… But that really doesn’t mean they should be banned…
In fact, throw a bunch of kids trained in these various beliefs into a jumble and when they talk about their beliefs they’ll be forced to defend them… If nothing else that will draw some of them toward enlightenment, tolerance, and greater personal strength.
Okay God nuts… attack me. (I like it because it tickles)
#11 – What ban on homeschooling?
4. Lauren the Ghoti when you aren’t permitted to push your beliefs on, or parade them before, an unwilling audience, immediately screech that you’re being “oppressed.”
I will assume, from your statement that you know nothing about the Sikh religion. Might be worth reading up on it before you start carrying on about pushing beliefs on others. I’ve never really heard of the Sikh’s pushing their religion on anyone.
The bracelet in question isn’t exactly parading your beliefs before an unwilling audience. Its a bracelet that is worn for many reason, and harekens backs to the days when upper casts of India used to raid the lower castes (that the Sikh’s came from). The bracelets where worn sort of as a shield that would allow them parry the swords that were being used to attack people. When a Sikh is baptized they take an oath to always come to the aid of someone being ganged-up upon, and the bracelet is used, in part, to remind them of that oath.
12. OhForTheLoveOf In fact, throw a bunch of kids trained in these various beliefs into a jumble and when they talk about their beliefs they’ll be forced to defend them… If nothing else that will draw some of them toward enlightenment, tolerance, and greater personal strength.
Very well said! There is a lot more to be gained by people talking about and understand each others religions and philosophies than there is in just trying to shut them all up or dismissing everyone as a but of nut-jobs (at least without trying to understand their point of view first).
#15 – Yea… But I reserve the right to say that the ones who actually are nutjobs are in fact nutjobs… at least the parents since I can’t really blame kids…
But I think the only nutjobs in this case may be the school’s administration.
Either abide by the rules or find a different school PERIOD
#17 – Authority is meant to be pushed…
#1 Sikh means disciple, not lion.
#1 Sikh means disciple or learner, not lion.
#12 – Actually, there will be Christians speaking in her defence. The Sikh religion is fairly compatible with Christianity.
Now, how many Moslems will speak in her defense? How many ardent Marxists are going to speak up? How many Lefties?
#19 – I’ve heard the “Sikh = Lion” bit for years, never the “student” or “seeker”.
#14 – un Ben (nick for ‘Uncle Ben’??) 🙂
“I will assume, from your statement that you know nothing about the Sikh religion. Might be worth reading up on it before you start carrying on about pushing beliefs on others. I’ve never really heard of the Sikh’s pushing their religion on anyone.”
Nice sidestep there. I did not, you may note upon closer examination, either assert anything regarding the Sikh religion, or suggest in any way that this particular Sikh or any other was ‘pushing beliefs.’ The relevant portion of my comment involved parading a belief by wearing symbol(s) of said belief where it is not permitted to do so.
“The bracelet in question isn’t exactly parading your beliefs before an unwilling audience.”
When the rules state that no such worn religious symbols are permitted, overt defiance of that rule by wearing such a symbol in a visible location in fact constitutes ‘parading’ same, whether or not that is or was the primary intent of the wearer.
For what it is worth, all Sikh men get the name ‘Sing’ when they are baptized and given the name Sing as a middle name, which I am told, mean Lion…..
#21 – Actually, there will be Christians speaking in her defence. The Sikh religion is fairly compatible with Christianity.
Did I say there wouldn’t be Christians speaking in her defense? No… I said something far more specific than that…
And anyone who posts here (you) with at least a room temperature IQ (maybe you) knows exactly who I am talking about.
Now, how many Moslems will speak in her defense? How many ardent Marxists are going to speak up? How many Lefties?
1. Learn to spell.
2. How many “Marxists” are left in the real world? You’ve watched one too many Goddard films.
3. Most of them. Unlike the right, the left likes freedom.
#24, Your statement can be taken to mean you were talking about all Christians, especially considering the rude intollerance you display.
The original spelling was “Moslem”, and I refuse to use the new, butt kissing spelling “Muslim”. Who changed it, anyhow?
“Marxists”? Have you any awareness of history? The “Marxists” have branched out into the sects “Leninism”, “Maoism”, and “Castroism”. They are still around, just look up the Code Pinkers.
As for the “Left” speaking up for her, how much of that is showing up here?
One unexpressed factor here is the role of secondary education?
Seems to me one should “know” something before one be put in an environment to defend it?
So, like single sex schools, restriction of free speech is APPROPRIATE at the early stages of GENERAL edumaction/socialization. Any complaint against uniformly applied rules is merely the overweening desire to control other people masking as a human rights issue.
#25 – Never mind… I forgot I was talking to a guy in tin foil hat.
Bottomline: Muslims want to kill us with 6th century thinking.
#28. I have never actually had someone try to think me to death. bring ’em on!
Wow…calm down people..and stop putting down other peoples faith… I cant believe some of the comments on this page..so frickin disgusting..
All I will say is they knew the rules of the school before and it is not discriminating againist sikhism..but it applies to all religious symbols..
talking about her becoming a slut and other bullshit I cant believe some of you people.. no such thing as decency..and respect…