Anger as airport stops Sikh with dagger
Sorry , guys .... I see your point of view ...BUT... I seem to remember that these knives were allowed for airport workers at Heathrow (since 9/11) for those of that ilk . I stand (sit) to be corrected .
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Sorry but its another case it seems that particular people always harp on about racism and religion when really these people should just use their brains and realise what actually is the need to carry a dagger at all? for religous reasons? sounds like a load of old dogs&^t to me
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Years and years ago when I first started my aviation career, I was asked to escort a blind Sikh gentleman to his boarding gate. Naturally, he triggered the bleeper as he entered the archway and, sheepishly, he removed the Kirpan from beneath his turban and handed it over without a word.
(In those dim and distant days, we used to "Red Bag" such items and hand them to the Captain who retained custody until arrival at the destination.)
Whilst waiting to escort the gentleman to the aircraft, one of our female staff members paused, turned and started addressing the gentleman in Punjabi. It turned out he was a very highly respected and well known visiting guru from Amritsar and he expressed his approval of the polite way giving up his Kirpan had been requested and could we be sure he would get it back on arrival because "it has special religious significance and has been in the family for generations!"
When I hear people carping on about respecting their "religion", I always think of this patient old gentleman. Not once did he demand anything or complain on religious grounds (except when I bought him a sandwich " I can't eat meat, but fish is good!" I remember him saying.)
If religious leaders don't find security procedures offensive, then why should their followers?
(In those dim and distant days, we used to "Red Bag" such items and hand them to the Captain who retained custody until arrival at the destination.)
Whilst waiting to escort the gentleman to the aircraft, one of our female staff members paused, turned and started addressing the gentleman in Punjabi. It turned out he was a very highly respected and well known visiting guru from Amritsar and he expressed his approval of the polite way giving up his Kirpan had been requested and could we be sure he would get it back on arrival because "it has special religious significance and has been in the family for generations!"
When I hear people carping on about respecting their "religion", I always think of this patient old gentleman. Not once did he demand anything or complain on religious grounds (except when I bought him a sandwich " I can't eat meat, but fish is good!" I remember him saying.)
If religious leaders don't find security procedures offensive, then why should their followers?
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Zed3,
There was a big debate about if sikh staff at LHR should be allowed to carry these. For a while it was banned, but recent talks by Sikh representatives with BAA et. al. are trying to get them allowed again.
I think the thing most people worry about is not neccessarily what these folks would do, but if the dagger fell into the wrong hands.
Does anyone know why they don't/can't "Red bag" these items for collection at the arrival point? Also, cant a smaller chain/charm be used to represent this item, at least whilst on duty/travel.
There was a big debate about if sikh staff at LHR should be allowed to carry these. For a while it was banned, but recent talks by Sikh representatives with BAA et. al. are trying to get them allowed again.
I think the thing most people worry about is not neccessarily what these folks would do, but if the dagger fell into the wrong hands.
Does anyone know why they don't/can't "Red bag" these items for collection at the arrival point? Also, cant a smaller chain/charm be used to represent this item, at least whilst on duty/travel.
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The Poms changed the rules regarding motor cycle helmets for sikhs so why can't they change the aviation security rules... they've set the prescedent(sp)!!!
Tongue firmly in cheek .. I think!
Tongue firmly in cheek .. I think!
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How can you ever take a people seriously that argues (sadly, rather successfully) that whilst motorcycling their head is better protected by cloth wrapped around it than by an approved crash helmet.....
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Interestingly enough, at a time when Local Authorities, Businesses and Charities have banned "religious" diplays at Christmas, our Imams of the two mosques here in Crawley specially requested "not to take down Nativity sets on the Muslims' account - the Qu'ran teaches tolerance of other faiths!"
Once again, the leaders are not the objectors - it's the followers!
Once again, the leaders are not the objectors - it's the followers!
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When these sort of threads are started, it always fill me with dread, knowing full well that some ignorant clowns will always make extreme and derogatory comments, be it about faith or race, without knowing the reasons why people practice certain faiths and the major significance of such items.
Read carefully where it was highlighted that this woman actually handed her Kirpan in. This has been common practice for over 30 odd years. Most Sikhs, if not all will always say a short pray and put the Kirpan in the suitcase. The other very small minority tend to hand this into security.
Since Sep 11th everyone has been on edge, but some perspective is needed. The Sikhs have been practicing there faith in this country for over 50 years or so, traveling all over the world from this country, without a hint of any trouble at any major Airport...........Some of you need to really wake up and start reading about others races and faiths, especially if you work in this type of industry !
SP
Read carefully where it was highlighted that this woman actually handed her Kirpan in. This has been common practice for over 30 odd years. Most Sikhs, if not all will always say a short pray and put the Kirpan in the suitcase. The other very small minority tend to hand this into security.
Since Sep 11th everyone has been on edge, but some perspective is needed. The Sikhs have been practicing there faith in this country for over 50 years or so, traveling all over the world from this country, without a hint of any trouble at any major Airport...........Some of you need to really wake up and start reading about others races and faiths, especially if you work in this type of industry !
SP
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Kirpans used to be allowed abrad Indian Airlines flights till the 1980s UNTIL a couple of them were hijacked using these weapons! That put an end to it!
Unfortunately dragging religious sentiments and beliefs to get exemptions from common sense rules continue to be fashionable! In a leading Indian state capital, reluctantly the politicians agreed to let the cops the job do their job - force everyone to wear helmets - everyone except Sikhs. Hard to believe a leading government functionary was quoted in the local media as saying "A properly tied turban is equally effective as a helmet!"
Going off track, still it is better than the rule in the nation's capital which allows all WOMEN riders to be exempt from wearing helmets (dont remember whether any one justified the decision stating women's heads are thicker than men's!).
Unfortunately dragging religious sentiments and beliefs to get exemptions from common sense rules continue to be fashionable! In a leading Indian state capital, reluctantly the politicians agreed to let the cops the job do their job - force everyone to wear helmets - everyone except Sikhs. Hard to believe a leading government functionary was quoted in the local media as saying "A properly tied turban is equally effective as a helmet!"
Going off track, still it is better than the rule in the nation's capital which allows all WOMEN riders to be exempt from wearing helmets (dont remember whether any one justified the decision stating women's heads are thicker than men's!).
