And its Official
Writing by shinda on Thursday, 2 of March , 2006
Its only a matter of hours now before the verdict from the Supreme Court regarding the Kirpan is announced.
I think as a community as a whole we have yet to grasp the far reaching implications that this verdict holds on our community. A positive verdict, allows us the freedom to practice Sikhi without worrying about the Kirpan issue again. Sure challenges will arise, but the Supreme Courts decision will only but help to set the precedent for all future cases, in which case the minor courts would more then need to accept the Supreme Courts ruling.
A negative verdict however would offer the opposite. It would set the wrong precedent, and make challenges for the Kirpan, just that, challenges. Future legislation such as allowing the Kirpan on trains and busses will be that much harder to fight. Schools and school boards would be free to discriminate against Sikhs who choose to wear the Kirpan and basically have the power to decide whether or not they allow them.
Now I don’t see this being that big of a problem in places like Brampton, Rexdale, Mississauga, but that’s not to say that things can’t change. The battle will be especially tough in places such as Ottawa, Quebec, and places in rural Canada where the Kirpan has raised many eyebrows and not all for the better.
In a worst case scenario there would only be a few options left for us to exercise. The main being to get legislation and amendments made to existing laws, by means of lobbying our politicians. I wrote before about how a Conservative government may not be the ideal candidate to help us with this, but then again they did help us with the Turban case back in the early 90’s so you never know.
My prediction on the verdict that I’m sure is shared with a few others is that the Supreme Court will allow the wearing of the Kirpan as justifiable by The Rights to Religious Freedom, however restrictions such as those placed by the Quebec court will be put in place. The conditions in that ruling, were such things as The Kirpan need be sowed and wrapped in cloth, at all times.
I guess that all depends on how well the lawyers who argued this case, fought. If they made the Kirpan into nothing more then a symbol, then such restrictions wouldn’t hurt or affect the Kirpan’s value. However, if the opposite was argued such that the Kirpan is more then mere symbolism and that it acts as a tool for a Sikh, then off course that gives the judges more food for thought.
So as we sit back and wait for the ruling we can only hope things go our way, but we still can’t let optimism cloud reality. That being, Canadians and Canada may just not be ready.
Note: By the time I finished writing this the Court had ruled, and it ruled in favor of the Sikhs and the Kirpan!!
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Bole so Nihal
Sat Sri Akal
Anonymous from 
Made Thursday, 2 of March , 2006 at 1:24 pm
satguru kirpa roop hun
Waheguru. We have know one to thank but waheguru.
Daas has posted his thoughts on his blog.
Anonymous from
Made Thursday, 2 of March , 2006 at 1:39 pm
I think it is very sad that we are calling the Kirpan a symbol of “courage” and “faith” and denying the fact that it can be used. I believe that we are too afraid to tell the truth, in fear that it might be banned. Call it what you want, but a Kirpan is a weapon and used for,( not just a symbol) justice. Why should have to lie or extend the truth?? I mean, we should explain it to the public as how we would explain it in the Gurdwara. Some might say that the public is not ready for what it really is or there is no need to tell them, but I say that’s garbage.
The Kirpan is kirpa by God, thus it was his hukam. It doesn’t matter what people say or try to do about the Kirpan, we are not wrong by wearing it and we will never lose the right because God himself is the one who gave us the hukam. Thus, should matter if we tell the truth about the Kirpan? Because it is HE who is going to enforce weather we have the right to wear it or not. He controls all, law makers, policitican every.
icqY AMdir sBu ko vyiK ndrI hyiT clwiedw ]
chitai andar sabh ko vaykh nadree hayth chalaa-idaa.
All are within Your mind; You see and move them under Your Glance of Grace, O Lord.
Awpy dy vifAweIAw Awpy hI krm krwiedw ]
aapay day vadi-aa-ee-aa aapay hee karam karaa-idaa.
You Yourself grant them glory, and You Yourself cause them to act.
vfhu vfw vf mydnI isry isir DMDY lwiedw ]
vadahu vadaa vad maydnee siray sir DhanDhai laa-idaa.
The Lord is the greatest of the great; great is His world. He enjoins all to their tasks.
ndir aupTI jy kry sulqwnw Gwhu krwiedw ]
nadar upthee jay karay sultaanaa ghaahu karaa-idaa.
If he should cast an angry glance, He can transform kings into blades of grass.
dir mMgin iBK n pwiedw ]16]
dar mangan bhikh na paa-idaa. ||16||
Even though they may beg from door to door, no one will give them charity. ||16||
However, we will only get what we from Guru Ji. We got it to be legal, but we didn’t ask to get it recognized for what it really is. That I believe will be a problem because if we don’t put the definition of what a Kirpan is someone will, and they will do it with restriction.
VaheguruJiKaKhalsa VaheguruJiKeFateh!!!
apt 1116 from
Made Thursday, 2 of March , 2006 at 9:20 pm
shinda when are u coming home
Anonymous from
Made Friday, 3 of March , 2006 at 12:04 am
When all the Veggie dogs and milk in ottawa dun
