What Not to Wear
April 30, 2007Should people in Canada have to ask politely to wear what they want? Canadians define our nation with pride as a cultural mosaic, a vibrant and colourful collection made up of people who immigrated to Canada from every corner of the world. Multiculturalism is the rule in Canada, and it carries the force of the constitution.
This month we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Among other things, the Charter guarantees freedoms of belief, religion, and expression.
One would think that in this cultural climate in which Canadians take such pride, we wouldn't be concerning ourselves with how people dress. Yet there have been all too many instances where individuals have had to fight hard to have their religious wardrobe accommodated.
- In 1985, when Baltej Singh Dhillon, a devout Sikh, wanted to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he was able to meet all the requirements except for the dress code. He could not wear the trademark "Mountie" hat because of his religious duty to wear a turban. It took a long and concerted effort all the way to the national parliament by Dhillon to have this policy officially changed.
- In a Montreal school in 2001, a 12 year old boy was sent home because he was told he could not wear his kirpan, a ceremonial dagger worn under the clothing. Of course the school had a policy against any weapons, but when the issue of safety was looked at closely, with the dagger in a wooden sheath and sewn under cloth, it is not accessible. In 2006 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in the boy's favour.
- Earlier this year at a soccer tournament in Quebec, a young Muslim girl was ejected because she was wearing a headscarf on the pitch. The referee was another young Muslim-Canadian, but was following rules set out by the sport's international governing body FIFA, which says that nothing may be worn on the head for reasons of safety. At a recent meeting FIFA upheld this rule, saying essentially that "rules are rules".
Rules can work both ways when it comes to protecting rights in a multicultural society. On the one hand, the courts have continued to rule in favour of allowing people to wear what they wish. If the young soccer player chooses to appeal this rule in the Canadian courts, it is likely she would succeed.
But she should not have to go that far. In these cases rules were being followed without a real thought to why they were made in the first place. The soccer rules are meant to protect players, so that children can play the sport safely. Was the headscarf really a danger to her or other players on the field? Is the risk anything close to the possibility of injury from suiting up for a game of hockey,
We have important rules in place that protect rights. We have other rules that may infringe on rights. As the philosopher Thomas Reid said "the rules of architecture never built a house". How you dress in
4 Comments:
I get the fact that certain incidents can be viewed by different eyes but the rules are the same for everyone.
In the montreal example if any child was to come to school with a knife (a deadly weapon) sewn into an item of clothing they would be thrown out in an instant.
Also the young girl with a head scarf could easily have been snagged by another kids boots or grabbed at a corner kick.
These rules are in place so that everyone can follow them in the interest of safety.
I do not agree with the media making a mountain out of these issues and mistaking them for issues of race or religeon. The rules are their for everyone to adhere to not so that it can be one rule for the majority and another for the minority.
If these rules are broken on the ground of religeon then surely this encourages segregation as the majority feel that the minority have preferential treatment.
I appreciate the consideration, openness and valuing others ways of life style and religion customs by the Canadian government and the Canadians.
But when framing rules and regulations for specific game or social events or where everybody in the society is allowed to participate or attend are made in general keeping interests of everyone and their safety and many more issues.
Important matter is that every one knows the set of rules and regulations before joining or attending it. When they can accept all the aspects then why on the earth they do not ready to accept such small things and claiming religious values forbid them to do so. And if at all religion issues are more mattered then such people must keep themselves away from all that that comes their way, meaning by this if your religion says to keep kirpan with you all the time than please avoid all the places where kirpan is not allowed and if you can not go without head scarf then why you enter the field of game where it is not allowed.
Be sure for what is important in your life. Is it the religion you practice or something else. Give priority over everything else in life.
In my view religion is a personal matter and one should not- must not carry their personal beliefs in the society. Even the particular customs and regulations which they are following in the name of religion are not healthy sign for the open society.
I believe that there should not be majority or minority in the social structure. We all are same as human being and we must respect each other in the ways and manner we want respect from the others.
Canada is democratic country and have open mind, firmly believe in values, practice it.When you choose to make Canada your new home then please do not bring with you all that limitations which you had shoulder until now in your country of origin. Leave her as it was before and leave that way. At least one place on the earth, where you don’t find problems related with the religions, different social customs, and different political thoughts. Canadian people and the Canadian government have done well enough until now and it is now the duty of the immigrants to support.
A MUKHI
I agree with the previous statement. There are always choices to make in life and one needs to choose the one that is more important. However, you should not try to impose an individual choice on other people, specially when it is not implemented as a general rule for eveybody. I don't believe a girl or woman wearing a head scarf for religious porpuses poses a threat to society but they shouldn't try to change a social custom, or a game rule to accomodate their individual religious choice. However, they should be welcome to wear it in a public place where people are allowed to wear whatever they feel regarless of whether it is for religious reasons or a fashion statement. In the case of the sikh gentleman, he should make a decision as to what is more important to him, his religious turban or his desire to join the Royal Mounted Police. If one has more weight than the other then a choice has to be made. I don't think he would like a person from another country to go to his country and expect special treatment because he is from a different religion or background. I would understand if he was a visitor, but not a permanent resident.
I like the cooments.However,being a rank outsider I have no direct experience of Canadian life.
Presume it is like US with some
social values.
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