Okay so basically i had to conduct research on one way or another in which sikhs visible manifestation of their beliefs( for example their dress or behaviors has clashed with traditional Canadian value and customs. So i decided to conduct it on the issue RCMP officers wearing turbans while on duty as RCMP officers. My question asked that my intro paragraph states the issue accurately and clearly. Then in my second paragraph im asked to explain both views on the issue. Third paragraph i have to explain how the issue was resolved and in my last paragraph i had to provide a summary of the main points i made and include my opinion on the decision. Some one told me i need to organize my ideas more logically and they said they found it repetitive. Please be harsh as possible and correct and edit parts that you find repetitive or don't make sense or grammar mistakes. Please help me as im doing this by correspondence and i want someones opinion. BTW I PROMISE ILL DO UR BACK IF U EDIT MINE. Here it is
In the late 1980's an issue arose when RCMP officers were prohibited from wearing their turbans while on duty as it had clashed with an old Canadian tradition within the country's growing multicultural society. Followers of the Sikh religion were told to exchange and choose one tradition over another which was to either wear the turban or serve their country. Sikhs are a cultural and religious group from the Punjab in northern India that often wear turbans and beards as part of their beliefs and traditions. A turban is a religious garment worn by Sikhs consisting of five yards or metres of cloth to protect their uncut hair and to keep it neat. Turbans symbolize respect and obedience to God's Natural ways. Sikhs like Baltej Singh Dhillon choose to fight for his religious right. Baltej Singh Dhillon was born in Malaysia and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1982. After graduating from high school he had hopes of becoming a Criminal lawyer but having been advised to do some volunteer work from before he decided to help the RCMP start the Block Watch program in his community. He was hired to start the program and years later he decided to join the RCMP. He had met all the initial requirements but was told he had to remove his turban as it was not allowed by the RCMP. He and the many others before him that wore the turban were told to remove it but Dhillon did not agree with this concept and appealed the government to change the policy. Soon after this a lengthy and heated debate was sparked based on his request to put pressure on the federal government of whether to change the policy or not challenging Canadian acceptance.
The federal government was divided between two different opinions at the time of the controversy as some argued that the Sikhs should wear the turbans because it was their religious right while others argued that they should respect the tradition of wearing the Stetson hat because it was a Canadian Symbol. The Sikhs stated that they were given the option and choice of exchanging and sacrificing one thing over another either choosing to wear the turban or protecting their country. Baltej Singh Dhillon argued in his defense that it was his religious right to wear the turban and by it being prohibited was a violation of his religious right. He stated that wearing that wearing the turban was a mandatory religious duty that no Sikh can evade from and that it should be made an exception as it did not interfere with anything. Dhillon stated: "I think that if somebody wants to wear something that's important to them, to their nationalities, or to their beliefs and it doesn't interfere with what they do, let them."Many people agreed with him on that point and argued that the Canadian Government gives Canadians freedom of religion and the right to equality as well as not being discriminated because of your religion or race as stated in the Canadian Charters of Rights and Freedom. On the contradictory side, many raised concerns about the harm it would be for the Sikhs wearing turbans while on duty arguing that they might not receive proper respect or someone such as an assailant might strangle the officer with his own turban. People argued that the Sikhs should respect our traditions and wear the hat. One major concern among the citizens was they believed that the hat called the Stetson worn by RCMP officers is part of the uniform so by allowing the turban into the Canadian institution they would be changing a national icon that is recognized to the world as a Canadian Symbol.
In April 1989, the RCMP commissioner advised that the prohibition be lifted. After almost a year, the federal government decided to lift the ban and on March 15, 1990 the ban was removed as Solicitor General Pierre Cadieux gave the ruling to allow turbans to be worn while on duty as RCMP officers despite the . According to the Grant v. Canada (Attorney General), the court said that allowing RCMP officers to wear turbans did not violate the freedom of religion for non-Sikhs and that there was no compulsion or coercion of religious expression involved, nor was there a deprivation of life, liberty, or security for persons interacting with Sikh officers(publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection-R/LoPBdP/PRB-e/PRB0 441-e.pdf, Freedom of Religion and Religious Symbols in the Public Sphere). In addition, Baltej Singh Dhillon became the first turbaned RCMP officer and now works as an investigator with the 1985 Air India bombing task force.
In the end, the RCMP officers were finally allowed to wear their turbans while on duty as RCMP officers almost a year later as the ban was lifted by the federal government on March 15, 1990. They were given the right and freedom of religion. In my opinion, I agree with the decision made by the federal government to allow Sikhs to wear turbans while working as RCMP officers because I believe it was truly the right decision to make. I would think it was offensive and discriminatory if the Canadian government didn't let the Sikh wear their turbans while on duty as RCMP officers. In my opinion, I think the federal government should have made the decision a long time ago not a year later. I believe it was the right decision to make because the Sikhs weren't hurting or interfering with anything or anyone by wearing their turban. Also, I wear a headscarf and work with it at my job so I'm thankful for individuals like Baltej Singh Dhillon because if he didn't speak up and raise awareness about the issue maybe people like me wouldn't have been able to work because of my beliefs and religion. I am also thankful of the decision of the Canadian Government who took consideration of their multicultural society and by granting me the freedom of religion without any persecution. In addition, this is a great historic moment for Canada's history because it shows Canada's acceptance of its multicultural society that has many different beliefs and traditions.
In the late 1980's an issue arose when RCMP officers were prohibited from wearing their turbans while on duty as it had clashed with an old Canadian tradition within the country's growing multicultural society. Followers of the Sikh religion were told to exchange and choose one tradition over another which was to either wear the turban or serve their country. Sikhs are a cultural and religious group from the Punjab in northern India that often wear turbans and beards as part of their beliefs and traditions. A turban is a religious garment worn by Sikhs consisting of five yards or metres of cloth to protect their uncut hair and to keep it neat. Turbans symbolize respect and obedience to God's Natural ways. Sikhs like Baltej Singh Dhillon choose to fight for his religious right. Baltej Singh Dhillon was born in Malaysia and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1982. After graduating from high school he had hopes of becoming a Criminal lawyer but having been advised to do some volunteer work from before he decided to help the RCMP start the Block Watch program in his community. He was hired to start the program and years later he decided to join the RCMP. He had met all the initial requirements but was told he had to remove his turban as it was not allowed by the RCMP. He and the many others before him that wore the turban were told to remove it but Dhillon did not agree with this concept and appealed the government to change the policy. Soon after this a lengthy and heated debate was sparked based on his request to put pressure on the federal government of whether to change the policy or not challenging Canadian acceptance.
The federal government was divided between two different opinions at the time of the controversy as some argued that the Sikhs should wear the turbans because it was their religious right while others argued that they should respect the tradition of wearing the Stetson hat because it was a Canadian Symbol. The Sikhs stated that they were given the option and choice of exchanging and sacrificing one thing over another either choosing to wear the turban or protecting their country. Baltej Singh Dhillon argued in his defense that it was his religious right to wear the turban and by it being prohibited was a violation of his religious right. He stated that wearing that wearing the turban was a mandatory religious duty that no Sikh can evade from and that it should be made an exception as it did not interfere with anything. Dhillon stated: "I think that if somebody wants to wear something that's important to them, to their nationalities, or to their beliefs and it doesn't interfere with what they do, let them."Many people agreed with him on that point and argued that the Canadian Government gives Canadians freedom of religion and the right to equality as well as not being discriminated because of your religion or race as stated in the Canadian Charters of Rights and Freedom. On the contradictory side, many raised concerns about the harm it would be for the Sikhs wearing turbans while on duty arguing that they might not receive proper respect or someone such as an assailant might strangle the officer with his own turban. People argued that the Sikhs should respect our traditions and wear the hat. One major concern among the citizens was they believed that the hat called the Stetson worn by RCMP officers is part of the uniform so by allowing the turban into the Canadian institution they would be changing a national icon that is recognized to the world as a Canadian Symbol.
In April 1989, the RCMP commissioner advised that the prohibition be lifted. After almost a year, the federal government decided to lift the ban and on March 15, 1990 the ban was removed as Solicitor General Pierre Cadieux gave the ruling to allow turbans to be worn while on duty as RCMP officers despite the . According to the Grant v. Canada (Attorney General), the court said that allowing RCMP officers to wear turbans did not violate the freedom of religion for non-Sikhs and that there was no compulsion or coercion of religious expression involved, nor was there a deprivation of life, liberty, or security for persons interacting with Sikh officers(publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection-R/LoPBdP/PRB-e/PRB0 441-e.pdf, Freedom of Religion and Religious Symbols in the Public Sphere). In addition, Baltej Singh Dhillon became the first turbaned RCMP officer and now works as an investigator with the 1985 Air India bombing task force.
In the end, the RCMP officers were finally allowed to wear their turbans while on duty as RCMP officers almost a year later as the ban was lifted by the federal government on March 15, 1990. They were given the right and freedom of religion. In my opinion, I agree with the decision made by the federal government to allow Sikhs to wear turbans while working as RCMP officers because I believe it was truly the right decision to make. I would think it was offensive and discriminatory if the Canadian government didn't let the Sikh wear their turbans while on duty as RCMP officers. In my opinion, I think the federal government should have made the decision a long time ago not a year later. I believe it was the right decision to make because the Sikhs weren't hurting or interfering with anything or anyone by wearing their turban. Also, I wear a headscarf and work with it at my job so I'm thankful for individuals like Baltej Singh Dhillon because if he didn't speak up and raise awareness about the issue maybe people like me wouldn't have been able to work because of my beliefs and religion. I am also thankful of the decision of the Canadian Government who took consideration of their multicultural society and by granting me the freedom of religion without any persecution. In addition, this is a great historic moment for Canada's history because it shows Canada's acceptance of its multicultural society that has many different beliefs and traditions.
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