DO WE REALLY WANT TO GET ALONG?

Four Sikhs, scheduled to make a presentation at Quebec's national assembly, were denied entry to the legislature on January 18, 2011, because they refused to remove their kirpans. They were there in a spirit of solidarity, to support the right of Muslim women to wear facial coverings. They had checked with security prior to making the trip from Toronto and had been made aware that their kirpans could pose a concern. They chose to make the trip anyway and just see what happened. Well, that’s what happened; they didn’t get in.

A kirpan is a dagger, carried by baptized Sikh men to symbolize their readiness to defend themselves and others against injustice. I understand that, according to most Sikhs, it is not intended for offensive purposes, it is not worn to intimidate or threaten, it is a spiritual symbol of dedication to truth and justice. Therefore, it seems to me a kirpan is no more a weapon than is a Scottish piper’s dirk (dagger), or a carpenter’s chisel, or an electrician’s screwdriver. In other words, it’s a metal object that could be used to inflict considerable damage on someone and, as such, it is obviously a security concern. The fact that it’s religious, ceremonial, symbolic, defensive, or required apparel explains why a Sikh might want to wear it, but all that’s irrelevant from a security point of view. As long as it could be used to inflict injury surely anyone can understand why it might be a problem.

Of course none of this settles the matter. The question remains as to how the concern should be resolved. Perhaps it’s not actually necessary to ban all sharp, metal objects from legislatures, courtrooms and schools. We don’t, as yet, ban them form shopping malls, libraries or theatres. There is still a mace in Parliament, even though someone could pick it up and wield it as a weapon, which is, after all, what a mace actually is. The Sargent at Arms also wears a symbolic sword. – Nonetheless real, but symbolic in that no one expects him to defend the parliament with it. – Someone could seize it, of course, and go on a rampage, but I assume the security folks have somehow made provision for that possibility. So, perhaps it’s enough, in some situations, for security to know who has a kirpan, a chisel, a screwdriver, a ceremonial sword, etc., and just keep an eye on the situation.

Surely, if we really want Sikhs to participate in our society, we can sort this out. But, if we or they really don’t want that, there will be no limit to the opportunities for conflict. The question is, what do we really want?