Kirpans not allowed

[Jens Nordlunde]

I don't know, as i don't live in Denmark, but I will try to find out.

[B.I]

Hi Jens,
Have sent you a PM

[ausjulius]

what i find bazar is the crazed fear of eged toold and guns that many people in western europe. ,, and this seems to be very strong among the poeple leading these nations,,

im surprised by this because i consider these contries very safe , aspecialy germany and denmark,
and the sort of places where one would think it would be just fine to own and carry what you wish..
also what i cant understand is that violent crime was far more common in there contires 40 years ago than it is now,, yet they seem to think they are having a crime wave when someone gets stuck with a knife,,


the people in these countires sturck me as law abiding and not atall aggressive,, infact a rather passive population,, i never encountered anyone with the threatening manner or look,,
why would they think that their population is blood thirsty killers who will become carzed when they touch a knife or gun......

i think one could just lay down and sleep where they whished in germany or holland or denmark rite in the street, that is how safe it is,,
i think here the first young goon who crossed you would proably try to do you some harm just for he fun of it...
........


tomany laws make not fun ofr anyone,,

[Tim Simmons]

I think in North West Europe. The public display of knives not connected to a persons job of work. Is rather like nudity or smoking dope, loudly using the "F and C" words in public, some people argue to be free to do that. A matter of accepted public decency. Are they being denied "FREEDOM"

[Sikh_soldier]

being a sikh i belive it is my duty to reply to the above posts.

please do not compare such religious practices such as sharia islam with sikhism which is a peaceful equality based religion.
the kirpan means selfless service and righteousness, i.e only to be used in times to protect ones honour (usually anothers) such as a women being attacked etc. not for a pub brawl might i add.

not all sikhs wear kirpans only baptised ones, suggesting that they meditate for atleast 3 hours in the morning ridding one of such animal feelings of anger.
regarding the knife culture in europe (stabbings) i implore those who feel otherwise how many incidents where a sikh kirpan was used (illegally or otherwise) i am sure they are more incidents of snooker chalks being used

Also regarding "moderation in india" this is a very strange assertion giving india's size sikhs only make less than 3% of the population there so to categorize and make an assumption is unfair

i would like to remind my fellow enthusiasts that sikhs deserve their religious allowances especially in europe "With only voluntary recruitment into the army, young Sikh men helped to swell the Indian army from 189,000 at the start of the war to over 2.5 million at the end of the war." over 200 hundred thousand were injure with many killed in world wars of europe which sikhs voluntarily participated in due to injustice.

i respect all your opinions, my sincere apologies for any offences taken,

[Sikh_soldier]

Pictures of sikhs in europe
a sikh with a captured NAZI flag

[Emanuel]

Hello _Soldier,

Here in Canada, Sikh men are also allowed to wear the kirpan as a religious symbol. I myself have been around such persons, fully conscious of the reason for the kirpan being worn, and aware that it is not intended to do harm.

However, in most - if not all - western nations, the wear of a knife or any weapon is distinctly threatening and perhaps even offensive unless condoned by occupation requiring weapons (say police or army). It doesn't matter that there haven't been any incidents involving Sikh using the kirpan. It only matters that it is a knife-like object being worn/exhibited in public. I'm afarid that until the kirpan and its wear maintain any resemblance to that of a knife, people will feel threatened by it. I think a Tibetan phurpa would cause just as much of a stir, as long as it has some semblance of a blade.

While the religious rights of immigrant populations must be respected, the social norms of the host country must also be upheld. The Sikh man in question in this thread - and perhaps other like him - should understand the court's rulling not as an attack against his faith, and he should understand the reasons for it and accept the social limits imposed by Denmark. I believe that host nation and immigrant group should work to reach a common ground: perhaps change the look of the kirpan enough that it is not identified as a potential weapon with an usable blade, while educating people about its cultural meaning.

The question of what runaway governments are doing to collectors through idiotic laws is another matter, and has been discussed here before ...unfortunately. The belief that people will stop being violent the moment all blades have disappeared is beyond me...it's a total farce.

Best regards,
Emanuel

[Sikh_soldier]

Hi Emanuel,

What a well written objective post,
the sikh kirpan does indeed comprise of a usable blade (dagger for those that do not know) its name kirpan is separated into two words kirpa (selfless service) and aan (honour it is not entirley ceremonial.
however, sikhs have peacefully co-inhabited europe for so many years i believe it is unfair to impose such limitations all of a sudden.

sikhism is a philosophy rather than a religion and for a baptised sikh the kirpan is an extension of his/her arm. Strange that a religious pious man would scare one more than a police officer with a gun (airports etc)

the closest analogy of sikhs i can think of are the samurai.

We only fear that of which we do not know i believe education is the key