traveling with a Sikh turban

August 31, 2007

Due to kundalini yoga being brought to the West by a Sikh, and due to

the yogic benefits of a turban in meditation, as well as the use of

turbans in many ancient yogic techniques, our kundalini yoga does

include a head covering sometimes. And if we wear a turban while

traveling to some yoga event requiring a commercial flight, we will

experience TSA's new pat-down policy. As " householders, " we kundalini

yogis are part of society, including its political aspect - in this

case, the trade-off between security and natural rights/liberties.

Any thoughts on the following?

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/122250.html

Is That a Vial of Nitroglycerin in Your Turban, or Are You Just a Sikh?

Jacob Sullum | August 30, 2007, 12:22pm

Some Sikhs object to a new TSA policy that allows discretionary

" pat-downs " of headgear. The pat-downs, aimed at threats (such as

liquid explosives) that would not trigger a metal detector, ostensibly

have nothing to do with religion or ethnicity. But since the decision

to feel up a passenger's hat will be left to individual screeners,

many of whom may still be confusing the average bearded,

turban-wearing Sikh man with Osama bin Laden, Sikhs are understandably

concerned that they will be singled out for extra attention,

stigmatizing them as potential jihadists and reinforcing public

misconceptions. They also have religious objections to the fingering

of their turbans.

If this new policy made sense as a security measure, the Sikhs'

embarrassment and inconvenience might be considered (especially by

non-Sikhs) an acceptable cost of protecting passengers from terrorism.

But how likely is it that a terrorist would dress like a Sikh, which

in the eyes of many Americans means dressing like a terrorist, so he

can hide a tube of nitroglycerin in his turban? For that matter, has

the TSA discovered any liquid explosives or liquid explosive

components since it started focusing on this purported threat in 2006?

If not, does that mean the new rules for liquids and gels are working?

Somehow I doubt it. Half the time when I travel, I forget to put my

toothpaste and eyeglass cleaner in a separate " quart-size, zip-top,

clear plastic bag, " and typically no one notices. In performance tests

TSA screeners routinely miss simulated guns and bombs. In this

context, does adding hats to the list of items that require extra

scrutiny, along with liquids, gels, shoes, laptops, tools, and

sporting goods, make sense? If everything is the focus of special

attention, nothing is.

On the brighter side, the TSA finally has lifted its senseless ban on

" common lighters, " almost a year after Congress said it could. The TSA

notes that the U.S. was " the only country in the world to ban

lighters " and that screeners were confiscating some 22,000 a day from

passengers (and probably missing at least as many), which distracted

them from more significant threats. ( " Torch lighters, " the fancy kind

often used with cigars, are still prohibited.) Also, mothers will no

longer be forced to taste their breast milk.

click the above link to see the comments to this blog entry...

NotSurprised | August 30, 2007, 1:58pm | #

I am not surprised that American are the most ignorant and stupid

people as is evident from the racist silly comments on such websites.

These assholes have absolutely no knowledge about Sikhs their history

and their unique religion which is perhaps the most universal and

tolerant. I have known Sikhs and they are some of the most friendly

people on the face of this earth. How far we want to go with this so

called protecting ourselves from the terrorists?? Why cant we balance

this with commonsense?? Our liberties are being taken away not by

terrorists but by a right wing mafia which is blackmailing Americans

in the name of terrorism...

The irony of the whole situation post 911 is that we are targeting the

wrong people. 100% of men who wear turbans are Sikhs who had to endure

all the racist hate and profiling because of the TV images of Osama

Bin Laden and other Mullas from Middle east. I have never ever come

across a SINGLE Muslim in USA who has ever worn a turban.

While we are targeting innocent Sikhs who in fact are very very

friendly to USA but we are sending billions of dollars worth of our

modern arms to Saudi Arabia and Egypt from where all the hijackers

came. The first man who was arrested and humiliated hours after 9/11

attack was a Sikh IT professional at Rhodes Island railway station. He

now works at super secret war stimulation systems for US Navy. Let us

fight this war smartly and not through hysteria or because of some

political agenda....

NotSurprised | August 30, 2007, 4:28pm | #

Pro Liberate

I totally agree that this is not the policy but unfortunately it is

the ignorance of the large majority that has resulted in a dangerous

situation for Sikhs because of mistaken identity. In Mesa Arizona, a

Sikh Gas station owner was shot dead immediately after 9/11 to vent

their anger at terrorists who attacked the world trade center. Today

the very site of a turban ( which only Sikhs wear) conjures up images

of a terrorist out to blow up Americans. Americans have no idea that

more than 85,000 Sikhs died as part of Allied forces in world war 1 &

2 and Sikhs were awarded maximum number of Victoria crosses for

bravery. Prince Charles has asked British Government to revive the old

British policy of Pure Sikh regiments in British army because of their

great military traditions and loyalty.

August 31, 2007

Sat Nam one and all!

I can't help but respond to Amar Atma's post about the heightened security and paranoia in the aftermath of 9/11 with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, "

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."That's what being the lighthouse is all about though, bringing the light to all the dark places upon this realm.Fight not the darkness, spread the light and spread the love. Teach the world to live and breath Sat Nam, to feel Ek Ong Kaar to the depths of their being, and help them to find Wahe Guru!Peace and blessings,Akal Sahai Singhwww.bethelighthouse.com