Another non-issue facing the military…again

When the gay community started poking their nose into the military’s traditions and regulations again, I almost expected this snakes nest to spill forth once again. It seems that Sikhs are trying to keep their turbans, long hair and beards. I remember when the Army last took up the issue during the years that we faced the Soviets over the Iron Curtain – the Army announced that Sikhs could serve but they’d have to give up their religious accouterments. Many left the service when their time was up.

Now the Stars and Stripes reports that the battle has begun again;

On Tuesday, the Sikh Coalition filed a formal complaint with the inspectors general of the Army and the Department of Defense on behalf of Kalsi and 2nd Lt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a Reservist since 2006. The group was formed after two Sikhs were attacked in Queens, N.Y., on the night of 9/11 as reprisals for the attack.

For Kalsi, whose family came to the U.S. in 1978, the issue is frustrating and confusing. He is the fourth generation to serve in allied militaries. His father and grandfather were both Indian Air Force veterans. His great-grandfather served in the British army.

“I can’t understand why my Army would keep me from serving,” Kalsi said.

Well, Kalsi, that’s because you haven’t been listening to LTC Nathan Banks (TSO and I giggle like school girls every time LTC Banks makes a public pronouncement);

“The Army places a high value on the rights of soldiers to observe their respective religious faiths; however, the Army does not accommodate the exceptions for personal grooming standards for religious reasons,” said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nathan Banks.

The restriction forces soldiers to meet “health, safety and mission requirements,” Banks said, and facial hair prevents an airtight seal on gas masks.

See, that “airtight seal” line referring to protective masks, Kalsi? That’s key in this part of the discussion;

But lawyers representing the soldiers say the policy poses a “burden on their exercise of religion” under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993….

Not like inhaling some nice blister agent through the unsealed mask will burden their exercise of religion, pal. Sure it hasn’t happened in 90 years or so, but there’s always the first time. And it only takes that one time.

Now, I mentioned gays in the first line and I know someone out there is panting just waiting for me to finish this so they can jump on me for comparing religious beliefs to sexual behavior. I’ll explain myself – both groups claim that they want to serve, but only under their conditions and any concessions to the military are out of the question. The military has made it possible for both groups to serve if they give up something but they’re unwilling to concede any thing. So it just becomes an employment opportunity for lawyers.

I’m not demeaning Sikhs I’m just pointing out that every one sacrifices something to be in the military, some more than others. If it’s so damn important for you to serve your country, make the common sense choice – and stop encouraging law schools to spit out cutthroat predators.

Yeah, I know…I suck.

Category: Society, Usual Suspects