Patient work trying to overcome the widespread view of Sikhs as dangerous seemed to be paying off, she said—until recently. Shergill said Sikhs have lately faced a “huge resurgence” of the sorts of challenges to their distinctive practices that they thought were put to rest 15 years or so ago. In Ontario, a Sikh man is fighting in court for the right to wear a turban, but not a helmet, when he rides his motorcycle. In Montreal last week, Judge Gilles Ouellet found a Sikh boy guilty of having threatened two other boys with a hair pin, used to keep his hair neat under his turban.
But Ouellet said the boy didn’t use his kirpan, the small symbolic dagger many Sikh men carry. The judge gave him an unconditional discharge, leaving him with a clean record, and said the case would never have reached his bench if the incident hadn’t had a religious dimension. “Too much importance has been given this case,” he said. “This matter should end here.”
Shergill suspects that many more Canadians read about the initial charge being laid than the remarks of the obviously frustrated judge. And the fact that this episode unfolded in Quebec is not incidental. The province appears to be an incubator of deep suspicions concerning minority faiths.
A mere 17 per cent of Quebecers said they have a favourable opinion of Islam, and just 15 per cent view Sikhism favourably. Only 36 per cent of Quebecers said they hold a favourable opinion of Judaism, far below the national average, and in sharp contrast to neighbouring Ontario, where 59 per cent expressed a favourable view of the Jewish religion. “It’s sadly not a shock,” Farber said.
Farber said his group, a 90-year-old advocacy organization for Canadian Jews, recently rebranded its Quebec wing as the Quebec Jewish Congress, a bid to highlight its roots in the province and reach out to francophone Quebecers. He said Quebec’s perennial anxieties about the survival of the French language play into attitudes toward minorities. “There are built-in fears there that have to be overcome,” he said. In fact, all religions were regarded less positively in Quebec than in Canada as a whole, including Christianity, which 67 per cent of Quebecers view favourably, five points below the Canadian average.
A heated debate over how far to go in “reasonable accommodation” of minorities gripped Quebec in 2007 and 2008. A commission headed by sociologist Gérard Bouchard and philosopher Charles Taylor toured the province holding often controversial hearings on the subject, ultimately concluding in a final report that Quebec needed to adapt, but that its cultural foundations were not at risk.
Angus Reid took that debate national, asking how far governments should go to accommodate minorities. A strong majority of 62 per cent agree with the statement, “Laws and norms should not be modified to accommodate minorities.” A minority, 29 per cent, agreed with the alternative statement, “On some occasions, it makes sense to modify specific laws and norms to accommodate minorities.” Another nine per cent weren’t sure. In Quebec, 74 per cent were against changing laws or norms, the highest negative response rate on the accommodation question in the country.
Recent campaign trail experience in Canada has taught politicians to be cautious about anything that smacks of a concession to religious minorities. John Tory, the former leader of Ontario’s Conservatives, was largely expected to win the province’s 2007 election, until he pledged to extend public funding to all religious schools. That promise proved deeply unpopular, even with his party’s base. The Angus Reid poll suggests that lesson can be broadly applied. It found 51 per cent oppose funding of Christian schools, and the level of opposition soars from 68 per cent to 75 per cent for all other religions. On even hotter-button religious issues, opposition is overwhelming. Only 23 per cent would allow veiled voting, and just three per cent Islamic sharia law—an even lower level of support than the eight per cent who would allow polygamy. There’s substantial sympathy for recognizing religious holidays, 45 per cent, but a solid majority still opposes the idea.
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Dissapointed with the beleif that Sikhism is violent. Being a Full practising Sikh myself it's clear to me that Sikhism preaches that the sword should only be drawn when the innocent are at risk. I understand that the Canadian community is bitter about the Air India bombings but please understand that it was a extremist Sikh movement that was formed to overthrow Indian control over Punjab and make a Khalistan state/country. The majority of Sikhs totally disaprove of the movement
The Judeo Christian and even Hindu/Buddah religions are real religions. People don't need an Imam to decode what they mean. Islam, accodring to Mr Geert Wilders of Holland's freedom Party is "a totalitarian ideology which is incompatible with western democracies". A Pakistani male on the street in downtown told me "it's a political system, a way of life and a religion". I debated with him about the other 1.4 million total Hindus and Chinese that practice their religions. They would object to having a 7th century ideology that has never seen enlightenment(EX:the bible's new testament) forced onto them politically. So would I. Want to know what Sharia law is? Indonesia just legislated stoning as a punishment and there is a man in the Sudan on youtube that got caught stealing a cattle.
On Youtuve please type ===> Sharia Law and Thieves ===> after that; a hungry boy gets his just dues for stealing bread
Then copy+paste===>Eight-Year-Old Thief and Sharia…Yeah we can't wait for Sharia to come to secular countries. It's going to be grand!!!
"The cause of backwardness and misery in the Muslim world is not Western oppression but Islam itself; a faith that promulgates contempt for Enlightenment and secular values. It teaches hatred to children, promises a grotesque version of the afterlife, elevates the cult of “martyrdom”, flirts with the mad idea of forced conversion of the non-Islamic world, and deprives societies of the talents and energies of 50 percent of their members: the female half.
Xvi – Forward/Infidel/Ayaan Hirshi Ali/Chapter's Bookstores.
"Infidel" By: Ayaan Hirshi Ali
It should be read by every single Canadian, born here or born overseas. It's a great read and she's been nominated as one of the 100 most influential people of the 21st century.
I feel the good/peaceful muslims should be more vocal to stop backward stuff like Sharia law, covering faces with burka and communicating the negative influence of Muslim preists to their kids etc. especially if they can have plenty of violent rallies at moments notice all over the world for every little thing. Why not for something positive.
What would happen to a country that was say; 7 years ago; according to The Guardian Newspaper was "one of the most successful countries the world has ever knows". Sometimes things change.
The Terrible 12 videos(I actually added 2 more; and most were made by concerned citizens that feel a sense of powerlessness and despair over the future health and well being of their tiny country.) into youtube.com as are.
Sweden industrialized nation to bananarepublic in 20 years
The swedish social welfare system under collapse. Ödeshög, Sweden.
Sweden, a nation in decline. The social welfare system has collapsed.
Daily news report from Sweden. Significant violent crime every day in the "paradise".
Muslim Immigrant Rape in Sweden (HD)
Immigrant Riot Wave in Sweden
Sweden under massive crimewaves, 900 % more violent crime
Islam in Sweden
Open Your Eyes, SWEDEN
Sweden is being destroyed. A low intensity civil war has already started.
Islam, changing my Sweden?!
Islamic Invaders Riot in Sweden Following Mosque Closure
Welcome to Sweden of Today
Crossroads Europe – Sweden -11 Jun 07 – Part 1
Unlike theI UK where the moslems are already operatin sharia courts, I hope that Canadian politicians think like John Howard a long serving Australian prime minister ,when he said in 2007 that multiculturalism will divide, whereas integration will unite his country, as it does in the USA where it is “a melting pot”. Howard made it very clear to Muslims that if they want to live in Australia they must abide by Australia laws and that sharia law has no place in Australia.
An extract of what he said is below. More information is available via a search with Google
'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture.
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society: Learn the language!'
extract continued
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because
Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.
It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this.
But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country that accepted YOU'
Islam is only growing aming black prison inmates. Hinduism esp in the form of Hare Krishna is growing along with Buddhism among educated whites.
In any case this Maclean's survey proves mos whites dislike Sikhism and Islam much more so than Hinduism.. so u may harp and complain all u like, good news is that no one is listeing to u.
Thanks to the CBC for years of coverage over Air India affair that cannot be proven.