Admin19 yr Iknoor Singh had always dreamt of serving his nation and had life-long interest in public services and began thinking upon a military career. A student at the Hofstra University studying finance and business analytics says the U.S. Army is barring him from the Reserve Officer Training Corps unless he violates his religious beliefs […]
19 yr Iknoor Singh had always dreamt of serving his nation and had life-long interest in public services and began thinking upon a military career. A student at the Hofstra University studying finance and business analytics says the U.S. Army is barring him from the Reserve Officer Training Corps unless he violates his religious beliefs by removing his turban, shaving and cutting his hair. He is forced to violate his religious beliefs.
The ACLU and United Sikhs are suing the U.S. Army for not allowing a 19-year-old college student to join because his devout faith requires that he wear a turban and grow a beard.
It was unbelievable for him to think that the military was asking him to make the impossible decision of choosing between the country he loves and his faith.
Sikhs have had a long and rich tradition of military service in nations across the globe since World War I. Currently; they are allowed to serve in the armed forces of Canada, Great Britain, and India, among others. How is it possible that most Sikhs like him are prohibited from serving in the United States—a nation whose founding principle is religious freedom?
He states “Barring us from serving in the military because of our religious practices helps reinforce these hurtful stereotypes. It is my hope that, when fellow Americans see Sikhs like me defending this great nation, the misperception of Sikhs being “terrorists” and “foreigners” will fade away. They will start judging Sikhs for who we are, based on our character, as opposed to how we look.”
Having nurtured his dreams together with his peers and Non Sikh friends to join the armed forces ever since childhood, he doesn’t want to be left behind just because he is adhering to the tenets of the faith he was born into.
Choosing between one’s faith and serving one’s country is a decision that no one should have to make.
We support his appeal and we are proud enough to have Singhs who stand strongly on Sikh values come what may!
~ Source: time.com