Is it racism?

[PAT BUTCHER]

if you're talking about an imagration originating from a certian country then it's certianly not rascist to presume for the porpuse of conversation that a high percentage (i.e. the relevant majority, in referance to your proposal) will hold a particular opinion; It is a cultural matter. Peoples ideas and beleif systems do not stem from their race, rather are influenced heavily from their place of upbringing. To hate someone because they hold a biggoted and offensive viewpoint contradictory of your own should certainly be allowed, no matter what colour they are. Just because you think somebody or the prevailant ideals of their culture is wrong doesn't doesn't mean that you have any problem with their genetic make up. To many of us confuse an opposition to ideals with race and it is creating a sorry reactionary state of affairs.

 

[PirateKing]

Technically I don't think that's racism. I don't really know what the word is.
Well, I don't think people should have knives in schools. If a guy wants to wear a turbin while riding a motorcycle then I hope it's at least reinforced. If not it's his own fault.

 

[Scarecrow38]

We should be tolerant of foreign belief systems and faiths. Immigrants have a right to expect as much support of their faith up to the point where it actually conflicts with our own laws and systems. They are entering our country... our home.. there is inevitably going to have to be a sacrifice to be made. They have no right to expect us to dramatically change for their own benefit.

 

[P1p3s]

thats a great analogy with the house and all.
I don't think it's racisim, it's like that in England too - I've always thought it was interesting that people would apply for a job that has certain restrictions they can't meet or infringes on the restrictions they apply to themselves i.e. your mounty example, there has got to be some common knowledge, or information handed out to prospective mounties before/during the assessment period that indicates the hat is a MANDATORY requirement, you might argue that it's not necessary for it to be mandatory but those are the facts.

Not for any religious or cultural reason but I just wouldn't be a poll dancer, that's not saying anything bad about poll dancers i just don't think i would feel comfortable being in a state of undress or completely naked in a room full of strangers, knowing that about myself I wouldn't apply to stringfellows for that kind of job - it just smacks of nonsense to me.

By the same token I think variation in culture and belief make us all a little bit richer, maybe (to use your analogy) your furniture is in a weird place and we can learn from each other how to put things right but to me alot of this seems to get done with aggressive law suits and liable action rather than public debate and integration

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Here's my fresh take on it, surely if a job requires you to wear a hat, and you can't because your religion dictates that you must wear another type of headgear, such as a turban, surely, its as simple as 'I cannot do this job because it is against the rules of my religion.'

That's it, its that simple.

No need to change jobs to fit people in, especially when its a case of safety. I'm not saying we shouldn't bend to fit in people of other cultures, but that they know their religion and should not be going for a job that breaks their rules.

There's plenty of hatless jobs out there.

Also, as for carrying a knife, as a religious thing, sorry, no, not even if it is made blunt, if some nutter runs at me with a machete, I'm not gonna stand around to ask him if its a religious symbol or an actual weapon. Again, not aimed at religious people as such, just that anyone can snap under pressure, and I'd prefer that they didn't have easy access to a blade or gun or weaponry of any sort.

Rules are, no weapons at work, anyone arguing that that's a silly rule needs their head checked imo.

 

[luckshot]

in these situations it would seem like both sides making a compromise might work,

not sure what could be done with the turban instead of helmet crowd

as for the, what im assuming are following a religious rule - i forget which about never being caught unarmed again thus the knives...maybe compromise while in school, say a nerf bat?