Sikh student sues U.S. Army over ROTC rejection
Why does everyone sue every body?
A Hofstra University student who is Sikh has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army, alleging it won’t allow him to join the campus ROTC unit unless he shaves his beard, cuts his hair and removes his turban — all requirements of his religion.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Iknoor Singh, 19, a Hofstra sophomore and Queens native fluent in four languages who hopes to become a military intelligence officer.
The lawsuit argues that the Army’s denial of a religious exemption for Singh violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which provides heightened legal protections for religious exercise.
Sikhism — which says it is the world’s fifth-largest organized religion, with origins in the 1400s — requires its male followers to grow their hair and beards long and cover their heads with a turban.
Singh is requesting an exemption from Army regulations that typically mandate short hair and clean-shaven faces.
A spokeswoman for the Army, Lt. Col. Alayne Conway, said it does not comment on specifics of pending litigation.
In general, Conway said, the grooming regulations are in place to ensure the safety of soldiers and their units. In cases of combat, where a soldier might need to wear a gas mask, the exception may not be allowed, she said.
Exceptions are granted by a soldier’s immediate commander and are considered on a case-by-case basis, she said.
What happened to separation of Church and State?
What do you think? Go to our poll!
via www.newsday.com
Sikh student sues U.S. Army over ROTC rejection!
A Hofstra University student who is Sikh has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army, alleging it won’t allow him to join the campus ROTC unit unless he shaves his beard, cuts his hair and removes his turban — all requirements of his religion.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Iknoor Singh, 19, a Hofstra sophomore and Queens native fluent in four languages who hopes to become a military intelligence officer.
Why does everyone sue every body? Because they can! If we put serious limitations on what is considered to be acceptable in the courts and more importantly serious limits on payouts, you will see far less law suits. The “Ambulance Chasers” are the worst and they are the real reason why the Health Care System is in such dire straights! By the time you finish filling out the books of information that they present you with, and signing and initialing each and every document, you can drop dead from exhaustion. Imagine being in your 80’s or 90’s and having to go through this procedure before any medical personnel are able to treat you?? My mother is 80 and she had to do this while losing a tremendous amount of blood! They make everyone do it regardless of how serious their conditions. That’s right!! I would love to sue all of the greedy, slimy Ambulance Chaser Lawyers who all seem to work in Madmenhattan!! š
Agreed! Are you here to fight/work for our country or to rape it? You are already getting a free college education, I’m sure! We all become one in a military uniform. Grow a pair and remove religion from your goal of serving….if that’s what you really want to do. It sounds like you don’t but would rather file frivolous lawsuits for more money. Actually, you disgust me!
He can’t work in the oilfields where there is sour gas either. So get over it…..choose between religion and what you want to do in life with your own imposed restrictions.
If you don’t like the laws of the United States of America, then go home!! Nobody is stopping you and someone else will be more than happy to take advantage of the Free Ride! š I am so sick of this Country giving out free rides and rolling out the red carpet for the most useless individuals and then instead of being grateful, they sue, complain, or take even further advantage. Enough is enough! š
Who Says You Can’t Go Home? No one = So go home already!! š