R-R-R-Re-post! Religious Headwear in SJAM
Posted by Daniel MacEnchroe | Filed under Humour, Interesting, Personal, Political, Rant
Dear Ms. Wilkie,
It is my understanding that Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School has a strict dress regulation regarding hats, visors, and other headwear all of which students are forbidden to wear while inside the school. Quite evidently due to political correctness, articles that are of a religious nature shall be the exception in this ruling. This is where my concern arises, as on a daily basis I am asked to remove my headwear that is linked to my religious views as a Pastafarian (a follower of the Church of FSM) and up to now I have abided your requests and those of other faculty.
I wouldn’t expect you to tell a Jewish student to remove his kippah/yarmulke, or an Muslim female to remove her hijab. If members of one religion are allowed to wear their religious headwear, then it is my understanding that all must be allowed. Although some may not consider the Pastafarians to be a religious group, I cannot imagine that a public school would be in the business of saying what is or is not a religion, and who may and may not publicly display their beliefs. Why is it that when I wear my Scally Cap* in respect of the FSM I am constantly asked to remove it? The decision to exclude members of a religion from displaying their own religious headwear while allowing other individuals to do so is troubling.
Something that may have been at the root of this problem is that I did not formally seek permission/acknowledgment to wear this headwear. Since this may be the case you would be right and we were remiss. Now with the receipt of this letter, what steps must we Pastafarians take to arrange the same permission that allows others to wear their religious headwear? I hope I can work with you to make this happen in a timely fashion.
Thank you for taking the time to address my concerns, and I look forward to speaking to you during our meeting tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Daniel Crowe
*
A scally cap is headwear adorned by 19th century pirates, which has roots dating back as far as 14th century English and Irish history therefore meets the requirements defining it as pirate regalia. According to the Prophet Bobby Henderson (Author, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster), a religious headdress must be worn every day, as it is disrespectful to other Pastafarians and to the deity Flying Spaghetti Monster to teach the ways inscribed within The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster unless adorned in full pirate regalia.
In turn, this qualifies a scally cap to be considered religious headwear. It is understood that Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School has strict dress regulations regarding hats, visors, and other headwear. The appearance code (Page 17, Sir John A. Macdonald Student Planner, 2007) states that “hats and visors are not to be worn in the school…religious head-wear excepted.” Thus, those who practice the teachings of Pastafarianism should be permitted to don a scally cap in observance of their beliefs while being exempt from persecution.
June 26th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
God i love this.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I also love this. How did the meeting go anyways?
September 24th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Randy and my self were explaining this story today to Danny. I always get a chuckle from this.