![\"sikhtrio\"](\"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sikhtrio.jpg\")
In an era in which US military claims the only thing people need in order to serve is the ability to, a swath of American Sikhs is still left wondering, “What about us?”<\/p>\nIn an era in which US military claims the only thing people need in order to serve is the ability to, a swath of American Sikhs is still left wondering, “What about us?”<\/p>\n
In recent “gay pride” celebrations, senior leaders have repeated the mantra that because homosexuals sacrificed and fought in war zones<\/strong>, they earned<\/em> the right to serve — even if they had been\u00a0violating\u00a0military regulations\u00a0or moral standards.<\/p>\n Whether you agree with that logic or not, Sikhs have a far stronger case, having “openly” sacrificed and fought <\/strong>in the US military for decades until uniform changes in the early 1980s essentially forced them out.<\/p>\n Similarly, when the ban on service by open homosexuals was lifted, the reasoning said they shouldn’t have to choose<\/strong> between serving their country and “who they loved.” There is no constitutionally-protected right, of course, to being able to “love” whomever you want.<\/p>\n By contrast, there remains in place a ban on those who have to choose<\/strong> between serving their country and their religious faith — something that is<\/em> a constitutionally-protected right.<\/p>\n Likewise, the acceptance of homosexuality in the US military required an acceptance of previously banned conduct<\/em>. Acceptance of Sikhs requires only an acceptance of appearance<\/em>.<\/p>\n Finally, the US military is on the cusp of letting US troops wear whatever gender-specific uniforms they want, as well as behave in a manner consistent with whichever gender they choose.<\/p>\n With such liberating, “tolerant,”\u00a0and open-minded policies,\u00a0why can’t Sikhs serve, too?<\/p>\n According to the last op-ed on the subject, written by Ajit Maan at Foreign Policy<\/a>, the barrier to Sikh service isn’t morality, logistics, conduct, or any other rational policy.<\/p>\n It is nothing more than looks.<\/p>\n So what is the real reason behind the ban? I suggest that it is the lack of visual conformity that Sikhs represent.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n If the US military can affirmatively permit — even seeming to promote the virtue of — homosexuality within its ranks, or if the US military can support the open service of a man in a dress, surely it can get past a guy in a turban.<\/p>\n Bias based on looks, after all, is the lowest form of discrimination, and according to<\/a> Secretary of Defense Ash Carter,<\/p>\n Discrimination of any kind has no place in America\u2019s armed forces\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It would seem Secretary Carter would support Sikhs serving openly in the US military.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n