Good post, RObert, and I'd fully agree if it wasn't for the fact that Sikhs are, as far as I know, willing to carry the kirpan as a symbol only and that they would agree to carrying BLUNT kirpans.

If people are permitted to carry sharp knives and swords for recreational (fishing, scouting), sport (martial arts), then it seems unfair to me that Sikhs can't carry a safely concealed BLUNT kirpan just because their reason is a religious reason rather than recreational.

Unless I'm convinced that a very blunt kirpans can do serious damage I can't really see a problem with them carrying one.
I do, however, see some practical problems and if these can't be resolved in a satisfactory manner I'll be eating my words-again.

As I said in my 1st post (A+ for that one?) that the community's safety always must come first. But... (back to D-)...
if there is no threat to others' safety I can't see why there could not be some flexibility and balance from both sides.

Is a blunt kirpan carried as a symbol-only really going to endanger others?

The only other religious group I know about to be exempted from the weapons law are the Knights of Columbus, and their (sharp) swords are said to be ceremonial-only (I think).

Frank, 'I've shown you my sources. Will ye now show me thine?' - you only pointed me to one source, a BBC page. Not very reliable.

Refer to the 'Scottish Banner' monthly newsheet. 'The Complete Book of Tartan' by Iain Zaczek and Charles Phillips.
Also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_kilt

Happy Solstice.

Jack the Lad

I pointed to two sources, not one:
1. 'The Invention of Tradition' by Eric Hobsbawm and Terence Ranger and
2. BBC Reith lectures by Prof Anthony Giddens (1999).
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week3/week3.htm)

You say the BBC page is 'not very reliable'. The BBC is regarded as the pre-eminent world broadcaster and the Reith Lecture Series is one of the most prestigious public lecture series. Only the most eminent scholars are invited to present them. Professor Anthony Giddens would rank among the top two or three sociologists in the UK. Formerly Professor at Cambridge, he is the Director of the London School of Economics. His series of Reith Lectures are now published in book form ("Runaway World: How Globalisation is Reshaping Our Lives").

How you could prefer the anonymous Wikipedia to the Reith Lectures is beyond ken.
That anyone could rate the Scottish Banner above the BBC beggars belief.

'The Complete Book of Tartan' by Iain Zaczek and Charles Phillips is a lovely book but it can hardly be called an in-depth historical analysis of the origins of Scottish cultural traditions.

'The Invention of Tradition' by Eric Hobsbawm and Terence Range is, by contrast, regarded as the authoritative text on the concept of national tradition. Hobsbawm is regarded as "arguably our greatest living historian -- not only Britain's, but the world's." [The Spectator]. Hobsbawm has been Professor at London and Stanford. He is fluent in five languages and reads three others. Not a lightweight.

Having said that, your preferred Wikipedia article concedes my main points anyway. "It was only with the Romantic Revival of the 19th century that the kilt became irreversibly associated with Highlanders, and was subsequently adopted by Lowlanders and the Scottish Diaspora."

There you find reference to Rawlinson the English manufacturer who has claim to being the one who imposed the kilt on his factory workers.

The main point, however, is that cultural and national traditions aren't all they're cracked up to be. And comparing national costume with religious symbols is fraught.

A Happy Solstice to you too.

Here's a turnip for the books!

Jack citing Wikipedia? HO HO HO!

Turning into a "dumbed-down syndromer" Jack?
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=1180#21555
This has made my Christmas.

I ceased engaging with Jack the Lad once I realised that his brain works differently to ours. Accepted rules of logic and verification of information don't apply with Jack.

Frankly, I couldn't be bothered arguing with anybody who doesn't know what an argument is.

And I remain convinced that Jack the Lad is as short of stature as his nickname suggests :)

Bugsy, I just looked at your link - touche!

This guy's just a clown, and that's a compliment ;)