WASHINGTON, Apr 16, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The U.S. Army should respect the beliefs of two new Sikh recruits and not make them cut their beards and hair, a Sikh group says.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-news/24630-u-s-army-asked-respect-sikh.html
The national civil rights group, Sikh Coalition, is supporting U.S. Army Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, a doctor, and 2nd Lt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, in the recruits' attempt to keep their beards, long hair and turbans, CNN said Thursday.
Both men are practicing members of the Sikh faith and are attempting to avoid violating their beliefs when they report for active duty in July.
"It doesn't make sense to me, especially in these hard times," Kalsi said in reference to the Army's demands. "The military is hurting for professionals. They need doctors, they need nurses."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24630
Sikh Coalition head Amardeep Singh told CNN the Army's requests represent a prevailing discrimination against Sikhs that he feels has been present in U.S. society since the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
"The perception is still there," Singh said of society's view of traditionalist Sikhs as possible terrorists. "We're sort of still feeling it."
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U.S. Army asked to respect Sikh Beliefs 
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