When is a knife not a knife?

[MSTRS:Me]

But it seems everyone is afraid these days of offending people.

Unless they are WASPs....

[vifferman]

When it's a spoon, of course!

[BIGBOSSMAN]

I am of English heritage, is it ok for me to equip my 13 year old with this? It is culturally important to me

[Storm]

So I guess all our brown brothers will be taking a 22cm greenstone patu to school/work as its a culturally significant thing, and it'd be wrong to be so crass as to suggest its a FUCKING GREAT WEAPON which could easily be used in schoolyard/workplace arguments.

Not to mention being illegal as a) a concealed weapon and b) an offensive lethal weapon

Never mind, we must bend over backwards in case someone gets in a cultural huff

After all as they say its "It is an instrument which adds to self-respect and self-defence"

Thus, if I feel threatened, its culturally appropriate to knife/club my attacker.

And people wonder why this country is heading for the shitter

[Mikkel]

I'll never get the whole airport security thing.

They can get their knickers in a twist about you having a fucking nail clipper in your carry-on luggage. Yet, after having cleared the security point you can walk 25 meters and buy a bigass glass bottle filled with a readily flammable concentration of ethanol (and cheaper than usual as well). Bloody madness!

But with the Sikhs - by all means let them carry their knives everywhere, they can walk for all I care, though I'd prefer them not to carry them around schools.
What's the next thing? Believing in gun-power and being allowed to carry a Desert Eagle? Then I'd like to claim cultural relations with pikemen and lug a bloody pike on board... Or how about worshipping violence and always carry two sets of knuckledusters?

[gijoe1313]

I guess I can dig my Tai Chi sword out of the closet and start carrying it around as my cultural object!

Would be bad I guess if I met a Japanese person possessing a katana and neither of us felt like giving way!

[P38]

I would go for a Claymore myself, a little more intimidating.

I agree, being able to trace my clan back to the ninth centry I feel it is cultrally insensitive of you lot not to let me Paint my face blue don our tartan and carry my claymore an dirk to the supermarket for a little chopping errr Shopping.

[Donor]

I guess I can dig my Tai Chi sword out of the closet and start carrying it around as my cultural object!

Dude, I keep telling you, that's a letter opener, you're not authentic asian enough to carry a sword!

[gijoe1313]

Dude, I keep telling you, that's a letter opener, you're not authentic asian enough to carry a sword!

Just because I didn't eat my household pets does not make me "not authentic"

I have an abiding passion to leap up and do round house kicks, the need to speak out of time when I am speaking engrisk, to always squint and nod sagely when white skinned devils are speaking, to always pull out in front of traffic and then drive slowly, the need to always wonder whether I am being ripped off even though I have bargained a shopowner below the cost he got the goods in for, to dial a cellphone and then hang up quickly so I can save the cost of a call when the other person rings me back, to....

I say too much! Damn you white big-eyed devil!

[sAsLEX]

I agree, being able to trace my clan back to the ninth centry I feel it is cultrally insensitive of you lot not to let me Paint my face blue don our tartan and carry my claymore an dirk to the supermarket for a little chopping errr Shopping.

ummm the blue face painting thing wasn't a highland/braveheart era thing but attributed to the Picts and the last known face painting was around 600.....

[Swoop]

the last known face painting was around 600.....

You haven't been to the Auckland zoo recently then? Face painting is popular there!
(ok, it's with kiddies... lame joke. I'll get my coat.)

[Storm]

I'll never get the whole airport security thing.

They can get their knickers in a twist about you having a fucking nail clipper in your carry-on luggage. Yet, after having cleared the security point you can walk 25 meters and buy a bigass glass bottle filled with a readily flammable concentration of ethanol (and cheaper than usual as well). Bloody madness!

Dont forget the knives they give you in flight that are easily strong enough to be used as a stabbing weapon-just like the nail file they wont allow?

WTF?

[geoffm]

I carried a pocket knife every day when I was at school, which was over 20 years ago. It was naughty then too, but as long as you didn't flash it around...
I suspect things have got somewhat tougher since, and slicing an apple will get you a police escort (unless you have a turban)

[Chrislost]

Sikh also qualify for cycle helmet exemptions... as do rastas. Possily even motorcycle helmet exemption if they were to apply.

hang them all

[Wolf]

Sikh also qualify for cycle helmet exemptions... as do rastas. Possily even motorcycle helmet exemption if they were to apply.

Sikhs can also get dispensation to cut their hair if it is required. I have a Sikh friend who has neatly cut short hair but is still a devout Sikh - he works for IRD and chooses to adhere to the work dress code rather than make them accept his cultural/religious attire.

He has a neatly trimmed full beard in accordance with their beliefs but keeps the hair neat and short - there is apparently no stigma attached to cutting their hair if conditions (riding a push bike or a motorcycle included) dictate short hair.