Today’s High Court judgement in favour of ‘proud Welsh and Punjabi Sikh’ schoolgirl Sarika Singh, banned by the governors of Aberdare Girls’ Comprehensive School from wearing the Kara, a wrist bangle and a traditional Sikh religious symbol, is another ‘one in the eye’ for New Labour’s sense of Britishness.
The ‘Britishness’ agenda, dreamt up by Gordon Brown’s spin machine is designed to bolster a rapidly evaporating sense of British identity and is specifically aimed at trying to combat the growing sense of national identity in Wales and Scotland. Measures proposed by the unfortunate former Home Secretary David Blunkett and more recently by Brown himself include compulsory English language tests for immigrants and bizarre ceremonies involving the swearing fealty to the English crown on an altar draped in the union flag.
In 2007 Miss Singh of Cwmbach near Aberdare, refused to remove her bangle at the behest of Aberdare Girls’ School officials (school motto ‘Oni Heuir Ni Fedir’ -’Unless you sow, you shall not reap’) and was subsequently ‘permanently excluded’ from the school.
Rejecting the school’s claim that Sarika’s bangle could be seen as a “symbol of affluence,” the presiding judge, Mr Justice Silber, ruled that Aberdare Girls’ School was guilty of indirect discrimination under current race relations and equality laws. Miss Singh’s case was championed by South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood, and Liberty, an organisation campaigning for the protection of civil liberties and human rights.
The whole incident just shows how out of touch school officials in Labour dominated areas of Wales are. Last month children from a primary school in the Rhondda were forced by teachers to appear in what has been described as a ‘North Korean-style demonstration’ to welcome Prince William ‘Wales’ when he visited a local project as part of the current royal PR offensive, ‘Operation PW’. It also shows how one brave young woman can stand up to an outmoded and decaying system and win.
A ‘spokesperson’ for Rhondda Cynon Taf council said today that the council would “be working with the school’s governing body to ensure Sarika Singh’s continued education”. The episode is surely a wake-up call for those unable to face existing realities in the so-called ‘Labour heartlands’ to accept the fact that the new Wales is very far indeed from the British unionist paradise of the post-war period.
Comments
I am most concerned that Christian symbols might also be banned by New Labour in their drive for ‘Britishness’ and uniformity. The lady who worked for British Airways and was sacked for wearing a cross is a perfect example of what these people have in mind. Let us not forget that Christianity is the cornerstone of European civilisation.
Wales is changing, and we must accommodate all faiths. Any attempt by these politicians to separate Welsh people from the symbols of their various faiths in the interests of vague notions of ‘Britishness’ must be opposed and fought as bravely as did the young lady Sarika Singh.
Your article mentioned Gordon Brown’s repugnant and blasphemous idea of draping altars with the Union Jack and forcing people to swear oaths upon them. This very flag (known in Ireland with due justification as “The Butcher’s Apron”) is now seen by many in Wales as being quite as culturally offensive as the swastika banner of Nazi Germany when flown over the public buildings of the countries of occupied Europe more than half a century ago.
Idwal, Idwal, Idwal!
Wipe that foam off your mouth at once . . . or I’ll have to take you away.
The man in a white coat
The case was decided on the basis of an Act of parliament passed in 1976 by a Labour government. I think Clive that you should read Robert Hazell’s interesting article in yesterday’s Guardian to see that even independence for Scotland is not as easy as some Nats try to make out. I thought that his comments regarding the number of treaties etc required in the breakup of Czechoslovakia was really interesting.
Hazells’ article is perfectly sound from the perspective of constitutional law – as indeed one would expect it to be. But I cannot help thinking that these are but pedantic niceties. Parnell’s words were indeed prophetic: “No man has the right to fix the boundary of a nation.
No man has the right to say to his country, “Thus far shalt thou go and no further.” Words which are true not only of his own Ireland but of all nations who have set out upon the path towards self-determination ever since. History has taught that devolution leads in one direction, and one direction only.
As Scotland and Wales determine, each in their own time and in their own way, to move forward to independence, treaties and legalistic accommodations will be reached as rapidly as their respective situations determine. Should the diktats and legal obfuscations of decaying imperialism try to stand in their way, then, no doubt, more traditional means of achieving self-determination will be employed.
Both the powdered wigs and the slick-suited bureaucrats of Whitehall should never forget that these are the very last days of Great Britain’s ‘Great Game’ – for the ‘game’ is finally up.
Facing up to reality, without causing turmoil and bloodshed, is perhaps the last duty what remains of the British Empire owes the world.
Reading the good Reverend latest epistle it looks as if LSD is still a potent influence on nationalist thinking in the Western world.
Leave the poor mad Reverend alone you bastards. The man deserves a medal! (For what I’m not sure – but I’m sure it involves much pain and horses).
Looks like there’s a few Labour Brown-nosers on here….
No, Dai, we’re just not all Nats.
I am glad that there are those who neither mock a man in his twilight years, nor condemn him for speaking the truth. There is an old African proverb: ‘Respect the old, for they have seen with the eyes of the morning.’ Thank you all for your respect.
I will not, however, cease preaching the cause of a free Wales, and opposing the cant and hypocrisy of her enemies, until age begins to wither and my digits can no longer dance across the keyboards.
I can assure those of a modern persuasion that I take no drug other than the very occasional medicinal draught of what is widely known as ‘the water of life’ (incidentally the English word ‘Usk’ is a derivative of the old Celtic term).
With respect. I Lloyd-Price
Good on you Reverend.
I don’t think signing a few treaties with the Brits will stop Scotland from inevitably gaining its freedom, Jeff bach. Czechoslovakia, the USSR, Yugoslavia, etc. are now in the dustbin of history, soon to be joined by your dear old Blighty. Alba gu Brath.