It is clear that in Ireland, many locals and large sections of the  media aren’t very sure whether a member of the Garda Síochána reserve force should be allowed to wear a turban while on duty.Emerging reports and ground level  experience show that for a country still not fully sure how to deal with the massive influx of new cultures - with their different religions - that  the last few years have brought, the locals were comfortable in their homogeneity, their ninety-something per cent Catholicism; their  acceptance of prayers before school classes, before County Council meetings, their days off for Catholic Church holy days - albeit only for  those in the public sector. But that is another story. Now, the Garda Síochána have gone all out to recruit non-nationals to the police, in a bid to make it more inclusive, and to make it a force that has the ability to enter into discourse with Ireland’s new communities.

But with it comes the question of how to address questions such as that of the Sikh Garda who wishes to wear his turban. And if the decision to ban him from wearing the turban does become reversed, some of the sections comfortable with the  existing homogeneity will be quick to fire a query whether one day they will have to see a female Gardaí going around wearing the burqa. Clearly, most such questions come from the paradigm of a deep rooted comfort with the way things are, rather than a desire that the things must change to soak in new realities. One Irish paper has written that “one cannot deny that one feels some sympathy for this devout new Garda who is anxious to stand up for his faith, and who is proud enough to wish to demonstrate overtly that he is of that faith. But can we say it’s okay for him to wear a turban - but not ok for a member of the Garda Siochána to have their face veiled while on duty?

However it is now being pointed out that if there is to be this outright ban on religious dress while on duty, it should, equally, affect Christian members of An Garda Síochána.” The challenge before the local community whom the Garda polices is that if the state is to ban its Sikh employees from wearing the  turban, should there not now also be a ban  on those who wish to wear a crucifix, a pioneer pin, shamrock on St.Patrick’s Day, or even to have ashes daubed on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday.

It is a difficult question,  because, with all due respect to theCatholic Church, we do tend to feel quite comfortable with what might in common parlance be termed “the devil you know”, and most native Irish people - even if non-practising, or agnostic, or atheistic themselves - have little difficulty with Catholics choosing to display outward symbols of their faith. Some would ask if, in Ireland’s bid to become all things to all men, there is a danger that the Irish will end up sacrificing all that has been dear to them. Already, in the UK, the trend of not recognizing Christmas as a Christian festival is widespread. On the other hand, for too long, Ireland was bedeviled by sectarianism. The  partition of Ireland, in the words ofJames Connolly, created a “carnival of reaction” with predominately Protestant six-counties and markedly Catholic Southern Ireland both alienating minority communities.  Now that peace is beginning to reign on the island - sectarianism is  thankfully on the decline.

It should be careful not to return to the past and impose the restrictions of a Catholic State on newcomers and  non-believers alike. How far do the Irish go in abandoning their own traditions must not be confused with  how far the state must be ready to absorb and accommodate the immigrant who is keen to become an equal partner in its prosperity and is  equally proud of wearing its colors.

Thankfully, the response of the Sikh community has been very balanced and understanding, and its resolve to work out a solution not by protests and sloganeering but through discussions and working jointly with none other than the Irish  themselves is sure to win the day for both sides. Remember, just like the Sikhs, the Irish have fought and won a hard battle for their own culture and identity and hold many a lessons for the Sikhs who could learn a thing or two from a fellow brave community.

On its part, the Sikhs have been pulling out all stops  to integrate themselves with the local community. Recently, the Irish Sikh Community had participated at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, one of the most celebrated  events in Ireland. The Sikh pageant was organised by Irish Sikh Council. With the theme of the parade being ‘Legendaries’, the Sikh community pageant was titled “Portraits of Courage” displaying the sheer valour and the vibrant cultural beauty that  marked the golden era of Sikh rule in Punjab.The two hour parade route was flocked by millions of spectators. The Parade, kick-started at  Parnell Square, was also watched by Honourable President Mrs Mary McAleese and Prime Minister Mr Bertie Ahern. It drew over half million spectators  and was broadcast live in Ireland and Germany.