A ruling from the Human Rights Commission has decided that a Sikh man is being discriminated against because of his religion. Ontario Traffic Law requires everyone to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle but he was wearing a turban, so he got a ticket:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/303897
What I don't understand is that no one has a 'right' to ride a motorcycle in Ontario at all! If you want to ride one, you must get a licence. No licence, no motorcycle. No one forced him to ride the motorcycle, he chose to and that choice means that he is required to follow the law.
Now, one could argue that he should be given the choice to ride with or without a helmet. After all, it's his life and if he sustains a head injury while riding, that's his perogative. However, in Canada, we have free health care. So, if he gets an injury that a helmet could have prevented, all the taxpayers are forced to pay for his negligence. A cost that could have been avoided if he simply wore his helmet!
Societies have a right to establish certain laws to protect its citizens (even from their own negligence) and these laws have to apply to everyone. We can't allow people to claim exemptions based on their religion! This isn't discrimination. People choose their religion (or choose NOT to have one) and they must weigh their choice against the laws of society.
I remember muslim women complaining that they had a right to be completely veiled when casting their votes. But how can their photo-ID be verified if they refuse to unveil themselves? Sorry, NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RELIGIONS! Society's laws trump silly religious rituals, every time.
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