Giant Affront to Freedom of Religion in Canada

[-1=e^ipi]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/b-c-pastafarian-loses-driver-s-licence-over-holy-colander-hat-1.2041844

A man in surrey has had his driver's license stripped from him because he is required by his faith to wear religious head gear when taking a driver's license photo. This is complete discrimination. Apparently it is okay to wear a turban, hijab or yamaka, but a pastafarian can't wear religious headgear as well? Are only 'mainstream' religious entitled to freedom of religion.

This is a huge outrage!

I wish this pastafarian the best of luck and greatest noodley blessings in his endevours to increase religious freedom in this country.

It is interesting to notice that Texas and Oklahoma have more religious freedom than BC.

Do other posters agree with me, or do you agree with the ICBC?

Edited October 7, 2014 by -1=e^ipi

[Guest]

You gotta love the States!

(from the OP link)

The United States recognizes Pastafarianism as a religion. In January, a town councillor in a New York town was sworn in while wearing a colander on his head.

I'm with you. Somebody get me a placard!

Edited October 7, 2014 by bcsapper

[eyeball]

We can only wish these were the sorts of stories that occupied our days.

Anyways I'm with you and may the sauce be with Obi Canuel.

[On Guard for Thee]

I prefer rastafarianism. The music is pretty good, among other things.

[Michael Hardner]

You gotta love the States!

The United States recognizes Pastafarianism as a religion. In January, a town councillor in a New York town was sworn in while wearing a colander on his head.

I'm with you. Somebody get me a placard!

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that this is a real story - but you really need to provide a link to prove that there is something there. We have too many threads being started with MLW members just posting a link, or a short statement with no link to back it up. Please provide a link thanks.

[Boges]

This story is a few months old.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/pastafarian-fights-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-for-id-photo-1.1960281#

I guess the test of this dudes devotion to his "church" is if he wears the colander everywhere or just where he wants to make a point.

[Mighty AC]

I guess the test of this dudes devotion to his "church" is if he wears the colander everywhere or just where he wants to make a point.

The point is to make a point. The problem is we grant special weight and importance to ideas without evidence and the Pastafarian movement simply exists to highlight how ridiculous this practice is. Which made up crazy rituals and beliefs do we allow to override societal rules and regulations? Where do we draw the line?

[Guest]

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that this is a real story - but you really need to provide a link to prove that there is something there. We have too many threads being started with MLW members just posting a link, or a short statement with no link to back it up. Please provide a link thanks.

I just quoted a passage from the link in the OP.

[cybercoma]

Pastafarianism is not a religion. It's a statement against religion. I'm sure everyone here knows that I'm not at all religious, but I find the situation in the OP utterly disrespectful to those who do have a devotion to their faith. I'm certain Bobby Henderson is embarrassed by idiots like this. It's one thing to try to put an end to teaching creationism over evolution in schools, it's quite another to demand that you have your driver's license photo taken with a colander on your head because a fraction of Muslim women have asked to wear the hijab or al-Amira in their drivers photos. I generally agree that wearing a burqa or niqab in state-issued identification is ridiculous, since the entire point of the ID is to be able to identify you as the person in the picture. Stunts like wearing a colander to your driver's license photo undermines the real issues with religious dogma that are damaging society. Bobby Henderson didn't start this parody because he gave a crap about driver's photos. He started it because the government was supporting an improper education in schools because religious extremists demanded that everyone's kids be taught wrong. Making a statement about driver's license photos in that context is petty and immature.

Edited October 7, 2014 by cybercoma

[Michael Hardner]

I just quoted a passage from the link in the OP.

But you didn't post the link - that's the point.

[bush_cheney2004]

... I'm certain Bobby Henderson is embarrassed by idiots like this.

And I'm equally certain that you do not speak for Bobby Henderson.

[Guest]

But you didn't post the link - that's the point.

Fixed it.

[Michael Hardner]

Pastafarianism is not a religion. It's a statement against religion. I'm sure everyone here knows that I'm not at all religious, but I find the situation in the OP utterly disrespectful to those who do have a devotion to their faith. Making a statement about driver's license photos in that context is petty and immature.

I think it's within somebody's rights to be insulting but to what degree should the state go along with these things, that are created to prove a point ?

I don't really have an answer. It's like people who want to change their names to numbers or racist ephiphets because they have the right to do so.

Furthermore, should we care ?

[Michael Hardner]

Fixed it.

Thanks - I see now that there was a link but it was hidden to me only.

[overthere]

Do other posters agree with me

I'm with you 100%

start a fundraiser and I'll donate at least a penne.

[Big Guy]

If it is true that "the clothes make the man" then perhaps in this case the hat describes the intellect.

I think it suits him very well.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Big Guy

[Mighty AC]

If it is true that "the clothes make the man" then perhaps in this case the hat describes the intellect.

I think it suits him very well.

I think you're on to something here:

[Big Guy]

I think you're on to something here:

..

Nice hat - I agree. But you can't mix a salad in that one.

[Mighty AC]

Agreed...it's more of a fast food hat.

[The_Squid]

Pastafarianism is not a religion. It's a statement against religion. I'm sure everyone here knows that I'm not at all religious, but I find the situation in the OP utterly disrespectful to those who do have a devotion to their faith. I'm certain Bobby Henderson is embarrassed by idiots like this. It's one thing to try to put an end to teaching creationism over evolution in schools, it's quite another to demand that you have your driver's license photo taken with a colander on your head because a fraction of Muslim women have asked to wear the hijab or al-Amira in their drivers photos. I generally agree that wearing a burqa or niqab in state-issued identification is ridiculous, since the entire point of the ID is to be able to identify you as the person in the picture. Stunts like wearing a colander to your driver's license photo undermines the real issues with religious dogma that are damaging society. Bobby Henderson didn't start this parody because he gave a crap about driver's photos. He started it because the government was supporting an improper education in schools because religious extremists demanded that everyone's kids be taught wrong. Making a statement about driver's license photos in that context is petty and immature.

So who are you to tell someone what is or isn't their religion? That's the whole point.

If someone wants to be a Pastafarian, it's not for others to judge.

[guyser]

Nice hat - I agree. But you can't mix a salad in that one.

I bet a few salads have been tossed at some point.

[overthere]

Stunts like wearing a colander to your driver's license photo undermines the real issues with religious dogma that are damaging society.

No, wearing a colander is a gentle way of reminding us what matters in our pluralistic, egalitarian society.

No heads were sawn off in his making that point.

I hope it doesn't ruin the surprise, but I'm going to pass the hat around here this fall and get you a sense of humour for Christmas an upcoming holdiday season.

[Bonam]

No heads were sawn off in his making that point.

Indeed. That's what really matters here, I think. I have a lot more respect for a funny/clever/silly way of making a point like this, rather than the people who are so devoted to their "faith" that they go around killing others to make their point. We'd be a lot better off if all religious people tried to make their points in ways like this.

[cybercoma]

So who are you to tell someone what is or isn't their religion? That's the whole point.

If someone wants to be a Pastafarian, it's not for others to judge.

Because Pastafarianism is not a religion. It's a parody of religion that was invented by Bobby Henderson as criticism against a Kansas school board.

[cybercoma]

Indeed. That's what really matters here, I think. I have a lot more respect for a funny/clever/silly way of making a point like this, rather than the people who are so devoted to their "faith" that they go around killing others to make their point. We'd be a lot better off if all religious people tried to make their points in ways like this.

It's a stupid point that has no relevance whatsoever. Does anyone give a crap about driver's license photos? Is it that much of an issue that as many people as can be counted on one hand have tried to be fully covered in their driver's photos and typically been rejected? The entire reason the Flying Spaghetti Monster was invented was in response to the government allowing schools to teach creationism to all children instead of or alongside evolution.

If you think the issue of headscarves is tantamount to everyone's children being forced to learn religious dogma instead of scientific fact, then I've got news for you.

The statement wasn't witty or relevant at all. It was a ridiculous stunt that confronts something that isn't even an issue.