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SnakeladyGreta has made a comment on your video: LONG HAIR DISCRIMINATION. WRONG!!!:
Hey, my bf gave me an idea... you could claim your religion requires you to have long hair (research which one you'd like to "claim") and then you can't be discriminated again... because it would be religious discrimination. :)
Hi all! :-)
Leave it to someone on You Tube to come up with something like this. These people are both long haired chemists and most likely have thought-this-out to the best of their ability. Of course, they are not Lawyers...........but still, what a completely novel way to give the Long Hair discrimination employers a run for their money. I feel THIS ONE would really take just about ANY possible "to be employer" off-guard but good. Yes, I know...........so much to prove perhaps. But still, what fun to take the wind out of discrimination sails. Hope you enjoyed reading it.
Justin~
A long time ago I suggested this on this board, and was (rightly, I think) rebuked by a number of others. Yes, it's a way of making sure nobody discriminates against you, but it isn't fair to the religion concerned, followers of which may feel that their deeper beliefs are being belittled.
There are two ways in which I would go along with it
a) where the person concerned is willing to accept all that goes with theb particular belief and become a genuine follower of it
or
b) where the retort is on the basis that the person making the retort is a follower of a "belief in long hair".
I'm sure that b) is really what's meant here, but it could be misunderstood.
Hppy growing, fellow hair believers!
There is a religion devoted to Long Hair. It's by a guy called the Reverend Erik of HAIR RELIGION who has a website. Apparently he actually registered the religion.
I do agree that to claim to be this or that belief system (eg. Rastafarian, Sikh, Pagan, etc) it is essential to actually practice and believe in the beliefs of that said established religion and not just use it as a cover.
I cannot be a Rastafarian because I prefer not to smoke Ganja (for health reasons) and I believe that particular religion has a very strong emphasis on the sacred herb and the cult of the Ethiopian Emperor - and I don't smoke anymore -anyway I agree 100% with being respectful and genuine if you claim a particular religion.
The best long haired religion is Shamanism which is worldwide and as far as I know very long hair friendly - North American Indians in particular.
Duncan
Indeed praise be to Erik.
Definitely praise be to Erik! I've not looked at Shamanism. Wikipedia calls!
How thin or strong are the claims of believers in established religions that they can use their adherence to a religion as an excuse?
Also, (especially in my case) "religion" can be separate from a "belief system" and can exist merely as ritual (as explained on my site).
But, in the end it sort of comes down if the person providing the resistance to your hair is willing to give any ground to you regardless of your reasons for making your own appearance choices. Many who make a stink about it are not, but some will if you provide even a basic idea/reason behind it demonstrating that it's a conscious choice you've made and not just a case of being a lazy or broke guy who keeps forgetting to cut his hair.
Talk about hair believers. I can write science fictions stories that takes place on another planet aout societies that take hair discrimination to weird levals and I have written some in the past.
Birdman
I agree with what bte said. Even though Im an athiest I still believe that just saying something like that to take advantage of the religeon if you arent a part of it is wrong.
Also, this WOULD be a hell of a lot easier than my plan to find some unclaimed land and creating a new country (even though over time that would probably end up the same as everywhere else)
If you are to go this route, the techniques (arguments, etc.) that work best for you and those which work best for your opponent are best spelled out on conscientious objector web sites. You would be best off if you acquaint yourself with the experiences who have traveled this road before.
Yes, the U.S. has no military draft now, but extensive wrangling with how courts answer questions such as "what is a religion", "is this your religion", and "what are actually its beliefs" has already been done and has been documented by such organizations. Learning what to say and what not to say (pitfalls) is essential to prevailing if your opponent mounts a forceful legal defense in court. Those web sites also mention how to "build your case", something best done before the problem lands on your doorstep. For example, people who do not share your beliefs but have known you a long time and that you have those beliefs make better witnesses than those who share your beliefs. This is the kind of information that research will give you.
Also, learn what to say or not to say from the outset. People will believe you if you say you are hungry today even if you said you were not hungry yesterday, but this won't happen with statements about your religion. You can't easily take back things you've said earlier about your religion since religion is viewed as a long-term situation.
Bill
what has military draft got to do with it? When the english wanted the indians to help them in india they 'allowed' sihks (long haired with turbans) to retain their long hair and turbans (as it was their religion) BECAUSE they needed them, so even military can and will change WHEN they need you
religious beliefs seem to be acceptable when human beliefs are not imo and shows you how some are bullies and, in a situation of power, they act upon it
Because the issue to get out of the draft was "is military service against your religion", just as the issue in this thread is "is having long hair part of your religion". Many more claims regarding military service have been litigated than have claims regarding long hair, so how courts will deal with this issue is heavily revealed by how they've dealt with conscientious objector cases.
Bill
Bigotry usually brings on hatred and violence weather you are long or shorthaired, gay or strait, black or white. It is all self righteous malarky anyways. If you lose your job because you have long hair and that happened to me one time, it is a form of bigotry
Birdman
Hi Justin,
Interesting post about dealing with the discrimination of longhairs but I myself would not go this route.I would prefer to be upfront and state that I prefer my hair long just like some ladies do and it won't affect my work as it doesn't affect the ladies work.If they couldn't live with that then I know I'd be unhappy working for this employer who forced me into a haircut just to get his stinking job.You could already see that my enthusiasm would be out the window on day one.So best for me to move on to the next employer until I came across one that appreciates what I know more that why my hair is down my back:)Cheers
Mark
sad but true - religious beliefs take precedence over common sense and equality
become a Kalsha Sihk or a Pagan or a Heathen (Hail Thor!)
I'd use that and see what they said, haha.
Btw, I saw your video and then saw the guys video about long hair sexism. It was very good and he brings up a lot of good points.