Earlier on this month, we all probably read about the case of Chris Jarvis, a farther-of-three and an unemployed ex-builder from Southend who received an apology from Jobcentre Plus in the town after he was asked to remove his hood. Mr Jarvis then filled out a complaint form, stating he was a member of the International Church of the Jedi, prompting the manager of the centre, Wendy Flewers to write to him saying:-
“Jobcentre Plus is committed to provide a customer service which embraces diversity and respects a customer’s religion or beliefs.
I would like to apologise… I have spoken to the member of staff and it was not their intention to offend your beliefs.”
Turns out however that the only reason that Mr Jarvis actually took up the Jedi faith was in order to wear his hooded top. He is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying:-
“The main reason is I want to wear my hood up and I have got a religion which allows me to do that.”
That statement actually upsets me, it also makes me a little angry, I know it shouldn’t but it does. Why do I fell like that, well basically it upsets me because it trivialises people of all religions, it demeans us. My personal Faith is deeply personal to me and it means a great deal, I take it very seriously, and for him to come out with a statement like this is, I think is highly offensive to people of all Faiths, it makes a mockery of all of us.
To add insult to injury, it isn’t like he was wearing specifically a Jedi robe, it was a generic hoodie, beg me if I am wrong but I don’t think Yoda wore Nike. From watching his interview on ITV news, he comes across as a thug, I know I shouldn’t say that, but that’s what he comes across as, and he is using the excuse of “religion” to justify disobeying the rules.
But what really upsets me is what he goes on to say about two other Faith communities, the Sikhs and the Muslims. In the Mail he is quoted as saying:-
“Someone with their own religious views is allowed to wear what their religion says - the Sikhs are able to carry a great big dagger. My religion allows me to wear my hood.”
And in the Sun, he is quoted as saying:-
“I was just standing up for my beliefs. Muslims can walk around in whatever religious gear they like, so why can’t I?”
S
o this guy is saying that a fantasy made up by George Lucas, is equivalent to a beautiful 1,400 year old religion like Islam, and wearing a hooded top is the equivalent of wearing a hijab! You really could not make this stuff up. But it does strike me as really offensive to Muslims and Sikhs, I have never meet a Sikh in my life, whom is a Sikh, just so they can carry a knife around, rather most Sikhs will go out of their way to reassure people that the Kirpan is not a weapon, one Sikh friend told me many of them couldn’t cut melted butter.
Hooded tops are an issue in society today because some people use them to mask their identity whilst they commit anti-social behaviour, so naturally some places ask people not to wear hoods, it no different to me having to remove my motorbike helmet when I go into a bank. And if he wants to use Sikhs as an example of someone wearing special religious clobber and refusing to remove it, perhaps he would be wise to wonder what they down when they fly. All the Sikhs I know put it in their luggage, they don’t like it, but know it has to be done.
Now I am a big Sci-Fi geek, and I love Star Wars, but if this “Jedi” is so insistent on wearing his hood all the time, would he mind explaining to me why did Yoda, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon remove their hoods for most of the Star Wars films. About a year ago Daniel Jones, the 23 year old founder of the International Church of the Jedi, was asked by staff at his local Tesco store to remove his hood, when he kicked up a fuss and got in the paper, They had a very good response:-
“He hasn’t been banned. Jedi’s are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood.
If Jedi walk around our stores with their hoods on, they’ll miss lots of special offers.”
A perfect response to the ridiculous. It all sort of reminds me of 30 Rock, check out these two scenes to see what I mean.
Right ok that rant is almost over, but I must ask, how can Mr. Jarvis be a Jedi, when Jedi’s are forbidden from relationships and sex, when he is a married farther-of-three, and you can’t decide to be a Jedi, the films are quite clear, Jedi’s are born, not made!
Sorry for the rant.
God Bless
Michael
