(Photo via Newsgroup Newspapers)
Tesco Supermarket has been accused of religious discrimination after banning a Jedi Knight for wearing a hood. Daniel Jones — leader of the UK’s first Jedi Church — was branded a security risk and ejected by three staff after refusing to remove his hoodie at a Tesco in Bangor, North Wales.
A Tesco spokesman said: “We would ask Jedi to remove hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all went hoodless without going to the Dark Side.”
Read more about it here:
Tesco Supermarket Bans Jedi Knight (via The Sun)
Wow, we really need to stay focused in reality. I hope they asked politely to remove the hood. Also One could argue that women from India who wear the head coverings. If they were asked to remove them would it be any different? Only if Jedi was a recognized religion. Got to love the UK Jedi. : ) May the Force be with you in court.
Okay, I know I’m going to make somebody mad by saying this. But I’m going to say it anyway.
I have been a Star Wars movie since seeing the original at the age of 14 when it came out in 1977. I love all the movies, I’ve read most of the books, I even have more than a few collectibles that I’ve accumulated over the years. That said, I recognize that Star Wars is just ENTERTAINMENT. These people that have turned it into a religion kind of scare me, the same way the really deep into it Trekkies always used to scare me. They seem to take it one step too far, it seems to me. And they give those of us who enjoy it but not with the same all-encompassing devotion look bad.
I’ve known a lot of people over the years who liked SW, ST, and other science fiction movies, books, et al, but were afraid to admit it in “mixed company” because they were concerned about being labeled by those who see science fiction fans only in terms of those Trekkies I mentioned before. Mind you, I’m not putting those fans down for their devotion; better that they devote their energies to something positive like being fans of a science fiction franchise than something more self-destructive. But at the same time it bothers me the extremes some of them take this devotion to.
I know I’m not expressing this very well and I apologize for this. Like I said, I’m a fan, too. But it’s stories like this that make the rest of the world paint all science fiction fans with such a broad brush.
Seriously though, anyone who would claim religious discrimination over a religion that they made up and then appointed themselves the leader of deserves to be mocked thoroughly and consistently until the end of time.
Lots of places have rules about covering your face and head for security reasons since it prevents the cameras getting a clear view of people. People like Muslims are excepted because they actually belong to a real religion where covering your face may be a genuine requirement. They’re not just living their lives like it’s some bizarre extended game of fancy-dress. And even if shops wanted to ban everyone from covering their heads, the current law would prevent them, which is why they don’t and instead enforce the rule where it does apply, such as in this case.
And when you’ve got Tesco making sarcastic comments about you (and apparently with a better knowledge of Star Wars than you), I think it’s time to just accept you’re a living joke and move on. The frightening thing is that people like this utter div come to represent SW fans in the public’s mind and we’re all somewhat tarred with the same idiot-brush.
It’s also worth pointing out that Jedi aren’t required to always wear robes, as seen in the prequels – some hardly ever do. They’re also not required to wear their hoods up in public, and if you think about it they probably wouldn’t want to do that anyway given that they’re keepers of the peace. They want to look good, open and honest, not shifty. They may or may not wear hoods in public, and if they’re indoors then they may well not. And if it was the custom of the establishment to request hoods not be worn, I think a real Jedi would respect that as a mark of civility/common courtesy, instead of being a belligerent jackass.
In short, if you’re a member of the ‘Jedi Church’ and it’s not just for a laugh and it’s something you take seriously then you must have some serious issues, both mental and personal.
I’d found the church of “Space” Ace Frehley myself and try walking into a grocery store with a smoke-emitting guitar and scream “discrimination” when they toss me out,only I’m useless in plattform boots…
I couldn’t have said it better m’self, Cap’n Yoss!
Let’s hope Robbie Williams does NOT find out about the Jedi church…
C’mon…. one thing is FANDOM, one thing is SICKNESS!
And you what the Silly “Jedi Church” is SICKNESS! He really needs a good Reallity Check.
He got out, because of his bad attitude towards security rules.
I agree with ED JARA and Captain Yoss.
A “Jedi Church” is very far out from reality and I would hate to see what they would be doing in a “Sith Church”.
I can only recall the Jedi wearing their hoods up in the movies a few times and usually it was because of the weather, like Obi-Wan wearing his hood up on Kamino because it was raining and he pulled it down once he was inside anyway.
I wonder if Obama is a member of the Jedi Church…
while I whole heartedly agree with you Captain Yossarian, about jedis not needing to wear their hoods all the time, I must stop you and the other posters making fun of his choice in religious practice.
If you go down that train of thought that his religion is crap, and made up, I would point out that any of the 3 major religions ( along with any of their off shoots or minor religions) are pretty much all made up. I don’t think I need to give any examples, I think/hope you understand. All religions are based mainly on faith, so if he chooses to believe the Force is real, who are we to judge him really?
technically, islam is a religion someone just made up, just like christianity and pastafarianism. if you’re going to make exceptions for muslims, you have to make exceptions for jedi. who are any of us to tell a jedi that his religion is BS? all religion is BS.
There are no objective distinctions between what you think of as “religions” and what you think of as “fandom”. The idea that anyone could call one religion a “real” religion and another a “made up” religion worries me – on what possible objective basis are you making that distinction?
ALL religions are “made up” – they all consist of fairytales and imaginary characters meant to impart a particular moral outlook, which believers may or may not consider to be literal truth.
If you think that history is what makes a religion “real” then you would be surprised at the youth of a few recognised religions, some of which are twentieth-century creations (like Jedi).
If you think that number of believers makes a religion “real” then Jedi is a real religion since it can count more supporters than many recognised religions (at least in the UK).
If you think that you yourself get to decide what other people consider a religion, then you don’t understand the word “objective”, you certainly don’t understand the concept of “freedom of religion”, and you have failed a pretty basic intelligence test.
If you are someone who belittles and insults other people on the basis of their religion, then you must have some serious issues, both mental and personal, like the Captain above.
It is not hard to realise the essential truth of this story – the store is saying that some people can wear head-coverings inside the store, and that some can’t, and the decision about who can and who cannot is based on religion.
That is religious discrimination, simple as that! Religious discrimination includes discrimination based on not holding a particular religion, as well as on holding a particular religion. People should not be given less rights because they are not Muslim, should they?
It seems pretty simple to me – either everyone can, or everyone cannot, wear head coverings inside the store. Just choose one. No need to reference religions generally or specifically, and therefore no possible discrimination. Problem solved.
i agree with Darth Dianthus, all religions are made up, people have to accept them, thats what freedom of religion is about.
My mates and i have considered telling the census that our religion is jedi, just for a laugh.
If you’re going to invent a Star Wars religion, at least make sure it’s based on canon. Jedi frequently go without hoods.