A Quick History Lesson

August 10th, 2001

In 1995, years ago, I was in high school, and I had recently taken to wearing a hat (who's style I've never learned the name of. I've always referred to it simply as "an Australian outback-style hat"), which I was quite fond of.

When the new school year started, I started going to a new school, Queen Elizabeth Senior Secondary, in Surrey, BC. There, I was promptly informed that hats were not allowed. Never one to take any limitation upon my personal rights lying down, I asked why this was. What the logic behind it was.

Talking to the vice-principle, I was told, "It's because a lot of gangs in the area use hats to identify their gangs".

I said, "I dare you to tell me with a straight face that any gang in the world identifies themselves with hats like this".

He said, "That doesn't matter. The rules are the rules".

I told him that I was insulted that they were being so closed-minded THERE in a house of learning. It seemed to me that if they were going to be open to logic anywhere in the world, it ought to be there.

He told me that they didn't need to answer to my needs.

I asked him, then, "Why are so many students allowed to wear turbans, then?"

He said, "Their religion requires it of them".

So I said, " I just created a new religion. It's called The Canadian Church of Stuff. It requires me to wear this hat indoors. Can I go now?"

Totally unmoved, he told me, "That's not a real religion".

I said, "Why not? It's my religion. How do you get to tell me what religions are real and which aren't? I mean, who cares if I'm the only member? Why should that matter?"

He refused to budge. I refused to budge. So they expelled me. I guess that's how you deal with people who's logic is too much for you to stand up to: resort to illogic.

I went home and codified my new religion, with principles of rebellion, freedom of will, speech, and motivation, and took it to them, saying, "Here. Look into YOUR OWN DICTIONARIES. Under religion. Check it out. 'A codified system off ethics and beliefs'. I have that. Who cares how many members there are? By your OWN definition, the total membership doesn't matter!"

Well, that did nothing to deter them. So, I gave that up, but decided that the idea of having a religion to protect me from people like that was a good idea.

For many years, I was one of only two members. Recently, a prospective employer refused to hire me because my hair was too long. I tried the religious discrimination line on him, but it didn't work.

That's when I decided to get organised. Starting that very day, I began a recruiting drive which continues to this very day, and started down the path to getting all the rights and powers the governemnt has to give us.