This morning, NPR ran a story on U.S. Army Capt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a success story in the battle for equality in religious freedom.
This week, Rattan, who is an American Sikh, completed his nine-week basic officer training course at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio — making him the first American Sikh officer in the U.S. Army in more than 25 years.
While Sikhs used to serve in the Army while observing their religion's requirements for wearing turbans and not shaving their hair and beards, the Army eliminated the exemption in 1984.
Until now. After much advocacy from the Sikh community, the Army relented for Rattan and for a fellow Sikh who will be trained as a medic this summer.
Rattan's story uplifts all of us. Kudos to military officials for having the confidence to make this accommodation. Read the whole thing.
