Irfan Baloch
SENIOR MODERATOR
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- Apr 12, 2009
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Noted, thanks.
Guys, I'm not putting him down. Note I clearly state I support the right of military personal with deeply held religious convictions (if the beard is religious in this case, only he knows) to have their hair, beards, and symbols - so long as they do not interfere with the mission.
Rastafarians smoke weed as part of their religion. We can all agree that wouldn't work.
My only objection was the mask issue, and it is an important one. Guys that have to wear oxygen or chemical warfare masks need to show that the mask will seal 100% over their facial hair, if any. The tiniest leak of chemicals is instant death, and with oxygen, above about 34,000 feet, the mask kicks into a positive pressure mode, meaning the regulator forces compressed pure oxygen into the mask. Without a seal, it'll all trickle out, and the guy will pass out from hypoxia.
talking about bearded I must admit that I have supported a very thick beard for practical reasons. in our part of the world we have a thing called sun burn and it literally makes your face look like a scorched badlands, I found beard practical in protecting my face up to the cheek bones from sunlight and hot air. I think this is why when you think of Baloch people you would expect to see long beards although they are anything but religious but equally passionate about mundane things like their Pashtun cousins are. The turban also is used to save head and neck from heatstroke.