I'm going to say something very unpopular -- the college 's original rule banning all face was racist and prejudiced and I am grateful that they rescinded it . I know people are scared, but that is no excuse. We as a nation need to remember the tenants of our own foundation and get back to our roots. We must embrace the core beliefs that make our country great, or we risk compromising our very identity in the act of asking others to compromise theirs. This is not the way to win a war on terror. It is a slippery slope that leads down the road of fascism. Eventually, we will be no better than the extremists we rail against.
It is wrong to persecute and force assimilation on an entire people because of the actions of a few insane periphery radical extremists (there are an estimated 1.2 to 1.57 billion Muslims, about a quarter of the world's population). I understand that from a security point of view, if kids screw around, it's easier to address if you are able to identify them. But these are not children and this is not fashion. It is religion -- a cornerstone freedom in our great nation. And modesty is a cornerstone of their religion -- it's like forcing nuns to disregard their vows. There better be some mightily damning evidence that shows it is a necessary evil, because asking someone to compromise their religious identity is absolutely an evil: the Inquisition.
Just because it might make life easier doesn't mean it's right. Essentially, women are not terrorists. Realistically, terrorists have not been getting away because they have be wearing masks. Their is no direct causal relationship here. If someone can explain how on earth forcing Muslim American women to disregard a fundamental religious doctrine simply because it engenders false comfort in non-Muslim Americans is not prejudiced, maybe I'll reconsider my position.
The theory behind the original ban is abstract at best. And in my mind, that is not a good enough reason to ask someone to disregard the orders of their GOD.
Hmmm, this one is thought provoking. First, a fun fact. Did you know that at one time Iran outlawed wearing the hijab and naqab? Second, I would argue that while it is a widely accepted tradition, wearing a veil is not Islamic religious doctrine. Third, it might have been a better policy to allow the hijab and naqab to be worn, but to ban the burqa alone. Women ARE terrorists. They aren't perhaps of the bin Laden variety, but, suicide bombers are at least 30-40 percent female, and that number is on the rise. There are plenty of female factions of the mujahideen, for example. I can understand the concern.
ReplyDeleteViv! Are you picking an argument with my wife? HA!
ReplyDeleteAm I picking an argument with your wife? Not really. I am attempting to draw her into a light hearted debate? Perhaps. I actually chewed this one over with my hubby, as he is a Muslim. He had pretty strong feelings on the subject.
ReplyDeleteI have never liked nor disliked the burkha. I wear it sometimes when it is absolutely necessary to wear for me to keep peace. But then I put it away and go ahead as though I have never known it.. Wearing it or not wearing it has never made any difference to the person I am.. So how is banning it going to stop terrorists or suicide bombers??????
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ReplyDeleteHi Farila,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and posting. I fully agree with you. If one is willing to die to prove a point, I seriously doubt an uncovered face would be a deterrent. Also, the point in the article I posted is well-taken: ''If you can get on an airplane wearing a face veil, you can go to class at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy wearing a face veil.''
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ReplyDeleteViv, I'm not ignoring you; I'm thinking about your comment. Here's my first thought -- you have time to talk about this when Dallas is in the playoffs tonight?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I'm very interested in your stats. In particular, I'd love see the research on female suicide bombers. The most of what I found was about female terrorists behind the scenes (intelligence gathering, financing operations, forging documents, acting as alibis, etc..). Not much on active violence perpetrated by Muslim women in any significant numbers, and certainly not at the rates you cite. Can you send me a link?
Thirdly, if your hubby wants to police the members of his own faith regarding their shared religious observances, that's between them. I'm just firmly against white Christian daddy setting down the law and acting like his sh#$ don't stink.
I'm firmly against governing from ignorance, hate and fear instead of reason, intellectual honesty and compassion. And I'm firmly against this country using straw men to justify xenophobia and racism while pretending to be enlightened, which seems to be our historical M.O.
Lastly, I'm still thinking and welcome your voice in this. I'm not afraid of honest debate and I'm willing to admit if I am wrong. So, bring it! :-)
There was a magazine article that I read a couple of months ago, so, it may take me a bit to chase down that source, I wasn't planning on needing it again. ;) However, to give you something courtesy of Google, here is http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/iraq/2008/07/28/the-rising-number-of-female-suicide-bombers-in-iraq.html
ReplyDeleteIf I ever get this baby back to sleep so I can type with both hands, I'll be back.
I agree that women should be able to choose what they want to wear, just as much as goths have the right to wear black all the time with ridiculous amounts of makeup -- as long as it is not hurting anyone. It's only clothes.
ReplyDeleteNot all women around the world can make a choice as to what they are wear... Sad but true. We need changes and more of it.
ReplyDeleteAh so this is where all the action is!
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me think of something that just happened this week. A Somalian woman, with an expired driver's permit, either ran over or backed into a high school girl. Great. (and I mean that sarcastically, because the whole situation is truly awful).
Now, I work in a high school, and as I was sitting there talking with several girls who happened to know the victim, the conversation turned horribly to the wind of racism. I'm not from the area, but I've heard that the Somalian's have "moved in" and are "taking over" and that people wish "they'd just go back to where they are from."
I was fortunate enough to give these girls some perspective, and I wish I could remember the conversation exactly as it happened, but I can't so you get my paraphrasing instead. These girls, extremely upset with the injury of their friend, began saying that they couldn't believe all "those people" were allowed to come into the country and bring crime with them. I believe I said something along the lines of, "You don't think us white people can do just as much damage?"
The fact is, people are afraid of things they don't understand. Add that to the fact that most of them are control freaks, and toss in a huge disaster and the equation translates like this: I don't like those people because they aren't like me, and now something really bad has happened, so of course getting rid of those weirdos is the solution. Get rid of them and we will be all set.
WRONG!
I would not be here today if not for America. Where else could an Irishman marry a Sweedish woman, and an Italian marry a French Canadian. And where would those two mongrole couple's children have met and married if not for the good old USA? We need to start respecting and appreciating diversity, not suppressing it.
I understand that this is not the same for terrorists who sit and plot of how to destroy our way of life; I'm just saying punish them and not our own.
Your blog is very informative and graceful.
ReplyDeleteThank you
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