France & Hijab
Kinda old news. I had something to say on the matter:
I dont see how banning religious symbols/clothing prefs increases assimilation. I think, those of you who are supporting this, are thinking in context of rising islamic fundamentalism and see the protests as a reflection of that. not fair. Lets change the picture. Nrahmins in south india wear lord vishnu/siva's mark on the forehead. Its a whitish mark, and extends across/along the forehead. It does look quite odd to the unaccustomed eye. People with that mark stand out. In the name of integration/assimilation, south Indian brahmins in X country are banned from wearing the mark. Hows that?
Another case in point: how do you think the non-muslim school kids who have never seen a muslim girl wear a headscarf, react when they get out of school and see one? Since assimilation is being made the moot point here, do you think its easier for a 18 year old guy who's grown up with a certain belief system to accept another belief system? As kids, if they are not exposed to the multiracial/multicultural nature of their society they'll never be able to accept differences in such societies.
What such completely useless, knee-jerk reaction like measures serves to do is in fact have the exact opposite effect. Muslims are hurt. They cant understand how does wearing a hijab, which comes as naturally to them as wearing underwear is for them and others, suddenly become a cause that prevents their assimilation into society. Hell, they follow the laws, pay taxes, vote, work with non-muslims, shop at the same places etc etc. No, they need to take their headscarf off to get accepted. Being a good citizen is not enough. How effing hypocritical is that? What such rat-brained measures do, is add a cause for the fundies/radicals to harp on and find more followers of their twisted interpretations of islam & increase the muslim vs non-muslim divide.
I dont see how banning religious symbols/clothing prefs increases assimilation. I think, those of you who are supporting this, are thinking in context of rising islamic fundamentalism and see the protests as a reflection of that. not fair. Lets change the picture. Nrahmins in south india wear lord vishnu/siva's mark on the forehead. Its a whitish mark, and extends across/along the forehead. It does look quite odd to the unaccustomed eye. People with that mark stand out. In the name of integration/assimilation, south Indian brahmins in X country are banned from wearing the mark. Hows that?
Another case in point: how do you think the non-muslim school kids who have never seen a muslim girl wear a headscarf, react when they get out of school and see one? Since assimilation is being made the moot point here, do you think its easier for a 18 year old guy who's grown up with a certain belief system to accept another belief system? As kids, if they are not exposed to the multiracial/multicultural nature of their society they'll never be able to accept differences in such societies.
What such completely useless, knee-jerk reaction like measures serves to do is in fact have the exact opposite effect. Muslims are hurt. They cant understand how does wearing a hijab, which comes as naturally to them as wearing underwear is for them and others, suddenly become a cause that prevents their assimilation into society. Hell, they follow the laws, pay taxes, vote, work with non-muslims, shop at the same places etc etc. No, they need to take their headscarf off to get accepted. Being a good citizen is not enough. How effing hypocritical is that? What such rat-brained measures do, is add a cause for the fundies/radicals to harp on and find more followers of their twisted interpretations of islam & increase the muslim vs non-muslim divide.
posted by Vasishtha | 9:05 PM
1 Comments:
I couldn't have said it better :)
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