Hijacking the Hijab

Globally there is a debate going on regarding the wearing of the hijab. There are those that argue that to ban them as France is currently in the process of doing is religious discrimination, but is this entirely true?

In a nut shell, yes.

The hijab is not so much an article of dress, but a dress code covering the modesty of Muslim men and women. It just so happens that many mistakenly identify the clothing in all its forms as the hijab.

It is because of this it is conceivable to regard the banning of the hijab in all its incarnations as religious discrimination, however to ban only the niqab (the veil covering the face) would not purely because the Qur'an does not call for the donning of such garments, but instead requires that a khimar or head scarf is worn. The Qur'an advocates that nothing more than the hands and face should be seen in public as a matter of modesty, which in all honesty is not necessarily a bad thing. The covering of the head is a requirement in many religions such as Judaism and some branches of Christianity, and so is the call to dress modestly.

So why all the fuss over the hijab? National security is one explanation that has been bandied about, and I have to say, quite successfully even if unreasonably. The percentage of people that actually wear a niqab and commit acts of terrorism or violence is so minute that it is perhaps less than 1%. To impose a ban on its users all reeks of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Would you in light of the recent violence and riots in Ireland, advocate a ban on Irish accents? Not likely, as that would be to castigate the millions of innocent and law abiding Irish unfairly.

Then you have womens rights groups arguing that it is a symbol and instrument of suppression. And in some cases they may actually be right. I think it would be totally naive to even suggest that there are no Muslim men out there that would abuse and denigrate their women, and that the hijab is not a tool at their disposal. They use it to rob women of their identity and reduce them to faceless being. However, there are also Christian men that use the bible and texts within it to subjugate and censure their wives, should we then ban the bible because it is used wrongly by a minority of Christian men? It is the sad reality that we, in our humanity are prone to taking the most innocent of things and misusing them for our own corrupt reasons.

The niqab which some women wear as part of the hijab is a cultural garment, and as such could be banned without being considered a form of religious discrimination, but this then opens up the argument of it being racial discrimination.

It would seem to me that the hijab is being hijacked by both camps. There are some Muslim men that have usurped the code of modesty and are using it to repress women, but equally there are those that are exploiting the fear of terrorism, or those that are different are hijacking the hijab to further their political ambitions.

Credit where credit is due

I previously stated that the educational system is broken. A statement I stand by, however there is a story in the news today about a head teacher at a primary school that made over £270,000 last year and there is a huge furor over it.

Apparently he earns more than twice what David Cameron, the British Prime Minister.

So what?

His achievements perhaps show that his salary was justified. He took over a failing and under achieving school and has led it to receive and outstanding report from OFSTED. If David Cameron manages to take over what his Conservative Party labelled as 'Broken Britain' and change its fortunes around, then perhaps we can look at giving him a raise. In fact, maybe all politicians pay should be performance related, just imagine how much better things would be. Maybe they would think twice about claiming expenses for foolishness such as a moat around their home.

And then again, considering their arrogance, perhaps not.

Play Racist; Real Implications

Many years ago my sister played the Virgin Mary in her school play. It was claimed that it was a sign of how far the system has come. A black girl taking a lead role in the nativity play was meant to be an indication of how far people had gone to tackle the issue of racism within the British education system. But the cynic in me says that for them to cast a black person in the role of a pregnant and unmarried woman was not to hard a concept for people to reconcile.

I have attended two of my nieces school plays, and on both occasions I have left with a bitter taste in my mouth. It was great seeing my niece dressed up in her crazy costumes, trying to make up words to a song she was supposed to know, and looking around for her family and loved ones... But something was missing.

After the first play, I tried to convince myself it was a one off, but after the latest play I can no longer lie to myself in the vain hope that I can retain faith in my fellow man.

The education system is broken, and even more so it is unevenly balanced in the favor of those that are the majority in this country. Now, there are those that would say this system is fair, after all, not everybody can be pleased as so the majority should be catered for. That seems logical. It seems sensible.

But when the criteria for the majority is along the lines of colour then I have a problem.

You see, at both of my nieces plays there was the distinct absence of anybody from an ethnic background that took a lead role, a speaking role, or a role that was front and center on stage.

Ok, I exagerate.

There was the token ethnic. But even then she was one of the narrators placed in a dark corner so that her colour and heritage was so ambiguous that if I was asked where she was from I would not know, and if you asked me what color she was, I would be forced to respond 'grey'.

I have serious misgiving where there is no person from an ethnic background represented front and center stage as it provides nothing for young children from minorities to aspire to. As they look at those on the stage, instead of mirroring an image of their class, they see a landscape that would not be amiss is apartheid South Africa. Instead of being able to acknowledge, applaud and admire a cross section of their peers; both those that look like them and those that don't, they are instead a willing, even if unknowing ego boost for the white majority.

I guess its a matter of early preparation for the rest of their life.

I will undoubtedly be accused by some of being idealistic, or told that this is political correctness gone mad. However, let me say unequivocally, I do not believe in affirmative action as it laid out in the US of A. The concept that because you have one white cheerleader you must have a black one too is in my opinion insane if that black person is not qualified for the role. However, where there is under representation, and there are qualified people for the position I do believe an opportunity should be given.

Take for example my nieces play in which there were four snowflakes. Each snow flake could have been played by a child of a different race, dressed in white, as all the snowflakes did was turn in a few circles around a scare crow. (Please, don't ask. I already stated the education system is broken). Sadly, it appeared to me that skin color formed part of the costume and had to be white too.

A school play is not just something that is done to waste time. It is an important tool for expanding horizons (Drama, dance, music) , but it also gives children the opportunity to stand in the spotlight. To claim some accolade. To have people congratulate them and say well done. If children from ethnic minorities are not given this opportunity at a young age, or presented with the images of those from ethnic backgrounds being given this opportunity, then the chances of them being comfortable with the spotlight on them when they are older is decreased.

Looking at the stage at my nieces school play made me think back to my sisters role as Mary. If that nativity play was a sign of just how far things had come in the 1980's, then my nieces play only served to highlight just how much further things still need to go in the 21st century.

Isn't life funny?

Life is a funny thing but there is nothing funny about the election of a Conservative government.

But then again they were not elected were they? (Is that not the same accusation they threw at Gordon Brown?)

And how about Isreal killing those people on the aid ships and no sanctions were placed upon them or even proposed. Surely that was tantamount to an act of terrorism or at the very least an act of war.

Add to this that the British Royal FAmily is requesting an increase in the funding it gets from the tax payer at a time when many of the average British households are struggling to make ends meet. Perhaps if they decided to forego the caviar and other such trappings they would find things a lot easier. I really do look forward to the day I see Her Majesty in the queue in Lidl.

Still we know that will never happen.

Maybe life isn't so funny after all.

Countdown to Number 10

In just over a week, barring a major miracle it would seem, Britain will have a new Prime Minister. In fact, it will have a whole new government.

God forbid!

Labour are bad. There is no running away from the fact that they have made some mistakes during their time in power, but the other options really are so much worse.

David Cameron is on the side of the rich and powerful, as demonstrated by his desire to give a tax break to the rich, and to discard tax credits to those less well off. It makes a mockery of the Tory claim that under Labour Governments the gap between the rich and poor of Britain has increased, as even if it were true, it was not intentional as it would undoubtedly be under a Conservative government.

As for Nick Clegg... well the less said the better! (But yet you know I am going to go on and say something...) Nick Clegg in the latest televised debate reminded me of the school snitch. He simply stood in the middle of an arguing/debating Gordon Brown and David Cameron, and then every so often would chime and say to the audience (who sadly lapped it up), "See... look at them, they are arguing again!". He had nothing constructive to say, nothing new, and it appeared as though he didn't even know his own manifesto!

If this election were X-Factor, Cheryl Cole would no doubt be rooting for Nick Clegg, the young 'good looking' one with no talent. David Cameron is a Louis Walsh man... (Or should that be a man for Louis Walsh...) because Louis can actually make a little bit of talent reach a long way, and I feel that DC is over achieving. But Simon... Simon would have to be a Gordon Brown supporter... Simply because if its not about looks and talent should be the deciding factor, then in this competition, there can be only one winner.

However just as in X-Factor the final vote is live and it will come down to us the General Public, and sadly the Great British Public have not voted for talent lately. It seems to be presentation over substance...

And so begins our countdown to Number 10.

Here is to hoping Gordon remains there.

Greasing the Political Wheel...

So much has happened since my last blog that if I had the time to, I would share but frankly I have much more important things to discuss and that is the upcoming election.

Now I thing all politicians are about as straight as Ru Paul, but you do have to choose between the lesser of two evils. Its like being cornered in a prison shower by three prison inmates and told to pick up the soap: you are screwed either way... but you sure hope you get the one that uses vaseline!

The Conservative Party is like the prison bully: You know they prey on the fresh meat ie the weak

The Labour Party is like the prison fixer: You will eventually get what you want but you know there is a price to pay.

The Liberal Democrats are the prison snitch: You will trust the smiles, fall for the flowery words and crumble when they stab you in the back because you never saw it coming.

Now Gordon Brown is about as charismatic as... Well lets be honest he can't be compared to anything as he isn't charismatic at all. However unlike David Cameron and Nick Clegg he isn't campaigning like he is trying to win American Idol or X Factor, but is instead talking about the issues. Admittedly he hasnt made all the right choices since he began his tenure but he has done well.

In fact his first few months was a baptism by fire as he fought to deal with problems left by Tony Blair and screw ups by the civil service. Add to that a global recession through which he has steered and finally steadied the economy, and you will see that as boring as he is, Gordon is all about the issues.

So what about Nick Clegg and David Cameron? Well credit where credit is due. Both are adept at pointing out the flaws and mistakes that Gordon and the Labour Party have made, but they fail to supply realistic alternative answers. It is all well and good claiming that immigration is too high, but a quota is unrealistic. And as for saying that we are in a recession and it is all Labour's fault, besides being untrue, neither party has shown or indicated the ability to handle the economy.

I could go on and on... and at some later date I will.

All I shall for now is that as much as it is going to hurt I will be voting Labour...

Thank God for vaseline.

Diary of a Homeless Man Pt IV

Days five and six in the bedsit...

I am tired. I think my wfe is too. The only person that is wide awake and full of energy is the little man who is blessedly oblivious to everything. As for the cause of this fatigue I think it is due to a combination of factors of which having a baby is the smallest.

It was good to be visited by a friend today although we think she came more to see Little Man more than us; but we will claim anything that will remind us that we exist and are not forgotten. It was also nice to be sent some messages of support and have offers of help from people even though there is little that can be done to help us at present. Well unless you feel like cooking us dinner...

Since moving into this bedsit our diets have rapidly gone downhill. Cooking in such a small place in a room that serves as a bedroom, a kitchen, living room, dining room and everything in between is far from pleasant or even comfortable. Your clothes end up smelling of food and come the end of the week you end up with a scent reminiscent of your local take away. But don't get it twisted there is nothing wrong with my cooking or the way it smells, I just think that when it comes to fragrances I would rather leave that in Jean Paul Gaultier's hands.

I also think that be treated like children is beginning to weigh heavily on us adults. In fact even as a child I had more respect and responsibility. Whenever we leave we have to hand our room keys in at the reception desk. Maybe my memory serves me wrong but as a 12 year old child my parents gave me my own house key which I kept and was my responsibility. It is requirements like this that belittle and in some small way dehumanise people that are forced to stumble down this path. I don't think it would be so bad if it was not for the fact that you are painfully aware that there is a lack of privacy and that you are not afforded basic rights. In many ways we have be come less than a second class citizen.

Let me explain that last statement. If you were sitting in your house would you expect the post man to attempt to barge into your house without knocking and say, "Oi, Mate. I am here to deliver your mail, oh and I need you to sign for it.". Well something very similar happened not once but twice yesterday. The first time the man was unsuccessful as the door was locked. The second time we were not so lucky as the person had keys for the room. So there was my wife sitting there breast all out of doors feeding the baby when the door is just flung wide open and a stranger proceeds to enter into what to all intents and purposes is our home. Such things would not happen if I was living in a detatched house in suburbia or even a council flat on a ghetto estate in an inner city. And thus you have it: Britain's third societal tier.

This experience has shown me thus far that the needs of the different groups that are homeless are vastly different and as things stand unless you are young, single and "at risk" your needs are not met, considered important, or yet worse even identified. Sadly I think the latter is closest to the truth.

The challenge for me now is what can I do about it when I am in a position to divert energies into attempting to make a difference to status quo.

Diary of a Homeless Man Pt III

Day 3 in the bedsit house...

Well maybe not so much in it as out of it. We decided to venture out to church today so my mom picked us up. We ended up spending the day with her and my niece which was nice because we ended up with a nice, warm, home cooked meal. Little things like that we tend to take for granted are a rare and precious treasure when you lack the ability to have them on demand.

Oh! I almost forgot. We now have a working fridge in which we can keep things and boy was it needed. We have the window open all night (as well as one eye to make sure nobody climbs in said window) to get rid of the smell of tobacco as well as to try and cool the room down, but you may as well through an ice cube into the desert and expect it to become the arctic for all the effect it is having. Picture this if you will: you buy your wife/husband/significant other a chocolate bar as a treat and leave it on a shelf overnight. When you wake in the morning what you discover is that you did not buy your wife a chocolate bar but a chocolate milkshake. However it isn't all that bad having such a hot room. Drying clothes is quick and free!

We have decided that we are going to remain positive through all of this. Someone said to me today "These are the things that will bind you [me and the wife] together.". Although how they would know this seeing as they are as likely to be homeless as a black homosexual jew is likely to be Grand Dragon of the KKK. And if I am totally honest, i have to admit that I disagree with the sentiments of such a statement. Where as I do not believe it is things like this that will bind us together, I do believe that if we allowed it, it is things like this that would pull us apart.

It is this thought that makes me contemplate the different needs for different groups that are made homeless, and although there is a lot of help and concern for young, single people nobody seems to address the needs of the couples out there and the added stress and complications thatsingletons do not have to contend with. I can understand how people can become despairing and depressed if they find themselves in a similar situation to which I find myself.

But even now as I look at my little man curled up asleep on his mothers chest (who also happens to be asleep) I know despair is a luxury I cannot afford and depression is a road I will not travel. I have hope.

I have them.

Diary of a Homeless Man

Day two in the bedsit. (Imagine that said by the narrator of Big Brother!)

Well I guess its pretty apparent that nobody climbed through the window last night and killed us, although with the amount of sirens that I heard last night statistically speaking at least one of them should have been for me. The noise of emergency services sirens was incessant and did keep me up tossing and turning a fair bit in between changing diapers.

It was a pretty rough night for the little one. Perhaps he was feeling displaced or maybe like his parents he knows he shouldnt be here. Still, should and shouldn't dont play a part in any of this. All that matters is what is; and what is is that I and my fledgling family are homeless.

Everytime I say those words there is a flush as crimson as blood that floods my face whilst the searing heat of embarassment rushes from the soles of my feet to the crown of my head. the irony is not lost on me - a beggar with a crown? Could anything be more humiliating than having to say those words to anyone? Could anything de-masculate a man more than the failure to provide for his family their basic needs?

But self pity has no place in my life and my shame and embarassment is no longer for myself but for those that profess to be Christians. Those that would stand up and teach what it means to be a christian, those that would claim to baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit yet at best be so cold, callous and insensitive? My plight is not of my own making and I will not let my circumstances allow me bury that fact under rightous self pity. The shame is on Newbold College and a number of people in positions of power within the Seventh Day Adventist Church to bear; it just so happens that my burdens arise out of their shameless actions.

The four walls that surround me will never dictate my worth no matter how small or how expansive they may be. Nor will the actions of loveless and compassionless people.

And so, for these reasons and a few others of which boredom was one, we spent the day walking around the local shopping district window shopping and talking. Ladies, if you feel like your husband is not listening to you then become homeless. then he has nothing else to do but listen to you! Still all things considered it was a pleasant day.

Now if I can just get past all the sirens, who knows - it may even be a pleasant night!

Diary of a Homeless Man

Well it is the first night in the bedsit. It is bigger and cleaner than I expected, but no matter how much air freshener they spray it cannot mask the smell of stale cigarette smoke that lingers like the pain of a bad break up.

After some creative packing we have managed to get our belongings arranged in a manner that will allow us to move around without stubbing our toes. That said, it would be a brave man or woman to walk around this place barefoot. No matter how pleasantly surprised I am by this place it is still a dive and I have no idea what happened in this room before we moved in. But judging by the drug dealers dealing without shame or fear right outside the door, and the young man high on the sofa in the foyer, I would understandably prefer to err on the side of caution.

There is no source of entertainment in the room, and seeing as the wife is still recovering from giving birth, there truly is no entertainment in this room! I guess I will ask my mom to drop off my TV and Playstation so we can watch some DVD's.

I have been debating with both the wife and myself whether its safe to open the windows and let some fresh air in in an attempt to shift the smell of tobacco that clings to everything in the room. Our final conclusion is that we are more likely to die from the overpowering smell of cigarettes than somebody climbing through the window and murdering us in our sleep for our possessions. Imagine that: if we don't open the window we will possibly become the first people in Britain to die from fourth hand smoke; and if we do open it and someone kills us for our possessions, well we actually found someone worse off than us. Damned if we do... Damned if we don't.

Part of me wonders why I am not more angry at Newbold or even the Seventh-day Adventist Church for placing me and my family in this position. I have been telling myself it is due to the fact we have a written apology from those heartless people that willingly and actively made me, my wife and my newborn baby homeless, but as I lie here in this squalor, displaced, poor, crowded and without a clue as to what tomorrow holds, I realize that I am strangely calm on the inside. I am at peace with myself, my God and my family despite the storm around me. Perhaps this is the peace that the bible talks of; a peace that will pass all understanding. Perhaps this is what it means to smile at the storm when Jesus is in the vessel. All I know is that more and more as every day goes by I become more and more aware that I am poor, but despite my poverty I am truly blessed beyond measure.

God has promised to provide my needs and I know he will.