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.