Thursday, December 6, 2012

To Veil Or Not To Veil

Over these past few months I've read stories about the banning of the Hijab and I've had my share of opinions, just as many others. In a moment of clarity, I'd like to look the different opinions of those who are FOR the ban. Now, we all know that we live in a world where opinions can get you killed unless you sugar coat it and compliment both sides equally but I've lived in a Muslim city, a Christian majority state and a Hindu region, so I'm not going to be reeking  of biasness.
Don't get me wrong, I love and hate people of all caste's class and religion. I'm not the type who has ever been racist (though sometimes I am very judgmental towards poor attire) but this is getting out of hand!
Firstly, those against the banning of the  Hijab haven't got it wrong...individual rights, secularism and many other factors means that each person is entitled to belief, act and speak as they please. but lets face it... the only "freedom" we have , is an illusion granted to us  by the government.
If you've ever visited a Wild Life Reserve, you'll see the metaphor, because honestly we are just like those lions we see roaming through the fields, chasing deer and lazing around under the trees. We believe we are "free" but the minute you try to exercise your freedom you will see the uncross-able boundaries.
So it's high time we give up complaining, because nothing we say is going to make a difference. As long as we face terrorism, attacks, murders, rapes, we will be prisoners.
Muslim women, I've seen you. You are bold, strong, and beautiful. To hold faith in your religion, when all this chaos around you should make you wonder if there really is a God, is a testament of your strength, and by all means follow your beliefs, but you need to see a different picture, even if just for a minute. If you stick to your side of the story and refuse to understand where others are coming from, then you will seem to be just like one of these extremists that the world is so afraid of. I know that not all Muslims are extremists, but not many people actually believe that.
I believe it is the right of a women to wear a Hijab, but what about those that are forced to do so by people around them? Where are their rights? In a battle for justice and fairness, people believe that banning the Hijab could prevent the oppression of women, which of course still exists nowadays
A lot of people are very biased towards "Brown-skinned" people and Muslims  because of all the terror attacks and threats. The Hijab pushes you towards that stereotype, further and further, leading to racial abuse, and traumatic experiences for many young girls.
Another considerable argument often pointed out is the fact that every country has its rules and cultures. If I traveled to Iran during a certain period, I would have to cover my head and dress modestly. We accept those traditions and culture and follow the rules of the places we travel to. So when an outsider or a person from another background visits or stays in a country that follow a certain culture, shouldn't they have to conform to the rules as well?
Now lets talk about security. A hijab or veil can compromise security, because people are harder to identify when half their face is covered. With all the terror threats, attacks and panic, security is currently the most important issue to a country. Lets say the veil is allowed, can a person not disguise himself and attack people? Then how are we to identify and prevent them from causing further harm?
Secularism has its limits, we cannot burn widows, or stone people to death just because our religion says to. The people on this planet have a knack for using religion to cause destruction or make money, and without restrictions, things would go haywire.

To end things, I have to say this whole issue is absurd. When there are so many issues going on around the world, why are we so bothered about what a person can and cannot wear? Maybe its just deflection from the chaotic world, something to talk about other than death, murder, violence etc, or maybe we really  have become that shallow an existance.