Yes, it's been discussed here before. But this is something I truly, truly don't understand. What I saw in Afghanistan (where they call it the Chadri) h..."/>
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Opinion: Why I'm proud to wear the burqa
Thursday, February 4, 2010 9:17 AM
NIKI2
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote:Oumkheyr is a French Muslim woman in her 40s. Of Algerian origin, she is divorced and has a daughter. She tells CNN why she's proud to wear the burqa, also known as the niqab or full veil, and what she thinks of the law proposed by the French government to ban the burqa. A French parliament report has called for a ban on the burqa in schools, hospitals, government offices and public transport. (CNN) -- I wear the burqa for the simple reason that I am a Muslim and the Koran says that I must wear the full veil in order to be modest. I am proud of my Muslim faith and my modesty. I am proud to follow God's law. Nobody ever forced me to wear the full veil and I have been wearing it for around 10 years now. In fact, very few of my friends actually wear one. There are, of course, situations in which some men force their wives or daughters to wear the burqa but, believe me, these cases are a very, very small minority. For those of us who are believers, we just want to do God's will and live by the sacred text, so what any man says has nothing to do with that. I am testament to that as I don't have a husband and I practice my religion freely, that's why I'm always shocked when people say it's the husband who forces his wife to wear a burqa. It is actually the case that a lot of men in France do not wish their wives to wear the full veil because when they go out, they are insulted or attacked and their husbands don't want them to be put in that situation. I first started wearing the full veil when I was a teenager but I stopped for a while because when you're young, you don't want to be set apart, you want to look like everyone else. But later after seeing what was happening with terrorist attacks involving Muslims all over the world, I decided to become more conscious and find out more about my faith. In the process, I found myself becoming more spiritual and decided to start wearing the burqa. Now, my liberty is being threatened with this law proposed by the French government. If this law is passed, it will be a great injustice. It is very unfair that they are even considering this law. Perhaps the French authorities are terrified that women will start dressing like this, despite evidence to the contrary. Why am I, as a Muslim woman, targeted unfairly, when there are less than 2,000 of us in France who wear the burqa? Where is my freedom of clothing or expression? France prides itself as a country that upholds the rights of man but where are my rights? Why am I not free to wear what I want? Many cite security reasons because they can't tell who is under the veil. But myself and a lot of women who wear the burqa are always happy to identify ourselves when asked. In the past, I have taken off my veil when it is asked of me -- as long as it's a woman who does it. My religion demands that I cover my face in front of any man who is not either my brother, father or husband. I have been wearing the veil in France for years and it has never been a problem, I use public transport like everyone else and I've never had any problems. Although, it can be quite strange when I'm on a bus for example and people say to me: 'You poor thing, we feel sorry for you.' And I wonder exactly why they feel sorry for me. I'm very happy wearing the veil and it makes me spiritually fulfilled as I'm practicing my religion, so I don't really see it as anything to pity me for. I really believe that France is scared of Muslims, which is the motivation for this law, but people shouldn't generalize as not all Muslims are the same. Yes, some have done terrible things, but it is done in the name of man, never in the name of God. I, as a French Muslim woman, have nothing but love in my heart towards all people. And whatever the outcome, if France succeeds in banning the veil on its streets, I will never take mine off. My freedom means a lot to me and if this law is passed, I would rather move to another country where I can worship in peace. I obey the laws of God not the laws of man.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 10:04 AM
FREMDFIRMA
Thursday, February 4, 2010 10:08 AM
WULFENSTAR
http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg
Thursday, February 4, 2010 10:33 AM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 10:38 AM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 10:54 AM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 10:55 AM
GINOBIFFARONI
Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:06 AM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:14 AM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:31 AM
BYTEMITE
Thursday, February 4, 2010 12:03 PM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 12:30 PM
SIGNYM
I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 12:32 PM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 12:34 PM
KWICKO
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)
Quote:Originally posted by Wulfenstar: ITS NOT OUR PLACE TO JUDGE. Why is that so hard for you to get?
Thursday, February 4, 2010 12:43 PM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 12:47 PM
Quote:You can -- * uaise awareness on the plight of Afghan women. * urge different institutions in your area to invite RAWA representative to speak on the situation of Afghan women and RAWA efforts, to inform people about women’s rights tragedy in Afghanistan. * give coverage to reports on Afghanistan and Taliban crimes in your publications, or somehow make people in your community aware of them. Write articles and letters to major media of your town and country. * urge celebrated personalities of your country to raise their voice in support of RAWA and Afghan women and urge their government not to support the Taliban or any other fundamentalist group in Afghanistan.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 2:31 PM
Quote:Originally posted by Wulfenstar: Guess the peanut gallery is waiting to reply until they know I wont be here... you know... the nuts always come out at night. lol
Thursday, February 4, 2010 2:34 PM
Quote:Originally posted by Wulfenstar: Niki, "it is how the younger generation of Afghan WOMEN feel. I speak for them, not for this woman, who is free to do as she pleases" You... do... not... have... the... right... to... speak.. for .... them.
Quote: How would you feel if some Afghan woman were to say to you... "I think its terrible that you walk around uncovered, and use your mouth to speak to a man in any way other than respectfully"... Of course you wouldn't like it... being raised in the 'West" you feel it is your right to say whatever you want. No matter how foolish, ill-advised, unwanted, or unjustified tho it may be.
Quote:But YET, you presume to force YOUR beliefs on another culture and people... by laying your "judgment" on them.
Quote: Again, the hypocrisy of liberals and hippies is apparent and mind-numbing.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 2:43 PM
Quote:Niki said she didn't see how these women wear their burqas and chadris, and that she couldn't do it. I didn't see her anywhere saying they shouldn't be allowed to do so, or that they should be outlawed. Did you read the same post I was reading, or were you going off one of those batshit-crazy voices you hear in your head when you're not busy sitting in the corner eating your own knees?
Thursday, February 4, 2010 3:20 PM
Quote:Also, I have to admit, I did laugh at the knees eating thing, then I felt bad imagining some fluffy woodland creature caught in a bear trap gnawing off it's own leg.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 3:57 PM
Thursday, February 4, 2010 4:00 PM
FREELANCERTEX
Thursday, February 4, 2010 7:33 PM
MAGONSDAUGHTER
Quote:Originally posted by Wulfenstar: But hey, I guess judging everyone based on their culture, creed, religion... ect is something that liberals are the only ones qualified for. Cus you know... they are so omnipotent.
Friday, February 5, 2010 8:16 AM
Quote: If a Muslim woman doesn’t ask you to be her voice or speak for her, don’t. If you wish to help a Muslim woman you feel is voiceless, help her get a voice. Never assume you have the right to speak on someone else’s behalf.
Quote: Don’t demonize my faith or my culture or the men in my life, no matter what I say about them, no matter how bad my experiences have been or how I complain: they are my experiences to sort out, and no one else’s. Keep in mind that patriarchy is a worldwide phenomenon, and it will manifest itself differently for me than it will for others. I may experience very patriarchal forms of Islam, while my sister may not.
Quote: Help only if I ask for it. By help, I do not mean co-opting my liberation and planning it out for me; I mean helping me get where I want to go, wherever that is. If a Muslim woman wants to leave an abusive relationship, don’t tell her that marriage in Islam is (insert your opinion here), help her find a divorce lawyer and safe shelter. Being an ally is the same as being a true friend: respecting my wishes, even if you may want something different for me; helping me when I need it, without thinking me helpless; and viewing me as an entire person.
Quote: But hey, I guess judging everyone based on their culture, creed, religion... ect is something that liberals are the only ones qualified for.
Friday, February 5, 2010 8:53 AM
Quote:But hey, I guess judging everyone based on their culture, creed, religion... ect is something that liberals are the only ones qualified for.
Friday, February 5, 2010 11:18 AM
Quote:Quote:Do not demonize my faith or my culture....may not Originally posted by Niki2: I disagree with that; I think if someone asks for help, it’s reasonable to give it...
Quote:Do not demonize my faith or my culture....may not
Quote:if ONLY we would take the time to educate ourselves about the culture
Friday, February 5, 2010 11:26 AM
Quote:Originally posted by freelancertex: Quote:Quote:Do not demonize my faith or my culture....may not Originally posted by Niki2: I disagree with that; I think if someone asks for help, it’s reasonable to give it... I read that passage differently. I read it as she was telling the audience not to make assumptions based on her complaints about 'bad' experiences. A 'bad' experience may be an annoyance, or a problem she has with a particular aspect of her culture; no one's culture/relationship/religion is perfect, and we all have complaints about our repsective situations, but Islam may be more highly targeted because of all the negative information available, which may skew one's interpretation of a complaint or gripe. It didn't sound like she was saying "don't help me even if I ask for help," but I may have misread your statement or hers or both. However, what I think she might also be *implying* is "If you hear me talk about my experiences, don't automatically assume I'm in a terrible situation and resolve to help me. Ask me." Again, I could be completely missing what she was trying to say, but that's how it read to me. Quote:if ONLY we would take the time to educate ourselves about the culture That's exactly why I took cultural anthropology, and world religions (which is the class that article came from). I think world cultures should be an integral part of primary and secondary school to increase understanding of the world outside our own and decrease preconceived, ignorant bias based on arrogance and negative ethnocentricities.
Friday, February 5, 2010 1:26 PM
Friday, February 5, 2010 2:03 PM
Friday, February 5, 2010 5:09 PM
Quote:Originally posted by GinoBiffaroni: While my educational background is not the same, I do believe when you consider any cultural or social problem on any scale first you need to put yourself ( even mentally ) in the shoes of the people you are talking about.
Saturday, February 6, 2010 7:40 AM
Quote:Obviously if someone complains in the heat of the moment, that may not be how they feel overall
Quote:it loses the more important why did this person think or do that, what drove the situation to this point or that. Looking at this this way takes much of the luster off many historical figures, but also cuts things down into lessons which are quite applicable today.
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