I do not enjoy seeing women wearing burqas. Women are people who should have free & open choices (sanctioned socially & legally) no matter to what culture they belong.
I agree with the spirit of what you're saying, and I once would've agreed with you wholeheartedly. But over the years I've spoken with a few women who wear burqas and said pretty much the same thing, and their responses made me feel not so strongly.
At uni I did a group assignment with a Muslim. We talked a lot, especially since she started out by saying how open-minded she was, and I broke her brain by telling her about my lifestyle. =) But in a separate conversation she told me that she wore the burqa as a symbol of her religion, which she believed in very strongly. She didn't have to wear it in our society; she chose to
( ... )
It's a hard one. I do believe in their body their call. Or shall I say our body, our call.
To me, however, I do see that their wearing those symbols does hurt people. It adds credence to those religions in which lots of women are hurt. Lots of women are denied human rights under those religions. Seeing women in burqas is like seeing slaves from the big house who like the big house... or also who are under so much religious stuff that they don't even learn more about other ways. Or who just don't think they can get out from under the unseen social pressures so they wear it. Like many women in our culture who think they are less of women or who choose to take advantage of a what is imho a less free form of power by wearing high heels.
It's like seeing KKK members in robes and hoods. It's their body. Their call. But I don't think it's good.
Yeah, it's a hard one. It's true that lots of women are denied human rights under those religions, but I'd rather focus on that than say that the religion is bad. I feel similarly about Christianity: I deeply sympathise with those who have been hurt by it, but not all Christianity is bad (the MCC, for example, removes most of the elements I object to) and I think we do harm than good by attacking a religion, which is a deeply personal thing for people. My take is 'I support your religious choices, but I take issue with the tradition of [forcing dress, patriarchy, oppression, intolerance of other views, etc.]'
One thing I might not have made clear is that I enjoyed the religious and cultural tolerance on the train, not really the burqas themselves.
Once thing I love about the U.S. is how liberal baggage restrictions are: two pieces at up to 32kg instead of one piece at 20kg. It'll still be a challenge, but I'll do my best. =)
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What an adventurous spirit you have!
I do not enjoy seeing women wearing burqas. Women are people who should have free & open choices (sanctioned socially & legally) no matter to what culture they belong.
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At uni I did a group assignment with a Muslim. We talked a lot, especially since she started out by saying how open-minded she was, and I broke her brain by telling her about my lifestyle. =) But in a separate conversation she told me that she wore the burqa as a symbol of her religion, which she believed in very strongly. She didn't have to wear it in our society; she chose to ( ... )
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It's a hard one. I do believe in their body their call. Or shall I say our body, our call.
To me, however, I do see that their wearing those symbols does hurt people. It adds credence to those religions in which lots of women are hurt. Lots of women are denied human rights under those religions. Seeing women in burqas is like seeing slaves from the big house who like the big house... or also who are under so much religious stuff that they don't even learn more about other ways. Or who just don't think they can get out from under the unseen social pressures so they wear it. Like many women in our culture who think they are less of women or who choose to take advantage of a what is imho a less free form of power by wearing high heels.
It's like seeing KKK members in robes and hoods. It's their body. Their call. But I don't think it's good.
They feel like Uncle Toms to me.
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One thing I might not have made clear is that I enjoyed the religious and cultural tolerance on the train, not really the burqas themselves.
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