I am going to talk about two issues that have recently been in the international media: head scarves in French schools and withdrawal of American troops in Iraq. I am not usually the defender of Religion or the republican administration, but on these two issues I don't understand what the liberal politicians are trying to gain. In France the ban on religious head scarves has resulted in 50 expulsions, kidnappings and other violent forms of protest, as well as unrest in schools and a large budget drain in enforcement. Why can't people say that one religious symbol is not equal to another? The law started when religious symbols like the cross were banned from public institutions. I understand people wanting to make rules as objective as possible, but this is not a fair comparison: a teacher wearing a cross is not the same as a student wearing a head scarf for 4 reasons. #1 The bible does not require a cross to be worn and no Christian groups require it either, while many Muslims believe that women NEED to comply to this rule to be part of their religious community #2 They are not teachers. They are students. The teachers are dispensers of knowledge and also government employees, who are representatives of government policy. A teacher endorsing a religion while in class is dangerous, but a student can believe and endorse whatever they want #3 The cross is a religious ICON. Jesus is actually on it, dying. This is a lot different than a cloth on ones head. It is one part of their belief system, not a symbol for it's entirety. #4 The scarves are also largely seen as a part of the culture of the countries most Muslim come from. We don't really need pants or shirts at school either, but the social constraints of our culture requires them. Those restraints were originally religious traditions, but are now embedded in our culture so firmly that I as an atheist ascribe to them without even thinking. Anyway, to make a long story short: Cross ≠ Scarf
The other issue, Withdrawal, is also subject to heated debate. and I say 'I don't understand why', but I do: it is political ammo. The Left sees that Bush is losing on this front, so they are willing to suggest the illogical just to make him look bad. I want George Bush to have to answer for the things he has done wrong, but not like this. A withdrawal timetable would be impossible to hold to, making us look bad every time we couldn't hold to out word, and would show people just how long to wait before starting a second wave of attack. We can't do it. The Democrats know we can't do it, and they don't care. They see blood, and they are going to take advantage. I am constantly disappointed by politicians in my own party. There is nothing else to say about it it. That's just the way it is. A timetable would coat American and Iraqi lives. This is unacceptable.
5 comments:
I can't see the problem with scarfs either, but I do see a problem with the full regalia and covering of one's face for offical pictures like passports or driver's licenses. I also wonder where we draw the line then, because if the wearing of the scarf is okay why isn't it okay for someone to wear their gang colors or insignias to school - because for many of our kids, it is as close as they come to a religion.
We got to Iraq on a pack of lies, but we need to stay until there is some stability. On the other hand, we certainly didn't have an orderly or planned departure from Viet Name and now we are making trade agreements with them and the president is going there to visit next year. Sometimes I think the longer we stay in Iraq the more future terrorists who hate America we create for the next generation.
Tough questions, no black or white just many shaes of gray.
PS - what if a teacher wants to wear the conservative traditional costume for Muslim women - would that equate to a teacher wearing a cross necklace?
The wonderful thing about places like public schools is their diversity. By pretending we are all alike we loose the opportunity to become aware and tolerant of others' beliefs. If we require those who need to wear religious atire to attend seperate religious schools it will only create a larger cultural divide between groups already separated by differring religions.
Ithink that it won't come up that a teacher would wear a headdress, because those who would be that conservative would not be able to cope with the other aspects of being a public school teacher. BUT if they did, I would say it depends on the exact reason why.
If it's is 'cause God says so: nope
If its is because your culture says so: go ahead
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