Bored?... Ideas to fill your time in September...

[Claire]

Saturday 4 September

Demonstrate against the ban on hijab in French schools, 12 noon, French embassy, Knightsbridge Road, London.

Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. Protest 3-5pm, Israeli embassy, Kensington High Street, London.

Wednesday 8 September

National Pensioners Convention lobby of Parliament, 12 noon. Go to www.natpencon.org.uk (http://www.natpencon.org.uk/)

Thursday 9 September

Screening of a Noam Chomsky lecture, 6pm, Exchange Square, Manchester.

Thursday 14 October-Sunday 17 October

European Social Forum in London. Meetings in Alexandra Palace, north London. Demonstration in central London on Sunday.

Saturday 30 October-Sunday 31 October

Respect: The Unity Coalition national conference, central London. Go to www.respectcoalition.org (http://www.respectcoalition.org/) or phone 020 7170 4030/1 for details.

[jonny2mad]

Demonstrate against the ban on hijab in French schools, 12 noon, French embassy, Knightsbridge Road, London.

Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. Protest 3-5pm, Israeli embassy, Kensington High Street, London



why are either of these things in anyway a good idea or important?

[Claire]

Demonstrate against the ban on hijab in French schools, 12 noon, French embassy, Knightsbridge Road, London.

Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. Protest 3-5pm, Israeli embassy, Kensington High Street, London



why are either of these things in anyway a good idea or important?
Hijab?... personal choice...

I quote:
A Canadian-born Muslim woman has taken to wearing the traditional hijab scarf. It tends to make people see her as either a terrorist or a symbol of oppressed womanhood, but she finds the experience liberating. I often wonder whether people see me as a radical, fundamentalist Muslim terrorist packing an AK-47 assault rifle inside my jean jacket. Or may be they see me as the poster girl for oppressed womanhood everywhere. I'm not sure which it is.


I get the whole gamut of strange looks, stares, and covert glances. You see, I wear the hijab, a scarf that covers my head, neck, and throat. I do this because I am a Muslim woman who believes her body is her own private concern.

Young Muslim women are reclaiming the hijab, reinterpreting it in light of its original purpose -- to give back to women ultimate control of their own bodies.

The Qur'an teaches us that men and women are equal, that individuals should not be judged according to gender, beauty, wealth, or privilege. The only thing that makes one person better than another is her or his character.

Nonetheless, people have a difficult time relating to me. After all, I'm young, Canadian born and raised, university-educated -- why would I do this to myself, they ask.

Strangers speak to me in loud, slow English and often appear to be playing charades. They politely inquire how I like living in Canada and whether or not the cold bothers me. If I'm in the right mood, it can be very amusing.

But, why would I, a woman with all the advantages of a North American upbringing, suddenly, at 21, want to cover myself so that with the hijab and the other clothes I choose to wear, only my face and hands show?

Because it gives me freedom.

WOMEN are taught from early childhood that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. We feel compelled to pursue abstract notions of beauty, half realizing that such a pursuit is futile.

When women reject this form of oppression, they face ridicule and contempt. Whether it's women who refuse to wear makeup or to shave their legs, or to expose their bodies, society, both men and women, have trouble dealing with them.

In the Western world, the hijab has come to symbolize either forced silence or radical, unconscionable militancy. Actually, it's neither. It is simply a woman's assertion that judgment of her physical person is to play no role whatsoever in social interaction.

Wearing the hijab has given me freedom from constant attention to my physical self. Because my appearance is not subjected to public scrutiny, my beauty, or perhaps lack of it, has been removed from the realm of what can legitimately be discussed.



It's not particularily my view, but women should be able to make the choice for themselves... not be dictated to.

[jonny2mad]

the law isnt stopping women wearing hijab, its stopping people wearing hijab in school as well as other things like big crosses ect ect. it gives young women the choice of trying out the sort of clothes most of their fellow citizens wear,
it gives them a break from pressure from their family and religion.
turkey has simular laws


ask yourself why the left concentrates on things like the french laws against secterian clothing and supporting islamic terrorist groups.
do you think its because they are getting money from fundermentalists


why do you think I should have any Solidarity for people who suicide bomb people
maybe It would be a good idea to have solidarity with neo-nazis or the bnp

what I would do is look at some countrys that have become islamic states and see how the wearing of hijab and burka have helped this to happen

the people who choose to wear this type of clothing in the west intend imposing these clothes on you in the future (if you were to live long enough)
do some reading and find out how

[Alomiakoda]

why do you think I should have any Solidarity for people who suicide bomb people
maybe It would be a good idea to have solidarity with neo-nazis or the bnpAn extremely small percentage of people who follow the Islamic faith are actually suicide bombers or agree with extremism. Wearing a hijab is a symbol of their faith. I see nothing wrong with people being free to wear what they want. Banning them will simply make Islam a more taboo subject and do nothing to dispel the stereotypes currently being used today. The reason religious artefacts are being banned from schools is because the French government believe that school is no place for religion. School is a place to meet people, and religion is a part of these people. In work places and day to day activities you are likely to meet a diverse pattern of different religions. Life is full of religion, so why should it be banned from schools when surely more religious education is needed to stop closed mindedness?

Let me put this another way. Members of the BNP are white. You are white. Does this make you a BNP supporter? No of course it doesn't. So why is the whole of the Muslim faith to blame for the actions of a few?

[jonny2mad]

how do you define extreamism I would not agree with you that its a very small percentage of muslims that are extreamist thats the government line but it isnt true in my opinion

they may not all be out blowing themselves up but the majority support things like stoning and crucifixtion as punishments that seems pretty extream
stoning is in the haddith and crucifixtion is in the koran

the solidarity thing refered to solidarity with Palestinian prisoners and I would imagine a high percentage of them are supporters of suicide attacks why should I have solidarity with these people

and why does the left pick these issues to concentrate on

having white skin doesnt mean you support the bnp but if I dressed up in nazi uniform that says something about what I support

[Alomiakoda]

having white skin doesnt mean you support the bnp but if I dressed up in nazi uniform that says something about what I support
That's exactly my point. You can't judge many people by the actions of a few.

[Alomiakoda]

Oh and as an afterthought. How many Muslim people do you know? I'm curious.

[jonny2mad]

quite a lot ,some I like but think misguided but as people the ones I like are really nice
but that still doesnt make me keen on the religion

[Alomiakoda]

quite a lot ,some I like but think misguided but as people the ones I like are really nice
but that still doesnt make me keen on the religionNobody is forcing you to be "keen" on the religion. As far as I know, nobody who uses the UK forum is Muslim, but how do you think they (or any of your friends) would feel if they read your remarks regarding the religion. All that is expected is a bit of civility and tact. You don't have to choose Islam as a faith, but many millions of people have, and you should try to be more tolerant, and not just immediately dismiss their beliefs because they do not correspond with your own. You cannot say they are wrong and then be offended when someone challenges your ideas.

[Alomiakoda]

*edit*

Sorry...double post. My computer doesn't like me much today.

[jonny2mad]

for me this is being tactful

[Claire]

for me this is being tactful
I know honey, I know:)

I miss you lotsly. Never got to chat at Bd's that much:(

*cyber hugs*

Love Clairexxxx

[jonny2mad]

cyber hugs back miss you lotsly too