http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/12/sibu/6240021&sec=sibu
And they say the current government is politicizing the whole matter????!! Look what DAP is doing in Sibu?
Someone's not practicing what they preach.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
One way but not the other?
My director shocked me the other day with this exchange.
We were out to lunch one day with the girls, and he was the designated driver. As he backing out the car out of the parking lot, one of the girls piped out, "Watch out for the girls."
"What girls?" He said.
"Those girls walking out the back, don't run them over," my colleague said in jest.
"Oh those tudung-ed girls?" Mr Director answered. He then proceeded to say, "God, seeing girls wear tudung (head scarves) annoys me!"
We were stunned. At least, I was stunned. 3 of us in the car were Muslim, one Christian and Mr Director is a self-proclaimed atheist.
Perhaps sensing the sudden dip in the pressure of the atmosphere in the car, Mr Director proceeded to say that it's not necessary to wear the tudung in the country as it's hot. He also went to quote an Egyptian friend of his who said that his mother wore tudung and was discriminated at work due to that, therefore women should not wear tudung at all.
"What about the Christian nuns? Should they take off their head covering as well?" I asked.
No answer. Instead he proceeded to ask if any of us were made to wear tudung in school and somehow the conversation veered into something else by the time we reached our designated eating-place.
I could've kicked myself for not speaking out more. To me, this is a rather discriminating remark. And somewhat targeted towards Muslim women, since the ladies in question, whose sight of head scarves had so annoyed Mr Director, are Muslims. Why the hate?
Personally, I have yet to take up wearing the tudung as I don't feel ready yet. Or to be honest, I'm just too vain at this particular time to want to put it on yet. Screw me, I never said I'm totally pious. But then again, this is a free country. In Malaysia a Muslim woman is free to go about sporting an uncovered head without fear of being apprehended by the religious police. It is within our right to want or to not want to wear it. It's fact.
Which is why I strongly believe as it is as much right for a Muslim woman to be able to wear the tudung if she wants to.
Surprised?
Why must be it be only one way and not the other? If people are so strongly against the veil or any head covering, then don't wear it if you don't want to. But does it give you license to make fun of tudung-clad ladies or deter those who WANTS to don the veil from doing so?
Mr Director, the reason your friend's mom is being discriminated at work due to the fact that she wears the is not due to her veil. It's because those who discriminate her are intolerant and good-for-nothing bigots. Just as much as you are.
You preach freedom and democracy and equality and yet you turn around and reveal your narrow mind and bigotry. Just because it doesn't fit your Western idea of a 'free, liberal woman' does not mean these women are not 'free' in their own right.
This video cannot say it better.
We were out to lunch one day with the girls, and he was the designated driver. As he backing out the car out of the parking lot, one of the girls piped out, "Watch out for the girls."
"What girls?" He said.
"Those girls walking out the back, don't run them over," my colleague said in jest.
"Oh those tudung-ed girls?" Mr Director answered. He then proceeded to say, "God, seeing girls wear tudung (head scarves) annoys me!"
We were stunned. At least, I was stunned. 3 of us in the car were Muslim, one Christian and Mr Director is a self-proclaimed atheist.
Perhaps sensing the sudden dip in the pressure of the atmosphere in the car, Mr Director proceeded to say that it's not necessary to wear the tudung in the country as it's hot. He also went to quote an Egyptian friend of his who said that his mother wore tudung and was discriminated at work due to that, therefore women should not wear tudung at all.
"What about the Christian nuns? Should they take off their head covering as well?" I asked.
No answer. Instead he proceeded to ask if any of us were made to wear tudung in school and somehow the conversation veered into something else by the time we reached our designated eating-place.
I could've kicked myself for not speaking out more. To me, this is a rather discriminating remark. And somewhat targeted towards Muslim women, since the ladies in question, whose sight of head scarves had so annoyed Mr Director, are Muslims. Why the hate?
Personally, I have yet to take up wearing the tudung as I don't feel ready yet. Or to be honest, I'm just too vain at this particular time to want to put it on yet. Screw me, I never said I'm totally pious. But then again, this is a free country. In Malaysia a Muslim woman is free to go about sporting an uncovered head without fear of being apprehended by the religious police. It is within our right to want or to not want to wear it. It's fact.
Which is why I strongly believe as it is as much right for a Muslim woman to be able to wear the tudung if she wants to.
Surprised?
Why must be it be only one way and not the other? If people are so strongly against the veil or any head covering, then don't wear it if you don't want to. But does it give you license to make fun of tudung-clad ladies or deter those who WANTS to don the veil from doing so?
Mr Director, the reason your friend's mom is being discriminated at work due to the fact that she wears the is not due to her veil. It's because those who discriminate her are intolerant and good-for-nothing bigots. Just as much as you are.
You preach freedom and democracy and equality and yet you turn around and reveal your narrow mind and bigotry. Just because it doesn't fit your Western idea of a 'free, liberal woman' does not mean these women are not 'free' in their own right.
This video cannot say it better.
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