Editor,
Freedom is the opportunity to decide for you. Choice is the basic building block of capitalism and a democratic system. Americans have the freedom to choose our political representatives and products we consume.
In our Constitution, it is written that we have the right to choose religion, political figures and pursuit of happiness. However, these ideals sometimes are not upheld to the high standards we set for ourselves as Americans.
As an American, I listened to the stories flooding the news about a law that recently passed through the French senate. The law states that Islamic veils cannot be worn in public. On one hand, lawmakers state the law is in place for safety reasons. The covering of the face makes it easy to escape the law.
However, a member of the Cabinet who approved the bill also states that the veils are symbolic of female oppression and not welcome in France’s democratic society.
Now let’s take a closer look at the idea.
The Cabinet member wants to free women from oppression by forcing them to abandon sacred practices that have been handed down through generations. It seems like a backward step to the goal of a free world. The whole concept of freedom is to have a choice. This law takes away the Muslim women’s right to choose whether they wish to practice their religion. More and more, laws in Europe have been sprouting up that directly attack the Muslim community.
More close to home, in Disneyland’s resort restaurant a hostess was told to go home without pay seven times because she chose to wear an Islamic headscarf. She had been working faithfully and diligently for the company for three years.
As a tribute to her culture and sacred holiday Ramadan, she wanted to wear a headscarf in public at all times. Her choice to get closer to her religion by practicing common traditions was looked down upon by her employer.
If someone can wear a crucifix to work, then it is only just she wear her headscarf. It must not be a small world after all.
Since 9/11, the Muslims have been the focus of our woes. The reality is that a small group of terrorists should not inform opinion of an entire population of people. Muslims need not be the scapegoat. The only way to attempt unity in our salad bowl society is to respect each other.
It is a woman’s right to wear what she feels accurately depicts herself. It is constitutional to support people’s right to worship. It is moral to embrace a different heritage. Freedom is not freedom unless you can choose. Forcing people out of oppression is a sorry excuse to oppress.
Thelma Greenfield
UNM student
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