What Comes To Pass

The Full Veil

There's an interesting article by Matthew Paris in the Times today concerning the full veil.

My mother has frequently expressed sentiments akin to the ones Paris records in the article. Seeing a woman in the full veil is a sign of oppression, even if the woman accepts and chooses to wear it. The sensibilities of most Brits would be offended by the sight of a caucasian woman wearing manacles, chained to her husband's tether and the full veil is seen by many as fundamentally the same thing. It is for us at least, an icon of subjugation and oppression.

I wouldn't dream of walking around a predominately black neighborhood in America with a large whip in my hand because it represents something that people gave their lives to fight against. Women died for the suffragette movement and I find myself agreeing with Matthew Paris that perhaps some sensitivity to the indigenous cultural perceptions of UK society ought to be exercised if it is to reciprocate.

My Nonno represented Italian and American diplomatic interests in Damascus whilst he was ambassador there and in order to be allowed to build a small Christian church for the ambassadorial staff to pray in, Italy was forced to build an entire hospital for Syria. It seems an outrageous trade (thankfully the hospital would at least improve the lives of Syrians living in Damascus) but it demonstrated that he was willing to accept the norms and unspoken rules of society in Syria (such as the extreme reluctance to accommodate Christian worship on Syrian soil).

It may be a particularly contentious subject but a little bit of the same consideration for the people who live in this country would seem appropriate.

Later

John