A couple of days ago, you'll recall, we featured current controversies over a metal cross retrieved from the rubble at Ground Zero, and a roadside cross marking a fatal accident in Lake Elsinore, California. American Atheists and the American Humanist Association are suing over both outrageous provocations.
On the other hand, as far as I'm aware, American atheists and humanists have no plans to bring any separation-of-church-and-state suits against the City of Minneapolis, for its observance at City Hall last month of "Hijab Day". Female members of the city council wore the hijab, as did the Chief of Police, Janeé Harteau, a lesbian who recently married her "favorite sergeant", Holly Keegel. I have no idea what Sgt Keegel wore for Hijab Day. Maybe she went as the Grand Mufti.
Hijab Day grows a little bigger around the world each year. Its purpose is to enable the rest of us to show our support for women who choose to go covered. In reality, for most Muslim women around the world, the choice is made for them - by men. In Afghanistan under the Taliban, women were forbidden by law from ever feeling sunlight on their faces. Maybe most of them would have "chosen" not to feel it anyway, but we'll never know, will we? And in the west young Muslimas who decline their fathers' and husbands' choices do so at their own peril...No, no, Mark, you've got it all wrong. As a recent Canadian report on the subject reveals, "choosing" to cover up is, well, awesome.
Update: Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed, who's the editor of something called CanadianMomEh.com and "Spokesperson for the diverse face of Canadian Moms," tells HuffPo readers about an unpleasant episode at the medical clinic: A Quebec doctor asked me to remove my hijab--I refused.
As you can see from her photo (
), this face of diversity is wearing one of those heavy-duty numbers. And since she was complaining of cold symptoms, this sort of covering makes a proper examination of the ears all but impossible. Thus, one can understand why the doctor would ask her to remove it. See, he wasn't being "intolerant," hon. He was only trying to help you.
Update: Woman in Afghanistan murdered for refusing husband's order to wear hijab
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