The Beautiful Face of Freedom
TIKE
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Times Writer | |
Freedom, individuality, and expression of one's self are words that describe what people are fortunate to have who live in North America. We have the ability to believe in a religion, express ourselves through a variety of different methods, and live among people of different backgrounds and cultures. However, on September 11, 2001, our world suddenly changed and we were given a different perspective on life. We then understood what it is like to live in many places in the Middle East.
I am sure that the majority of you have heard about the on-going wars happening in different parts of the world. It is hard to escape the graphic pictures or scenes on the television these days (though somehow some people manage to). However, do you really realize what it is like to be an ordinary person in the Middle East? It is extremely different than life that we experience in North America.
Have you ever wondered why people who live in North America wear articles of clothing similar to those in the Middle East? Some of you may complain that while living in North America, you should follow the North American traditions. At least, I have heard that several times on the television.
Many people choose to cover their face as a symbol of their faith or spirituality. They are following the Muslim faith. In Islam, women are required to dress very modestly, and the scarf is one method that enables them to do that. The scarf has also liberated certain individuals. Wearing clothing of such nature also symbolizes that a person is very conservative. They do not drink, and do not have to worry about a person offering them an alcoholic beverage.
Perhaps you have learned about the rights of individuals in history class. One specific person who comes to my mind is Nellie McClung. She was an activist who helped get women the right to vote in Canada. We now see that she was successful; however, there were many obstacles in her way at that time. Women were not considered real people. Now, times have changed, and women are given the rights and equality that they deserve. However, in several countries in the Middle East, women have few if any rights. They were taken away from them in Afghanistan in 1996 when the Taliban leadership took over. It is interesting to see the things that women and young girls were not able to do there. Here are just a few examples of what it was like under Taliban rule:
- Women could not get an education and teenage girls are forbidden to attend school.
- They were also not able to receive any medical attention from a male doctor. Moreover, there are very few female doctors in the Middle East.
- Any women or young girl could not have any male contact unless it was with her father or husband, or any other family member. Boyfriends as we know them were not allowed.
- Women had to be covered by a veil-like garment called a burka. If they showed any skin, they might receive a public stoning as punishment.
- Women were not permitted to legally work. Before 1996, women had jobs as lawyers, professors, and members of parliament.
- All forms of entertainment (such as television, movies, radio video-games, etc.) were not allowed for girls.
- A woman was not allowed to look out the window. If a house had windows, they had to be painted black. Only a husband was allowed to see his wife or daughter.
- Wearing any type of make-up was banned. If a young girl received a manicure, then she would have the tops of her thumbs amputated. Plucking the eyebrows was also banned.
- If a girl laughed out loud, she might receive a type of punishment called flogging (whipping).
You probably do not realize the rights and freedoms that you have, and how fortunate you are to live in a society that believes all people should have equal rights. Before the 911 attack, the Middle East was not receiving too much attention. No one knew what was happening -- at least, I didn't. Islam is a religion that has approximately 1 billion followers across the globe. Followers are called Muslims, which means "one who surrenders to God".
Now, I am not an expert on religions, but my World Religion class has given me a different perspective on things. I believe that we would begin to realize more things if we had more understanding. Researching a topic that you see on the news or in the media may give you a whole different look on the subject. For you see, the news is known to usually only concentrate on bad things. There are two different sides to the spectrum, and sometimes you only see the one side.
911 has altered many people's lives. Many people have changed their entire lives because of the events. People are beginning to say, "I Love You," to more of their friends and family members more often. People are praying and spending more time with relatives. However, other people admit that they are more suspicious of strangers and say they have a difficult time sleeping at night.
You may have heard the expression, you get what you give. People of the Islamic faith who live in North America have been given a difficult time -- I wish that everyone understood that the actions of a few do not resemble the feelings of all. For example, if your friend does something wrong, it doesn't mean that you respect their decision. I don't think that many people understand what it is like for some of the Muslim people. Being frowned upon because someone thinks they might be a potential terrorist, just because of the God they pray to. It is sad, but it happens all the time. As far as I can tell, there is no way to stop that, because people have a right to their own opinions. I suggest that you make sure that your opinion is justified, or else it doesn't hold much of a point, does it?
Enjoy your rights and your freedoms, celebrate your faith and keep yourself informed. Education and knowledge is key when it comes to world events. Take this opportunity to shine.
Thank you for listening. As always,
-TIKE
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