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Religions Beauty Pageant in Syria |
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What happens when it is time to mingle at the after party?
Bushra Hamawy - AljazeeraTalk - Dubai
Wearing Hijab -the Islamic headscarf- while living in Syria, KSA, Egypt, Dubai or in New York, to me, has been an interesting experience. Different countries, same question: Why are people becoming obsessed by what we put on our heads, rather than what we put in our heads!
Conservative Syrians, Secular Syrians, Christian Syrians, Muslim Syrians, Atheist Syrians; it is about time we acknowledge the fact that diversity is healthy, and that -sometimes- we have no better option but to embrace it by being receptive, attentive and respectful to other people’s beliefs. Rather than being offensive, indifferent, and living happily ever after in our comfort zone where people are familiar and pleased with our ways.
On the other hand, when it comes to promoting our beliefs, I always asked my self when watching a preaching -Christian or Muslim- session on TV, or witnessing one of those (my credo Vs. your credo) words-boxing matches; what is the fine line between enlightenment and imposing your beliefs on others? If God gave us, them all, the right to choose, who are we to deprive others of that right?
Wearing a headscarf or a mini-skirt manifests different forms of rebellions to many women in Syria. Showing no skin, or showing all skin, I have to admit, is mutually misjudged and blindly condemned by the opposite clique! Either way, we should always doubt the intentions of the superficial and question: Where is the intellectual content of that -so called- a rebellious act?
It is Ironic to know that no matter how different their ways -to prove they are civilized- are, they both –Hijabis or non-Hijabis- know the way to prove you are a civilized woman in Syria is to be stylish and trilingual, hold a Prada bag in your right hand and/or a rich husband in your left.
"P.s: you need to know 30 words only to claim you know how to speak a foreign language in Damascus"
I have nothing against fancy looks, fancy cars, or fancy whatever, as a PR person I believe they’re major aspects of image management. But why does the majority of Damascene women consider work a luxury, a spare time to waste until they get married, why do few Damascene Hijabi girls attend coed international high schools, why even fewer number of Damascene well heeled families are open to send their daughters to study or work abroad alone. All prohibited in the name of religious or cultural values.
Having put Hijab at the age of 16 in Damascus; I have experienced, and realized what kind of pressure and challenges could be generated by making such a decision at such an early. However, I was lucky to be raised by a liberal father who believes the way you choose to dress is a personal matter, and should never be a burden or a boundary.
Maybe it’s about time that Syria drops out of the religions beauty pageant and after parties (missionary work), and realize the world is progressing at fast pace, and all we care about is debating minor issues.
Conservative Syria open-up, Secular Syria lighten up, because –unfortunately- whether we agree or not, right and wrong is a relative issue; it’s the matter of excellence that should be pondered instead of being overly concerned with clerking heaven’s and hell’s doors.
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I was also born into a liberal family which consider religious valuse as a dead cultural values!
and they are not more open minded as any other family, but they claim to be! They are Just the same as everyone else !
Hijab also tells what is in your head, may be not to everyone, but I believe to many, may be you haven't met any, or may be didn't talk about hijab with the correct "Hijabis" !
P.s: you only need to know 10 words that has more than 3 morphemes and not to wear hijab to claim you are liberal in Damascus.