Hillary Clinton wears Muslim hijab in Cairo

[Alt+F4]

No, but he wore the appropriate headgear. Presumably as a sign of respect.

It seems that when men wear the appropriate headgear they are being respectful but when women do the same it suddenly becomes about inequality.

 

[oldhat]

It seems that when men wear the appropriate headgear they are being respectful but when women do the same it suddenly becomes about inequality.

Funny how conservatives suddenly become ardent feminists whenever Muslims do something sexist.

 

[GreyICE]

Yeah, seen plenty of muslim world leaders in business suits when they're over here, don't think that's traditional dress.

Non-issue is non-issue.

 

[Biscuit]

I agree with Tin's stance on this. If a Muslim leader came here, would you expect him to eat pork and drink beer with you? Would you expect Muslim women to take OFF their hijabs or full body coverings?

No because that would violate their religious beliefs and thus is a really bad analogy for what H.C. did.

No one expects a foreign diplomat to adopt every custom of the country they visit but it is a nice diplomatic gesture to try and fit in a bit. When in Rome and all that...

Also it gives us something to get fired up about and fill up all the unused internet space we have!

 

[Dr Adequate]

No because that would violate their religious beliefs and thus is a really bad analogy for what H.C. did.

No one expects a foreign diplomat to adopt every custom of the country they visit but it is a nice diplomatic gesture to try and fit in a bit. When in Rome and all that...

Also it gives us something to get fired up about and fill up all the unused internet space we have!

If it wasn't for the inane bickering there'd be nothing but an endless sea of porn ...

... wait ....

.... STOP THE INANE BICKERING!

 

[MattusMaximus]

Meh. Much ado about nothing, though I'm sure that Rush Limbo and other right-wing blabbers will spout off about how this is yet another sign that Obama is Destroying the United States^TM

She is a joke.
Her only hope to become president is if the neocons tap Mitt Romney.

Umm, you do realize the 2008 election is over, don't you?

 

[tyr_13]

If it wasn't for the inane bickering there'd be nothing but an endless sea of porn ...

... wait ....

.... STOP THE INANE BICKERING!

Seconded.

 

[EGarrett]

This is surprisingly stupid.

Actually, your interpretation is what's stupid. Because you didn't understand the point.

Eating pork and drinking beer are not religious observance; we don't have one religion in the states... nobody expects Muslim women to doff their religiously important garb because, whoo-hoo! We're going to Daytona Beach! Let's show 'em to drunken guys we don't know!

We DON'T expect them to change on those types of things when they're here. Now apply your brain and think about what that would mean for Hillary going over there.

No because that would violate their religious beliefs and thus is a really bad analogy for what H.C. did.

Really? So not eating pork to a Muslim is more important than female equality is to America?

 

[CapelDodger]

It's not like the Egyptians were asking Mrs. Clinton to face Mecca and start praying.

Or embrace polygamy.

(A cheap shot that I couldn't resist.)

... eat pork become a sign of respect for American culture?

Even less resistable. I am so going to hate myself in the morning .

 

[varwoche]

I'm bleakly amused that it was the Clinton campaign that tried to smear Obama by slipping the media the picture of Obama in Somali garb on the eve of Ohio/Texas primaries.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

I agree with Tin's stance on this. If a Muslim leader came here, would you expect him to eat pork and drink beer with you? Would you expect Muslim women to take OFF their hijabs or full body coverings?

So a Scandinavian woman visiting the US does not need to wear a bikini top to the beach. OK.

Now, before you protest, this is the logical consequence of your argument. Americans have a culture that demands women cover up their bosoms, for the precisely same reason Muslims demand women cover their hair. If you can decide for the Middle Easterners that hair isn't anything to raise a fuzz over, then Norwegians who feel bare breasts are normal can spend time on US beaches topless.

If it wasn't for the inane bickering there'd be nothing but an endless sea of porn ...

... wait ....

.... STOP THE INANE BICKERING!

Ve can has c of pr0n nao?

 

[Biscuit]

Really? So not eating pork to a Muslim is more important than female equality is to America?

Nice one. The item that H.C. put on is just as much a cultural tradition, if not more so, than it is a religious one. As was already pointed out there is no law in Egypt that requires women to cover their hair, try to not lump all muslims in with the Taliban. H.C. was not forced to adhere to nor did she succumb to the treatment that Egyptian women face. It takes a seriously twisted mind to see her wearing a traditional Egyptian headdress as a tacit endorsement of sexism.

Lets also not forget that America wasn't always the most forward thinking country when it came to women's rights. We have our own cultural bias that still exists today and was at one time enshrined in our laws.

Asking a Muslim diplomat to eat pork in america would be more like asking H.C. to cook the dinner while the 'men talked.'

Do you have any proof that H.C. was coerced or even asked to wear that?

Can I haz ma pron nao?

 

[FireGarden]

Considering that the hijab is not required by law in Egypt, I don't see a problem at all with wearing it there. In countries where it is required, I think it gets a bit more difficult. I would perhaps suggest complying, but avoiding any public photo-ops which could be construed as support for the policy.

In fact, there is pressure in Egypt to not wear the Hijab. Here's the story of an Egyptian newsreader:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7702895.stm

I have waited six years for this moment - to present television wearing my hijab.

[...] Anyway, when I put the hijab on in February 2002, I was banned from being on screen.

There have been many cases like this - female presenters losing their jobs when they want to wear the hijab on air. A colleague, Hala el-Malki and I were the first to take it to court.

We got two rulings in our favour, the most recent in July 2005. It said we could wear what we liked on screen so long as it wasn't 'strange'. It's taken until now [BBC article dated Nov 2008] for our employers [Alexandria's Channel 5, a state channel] to apply it.

[...] However, my employers still haven't let me return to my other job of reading the English-language news bulletins. I did this job for 12 years before I was stopped - but now they said I needed to pass another test. I refused to take it on principle.

When I covered my hair, I didn't lose my ability to read the news.

 

[Professor Yaffle]

My friend lived in Egypt for a while, and after a few months started wearing a headscarf too because of unwanted attention. Not from men, but from hoardes of kids. Because she has really bright red hair it was really obvious she was "western" and the kids used to chase after her asking her for english lessons and then throwing stones at her when she didn't respond.

 

[Minadin]

As long as she chose to wear it and wasn't coerced to, what's the hubbub, bub?


Oh, and:

In Britain (I don't know about the US) I could walk around topless. Women, not so much. I hope that you will join me in condemning this senseless oppression of women.

In the US men can walk around barefoot and topless (we usually say 'shirtless' for guys) but most private businesses deny entry to people who aren't wearing both shoes and a shirt. There's a very common sign (at least around here) that says, "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service."

Oddly enough, the sign doesn't mention anything about a lack of pants. I supposed that part is just assumed, since men can be arrested for waist-down nudity (and have been).

 

[rwguinn]

Nice one. The item that H.C. put on is just as much a cultural tradition, if not more so, than it is a religious one. As was already pointed out there is no law in Egypt that requires women to cover their hair, try to not lump all muslims in with the Taliban. H.C. was not forced to adhere to nor did she succumb to the treatment that Egyptian women face. It takes a seriously twisted mind to see her wearing a traditional Egyptian headdress as a tacit endorsement of sexism.

Lets also not forget that America wasn't always the most forward thinking country when it came to women's rights. We have our own cultural bias that still exists today and was at one time enshrined in our laws.

Asking a Muslim diplomat to eat pork in america would be more like asking H.C. to cook the dinner while the 'men talked.'

Do you have any proof that H.C. was coerced or even asked to wear that?

Can I haz ma pron nao?

As someone pointed out:
It is no different from Middle Eastern or Oriental men/women wearing Western Business attire when they meet with their peers in the US (or anywhere it is common attire). It is intended to put people at ease. As difficult as it is for the Mid-East to swallow the fact that a female Diplomat has the rank and authority of H.C., we need all the comfort-inducing tricks possible.
It's OK to dislike the current Administration (or any Administration for that matter). But you don't have to search for idiot reasons like this one...

 

[Oliver]

Non-Muslim American woman (Laura Bush and Condi Rice wore them too) wearing a scarf is a sign of respect, and takes nothing away from their Christian beliefs. It's not like the Egyptians were asking Mrs. Clinton to face Mecca and start praying. Muslim women wearing it is an expression of religious freedom.

And since when is asking foreign diplomats to drink beer and eat pork become a sign of respect for American culture?

LOL

 

[Bill Thompson]

Umm, you do realize the 2008 election is over, don't you?

Umm, you do realize both these tools are still young and these elections roll around every 4 years like the Olympics.

Sorry for overestimating.

 

[dudalb]

This whole thread is dumb.

 

[dudalb]

As someone pointed out:
It is no different from Middle Eastern or Oriental men/women wearing Western Business attire when they meet with their peers in the US (or anywhere it is common attire). It is intended to put people at ease. As difficult as it is for the Mid-East to swallow the fact that a female Diplomat has the rank and authority of H.C., we need all the comfort-inducing tricks possible.
It's OK to dislike the current Administration (or any Administration for that matter). But you don't have to search for idiot reasons like this one...

If I thought the Obama adminsitration was trying play up to Islamic militants, I would be the first one to scream bloody murder. But this fuss is just damn silly.