[ben]

The ban on head scarfs in turkish universitys stays, will this lead to a more tolerent society or less women going to further education in Turkey ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4424776.stm

[Shannon]

Wow i didnt actually know that, its very interesting! Actually in a way i think its good, it gives women who dont get the opportunity in a lot of cases to express themselves a lot more! Though i cant speak for the women who want to wear hijab.

Its a very tough call!! In a lot of cases i think its good to keep religion out of state affairs and State run institutions! That doesnt really make it any different to the rest of Europe!

Hmmm im gonna have to think on this one a bit more, its a toughie!!

[slimjim]

it is indeed a tough call one which will have as many opinions as there are people
i know the hijab has been banned in Turkish unis for a long time, i dont think it will lead to much if any of a change in the number of women going to uni as many more factors are involved whether or not they attend ,as for the effect on society again i think the more relaxed liberak ways will continue in cities and large towns and the more traditional ways will continue in the countryside much as at present .
i know at times sadly girls are forced to adopt certain forms of dress by family members , but many choose to wear certain items out of choice ,surely if the clothing is a reflection of a persons heritage and is not portraying anything derogotry or threatning to others they should be free to choose.
I wont voice an oppinion on the decision as the internal legistlation of an other country all be it one i love is not for me to critical or praising of

what i would like to make a few remarks on is the passing of laws of this nature in any country (these opinions are of no way critical of the decision taken in Turkey)
given that i live in a part of scotland where religious division and bigotry is a real problem amongst the christian community i am aware of the dangers of highlighting any differences in beleifs.
here we have seperate schools for differnt forms of christianity as well as schools for all religions ,people are wary of mixing with others from different backgrounds and in some areas any display of belonging to either side of the christian divide could be verry dangerous indeed.
it is a real pleasure to see the members of our muslim ,jewish ,hindu,seikh and buhdist communities being able to feel free and able to wear clothing and other items which reflect both their religious and ethnic heritage.

I ask where does the line get drawn as to what is no longer acceptable clothing,jewllery,facial hair, tattoos,the list could be endless and what happens if or when not only clothing but any action which displays a persons ethnic or religious heritage or choice.

given that most countries are becomming more multi national and religious surely it is time for goverments to start to encourage a display of the fact that the populations are made up of many different types of people each of whom has something to contribute and that the diversity is if nutered in a proper way a positive and beneficial thing to all in the community ,
given the problems in the world just now do we need anycountry to in anyway highlight any difference in what could be concieved as a negative way.
I remember as a child sitting in a park and overhearing a rabi and a priest talking during the conversation it was said that only those who doubt their own beleifs have anything to fear by exposure to others , i know from those in my part of the country who discriminate against others that those words ring very true.
as was once said i may not agree with a persons oppinion but i will die defending their right to have it
sorry for going on but anything that is or can be seen as discrimitive just hits a nerve with me i just wish we could stop seeing the differences in people as a negative and concentrated on seeing only the fact that it is another human being .
going for a chill out pill and a lie down now

[Fiona26]

Slimjim, I totally agree. I can't see it having an effect on the number of women attending college, for a lot of women and men in Turkey financially it would be difficult if not impossible to attend college. From travelling to different parts of Turkey, wearing the head scarf seems to depend on different families and areas attitudes.

I do think that a university should not ban the wearing of head scarves, the great thing about going to university/college is that it is a time when you experiment with politics and ideals, a college banning anything as innocent as a head scarf is not progressive it is just a first step in restricting the freedom of students.

Every country has to rethink their attitudes, banning articles of dress does not help people integrate, it only isolates them more, we should be encouraging people to rejoice in their own spirituality/religion whilst recognising the importance of respecting others.

[slimjim]

100% in agreement fiona
glad someone else sees the lets take an easy option penalising people fpr a trivial matter whilst turning a blind eye to more serious problems.

[Hephaestion]

Originally Posted by Fiona26

Every country has to rethink their attitudes, banning articles of dress does not help people integrate, it only isolates them more, we should be encouraging people to rejoice in their own spirituality/religion whilst recognising the importance of respecting others.

Well put Fiona!

[Shannon]

Every country has to rethink their attitudes, banning articles of dress does not help people integrate, it only isolates them more, we should be encouraging people to rejoice in their own spirituality/religion whilst recognising the importance of respecting others.

I agree, but then theres the other end of the stick with people saying that wering the hijab only highlights the differences and sometimes carries a stigma instead of what we have in common and doesnt help integration!

Its a very tough one to call i think!

[slimjim]

I agree, but then theres the other end of the stick with people saying that wearing the hijab only highlights the differences and sometimes carries a stigma instead of what we have in common and doesn't help integration

very true words, but is the real problem not one of the fact that something highlights a difference but with the fact that any stigma should be attached to differences , and by removing differences how can we hope to bring an end to the idea that different must somehow mean unacceptable.

i agree that at times putting our own spiritual ,cultural,nationalistic heritage first is both natural and at the same time potentially diverse within a multi cultural society (as most countries now are)but i cant help feel other than by exposing our selfs to these differences and eventually learning that there is no or Little real threat to our values is the only way we can bring an end to many of the problems facing mankind today.

a world where we can all openly and freely express all aspects that form our persona safe in the knowledge that no one finds it offensive or threatening anymore is i realize either a distant or impossible dream
but
a world of identical thought conditioned non individualistic clones seems too much of a nightmare
extreme i know but who decides what is acceptable and where does the removal from society of certain article and practices end ?

perhaps George Orwell had an insight after all.