More Ignorance in treating Muslims

In Belgium Muslim teachers have been fired for wearing headscarves.

This reminds me of the cases in France where students have been removed from the French school system for wearing their headcoverings.

These policies are both morally bankrupt and politically stupid.

On the moral side of the equation, failing to allow people to practice their faith in a non-invasive way such as headcoverings is a human rights violation. One's religious faith goes to the core of one's being. It can't be left behind when one exits a place of worship or a home and enters a school or place of business. Do we force them to eat food in the cafeteria that violates their faith as well?

As a policy matter, why would any society choose to reject those members of the Muslim community who wish to be a part of the mainstream? Why would we force them away and, perhaps, into the arms of a more radical element? These policies are helpful to the recruiting efforts of radicals. "See. They hate you because of your religion. They discriminate against you because you are a believer." It is very foolish to open the door to these messages.

We should be happy with every Muslim student who walks through a school house door, and with every Muslim teacher who reports to work to teach them. As long as their behavior respects the learning environment (no different from any other faith- see below in this post), we should welcome them. In this way we can create mutual understanding, friendship, and peace.

I've heard of only one similar case in the United States (although I suspect there have been at least some more). A Muslim girl was removed from school for violating the district's 'hat policy.' I discussed the case with my students. I told them that this was a case of profound ignorance and that the school in question would reverse itself in short order. It did, and the student was back in class within a few days.

As a school policy matter, schools need to be places where all are welcome to learn. This creates the need for a balancing act when it comes to religion. Students, and teachers, should be allowed to be people of faith so long as they do not seek to proselytize or disrupt their classes with their religious behavior. No one is harmed- and the learning environment is not disrupted- by a headscarf, a WWJD T-Shirt, or any other article of clothing. Case by case common sense can rule the day, and the courts will very rarely be needed.

That is, unless people around the world, in a severely misguided attempt to combat global terrorism and enforce cultural homogeneity, continue to discriminate against people of faith who are Muslim. We need to open our arms to our Muslim brothers and sisters and welcome them into our communities, and in this way we will further the cause of peace.

GP