The other day I was at Dixi Mall with my mum. Just walking around you could see people of many ethnenticities. Arab, Muslem, Canadian, Ukranian, Jamacian, Korean, & Japanese. As we know, along with the cultures previous, clothes, cuisen, religious/spiritual beliefs play a big role in each of them. While I was in Dixi Mall I was walking into Guess, texting and not paying any attention. I heard my mother whisper to me "Look Kaitie" and as soon as my eyes shot up I saw a woman and her husband standing at the shelf, both dangling pairs of jeans in each hand.
I quickly found myself taken a back and staring. Not direcly but subtle enough that I wasn't being rude. I was completley surprised at what I was seeing. A tall and beautiful woman, from the looks of her eyes stood before me, completley covered from head to toe in black. At first I was completley terrified. Maybe it was just from the shock of seeing a woman tower probably about 6'5 ft or more and being covered in complete black. But it was completley jaw dropping. I decided on the spot that this would be something I would blog about later on in the week. My thoughts about this occurance for the rest of that day litterly felt like they had been knotted together, tied&stappled up, and thrown into Lake Ontario. Today being later in the week I still find myself feeling the same way.
I've done a little research today and found out the name of the headscarf [sorry if that is not the correct term] and how a woman; no one in particular, feels about wearing it. The article of clothing is called the Niqab. A woman who has been wearing a Niqab for one year released the following statements. "I wear the Niqab as part of pleasing my creator and as part of completing my faith. By covering my face I am honouring myself and I'm presenting myself to the world as my charactor, personality, and contribution towards society.I feel so wonderful for having done this because I am now on the path to spiritual development." When asked what makes her feel so wonderful with making the choice she responded "I'm an honoured Musslem woman, who has her own oppinions, own voice, personality, character, I have everything thats wonderful to me. My beauty is a wonderful part to me as well, but I don't feel that I have to display it all for the world." A second person adds in "It is just a message to people to judge me on the work I do and who I am, not based on the way I look."
They continued to speak on how their God knew better for them than they do and in the Coran its spoke that they are to wear veils. I as a human can respect the spiritual belief and pratices because I as a Christian go to a Catholic church and receive The Body of Christ/Eucharist. I also more than completley understand the womens comments stating that people should judge off of who a person is and what they do, rather than their apperance. I wish the world could be like that. It seems like a great idea. Though maybe in Musslem culture in Afganistan or Lebanon all those theories and beliefs work because almost everyone has their minds in the same place. But on the other hand, no matter where you go in Canada or around people who do not have the same beliefs or religion as you, they're going to judge you on the way you look.
Would you especially as a teenager find it easy not to make a comment? Perhaps you're not the type of person to do so, but when you're walking around in thirty degree weather in black head to toe, and everyone else around you are in shorts and t-shirts, you're going to stand out a little. Not even just teenagers. I was at Niagra Falls and I happened to hear a roughly forty-year old buisness man in a suit with his bluetooth pressed to his ear talking trash about not even just the Niqab, but Hijab, Turbans, Yhamicas etc. A grown man people.
Now I'm not saying to throw your culture away and what you beleive in just because you're in a country that doesn't practice the same things. Not because the greater majority of people in society shop at Abercrombie, Blue Notes, Sears, Walmart, and Salvation Army. I am not saying disregard everything you know just because everyone else is doing it. Personaly, I'm not a person to follow trends, wear what everyones wearing, and change my morals, and how I act to suit everyone else. That is me and if I'm not accepted by some, then thats great. I'm sure I will find pleanty of people in my life time who appreciate me and accept me for who I am.
Do I believe everyone should follow in these peoples beliefs? No. To each their own. Would I follow these people? No. I do value and appreciate what they stand for. I myself would like to have the strength to do so, but I honestly do not think I could ever wear what they wear. Believe for sure but not dress. Do I think you need to hide yourself from the world for people to accept you? Deffinatley not. If a human is willing and ready to slosh names out at you and judge you from the exterior then their probably not worth your time. You must train yourself to let those kind of people go from your life and find or let the good people find you.
In conclusion I'd like to say that I have so much respect for the women and even the men who dress for themselves, their spirits, their beliefs, their morals, and their well being. It takes real courage to go out into the world wearing your culture like that.
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