Through a glass darkly
“Through a glass darkly” are the words of Apostle Paul in the Bible and the title of a poem written in 1869. The Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman also used this as the title of a film with dark and complicated themes of a family. Basically, this means an obscure and imperfect vision of reality. It appears there are large numbers of women who all see through a glass darkly. These women are wearing the hijab (head covering) and Niqab (face covering) today despite the attempts of governments, social activists, educators and jurists to ban the practise. This well crafted male orthodoxy and virtue signalling shocker is not going anywhere in a hurry.
There are global conspiracies which flourish in countries where the Muslim faith is being practised. Generations of women have been told this is faith ordained. The injunction is ordained by holy words from a holy book called the Quran. . This is a scandalous lie. Those familiar with the spiritual text will confirm this. However, a man made or rather compiled account of social mores called ‘Hadith”is responsible for bolstering this heinous practise. It is the worst form of patriarchy cunningly protected by a lie designed to deny women their unalienable rights. The culprits are developing counties where literacy rates are shockingly low. The brave women of Iran have recently made a public rejection of this practise based on orthodox social taboos as its source and are paying the price for their rebellion. Secret hangings of their male supporters are being conducted as the developed countries continue to trade with Iran.
The Taliban, once again, have hurled back women’s development into the dark ages of their imagining. The schoolgirl they shot in the face, Malala Yusafzai is both a Nobel Laureate and a champion for girl’s education in dusty corners of the world however our North American response is to help some women to escape from Afghanistan. So we cheer the fleeing MPs and international Athletes and fill up our give baskets when they land in our countries. Are we ignoring the reality of their bringing fear with them as they firmly knot a hijab into place.
Feb 1st has also been proclaimed ‘Hijab Day” by a woman somewhere whose website invites women from all faiths and cultures to experience the joys of having a tight bit of fabric draped in a skull fashion making every women loose her individuality and clog up the oil gland in her scalp. The conversation has to turn now.
Saudi men who insist on their women being veiled simply drop a floor length black robe like garment over their heads. Presto ! Woman concealed! End of all the mischief along with freedom of movement, expression and individuality. Why is this conversation not changing? The culprits here are women and not men. There are many of varying ages who smugly pronounce “ No one is forcing me this is my choice”. As this jaw dropping comment makes many gnash their teeth there is no action which uses force,aggresion or public shaming to get these women to refrain from covering heads and faces. Female University students view this as a private club which makes others notice them
“Well nobody looked at us before” Now a girl with a hijab walks in and everybody looks at her.” says the exquisite Somalian beauty sharing an Americano with me.
“So it is a subtle way of saying look at me,” I smile caught up by the frivolity of this female ploy.
“Nothing to do with religion then,” I push for clarification.
She throws her head back and laughter tinkles out of the glossy lips.The hijab purchased from an online store has scattered a line of indigo sequins across her forehead.
“Of course not. It has just become a fashion statement. Women are very sexy when they wear a Niqab. Only the eyes showing. Everyone is doing heavy smoky eyes now,” she widens her own theatrically.
What never enters the required conversation is the virtue signalling theme. Women from the Judeo Christian societies are prancing around nude. Legs, midriffs and breasts on display along with see through evening wear. This is high end glamour and men want it but will not marry it. Nobody will bring this girl home to a Hijab wearing mother who will put her foot down. It is also a boundary line. Yet when these women settle in European and North American societies they carry their special status with them. This is dubbed as modesty and shyness. There are legions of Muslim men who have been duped into believing that the potential mother’s of their children should possess these qualities. All is not well however as the same men are the biggest clients of sex workers and flee to five star hotels abroad to avail of sexual romps provided by shameless western women. The veiled women know this.
International Women’s Day looms on the horizon. Feminist victories, advances in reproductive safety, educational grants and opportunities will be showcased. The demands of prominent females globally lined up in panels and representing their countries and causes will light the skies for that day. Celebrations will be organized because ‘we have come a long way baby’. At least one third if not more of the delegates will be women sporting the oldest symbol of enslavement- namely the Hijab. The people responsible for this hypocrisy are women themselves who are steeped in cultural denial. They remain frightened of men. We on the other hand need to knock down the barrier separating women. It is a time for women to be scared of women