British Sailor using islamic scarf, why?

[ReinaLuna]

I was wondering why does that girl who has been kidnapped in Iran needs to use the scarf to cover her head if she is not a muslim?
I found this a complete lack of respect for other people's choice of religion, as here in England we are NOT a muslim country and still, we don't make them take their scarves off, so why when somebody goes to Iran they have to wear the scarf if it is not part of their beliefs?
I would never visit a country where I am obligated to follow these kind of rules.

[naomi24]

The middle eastern countries don't play by western rules, ReinaLuna. Women there cover their heads. If you notice the female reporters from our TV companies cover their heads too when they're reporting from the middle east.

[chakka35]

Er..has it not occurred to you,ReinaLuna that she might have been forced to wear it, just as she was forced to spout all that pro-Iranian propaganda? Do you really think she had a choice?

[Whickerman]

Unlike here, when you go to their country, you play by their rules.

[ReinaLuna]

Yes chakka35, maybe mine wasn't a very good example, but I mean in general I have seen people going to these countries as simple tourists (which is not obviously the situation of the girl mentioned) and having to wear the scarf or whatever it's called. And I just wanted to know your opinions about it, as myself I find it absurd and dictatorial. Then if we say we don't approve of muslims laws and behaviour, we are stereotyped as being racist. It's quite unfair!!!!!!

[Whickerman]

Actually Reina, it is fair. Fact is, the intolerance in other countries is racist too - it's not just a one way street.

[naomi24]

I suppose the difference is that we try to encompass all cultures and all religions, whereas there they don't. You either abide by their rules or, if you've got any sense, you don't go.

[naomi24]

Just one more thought ReinaLuna. If you did go there you wouldn't be allowed to express such an opinion - or you'd do so at your peril.

[ReinaLuna]

Don't worry Naomi (well you're probably not worried as if you don't even know me, but it's a way of saying it) I WON'T go there, I don't like the word "never", but in this case I can say it, because I don't feel the slighest interest in islamic places.

Each day I am in England (I am from Brasil) I dislike them more because I've had only bad experiences with them. What irritates me is that I have to pretend I like, because if I express my thoughts I am being "racist".

Funny though that my friend was with her baby of almost 2 years old in a shopping and when the child tried to play with a muslim baby, the mother grabbed the child saying something like "don't touch her", and that is not racist? because they can do or say whatever they want while we can't out of the excess of political correctness in this country...

[luna-tic]

I wonder how many times in our historical past have we invaded other countries,set up home in other countries and then forced the people that have lived there for thousands of years to change their beliefs?
That's a complete lack of respect for those occupants.

[ReinaLuna]

lunatic, thing is, I can't live my life with debts for what people did in the past when I wasn't even born!

Me as a Brazilian, Brasil didin't invade countries like England, but I can give the example of the war against Paraguay we had many many years ago, around 1800's, according to history, Paraguay was a small "Switzerland", peaceful, rich, and developing themselves very well. Brasil and Argentina went there, killed their people, raped their women, amongst other atrocities, and basically destroyed the country, which never ever went back to its old shape again.

Still, nowadays we are friends with Paraguay, I have paraguayos friends, we simple don't think we have to keep any bad feelings for each other, because WE didn't do anything. The government did. Same here, ok that England invaded and caused trouble to many other countries, but now everybody here have to put up with every bad behaviour just because of a moral debt to them?

Myself as not English, I have no debt to them anyway. So I prefer to keep my opinions....

[luna-tic]

I agree with you Reina, nothing seems fair in this world.

[naomi24]

I know what you're saying ReinaLuna, but there seems to be little we can do about it. People of different cultures have completely different mindsets and unless they willing to integrate more and are educated to become more tolerant, they always will have - and that often applies to both muslims and non-muslims.

As for political correctness and the curb on freedom of speech, I don't believe it's done us any favours at all because many people are now afraid to express their true opinions, so problems are forcibly suppressed rather than openly discussed and resolved. Governments can legislate to stop people talking, but they can't stop people thinking - at least they haven't discovered a way to do that just yet!

[Theland]

Islam is the greatest threat facing us today, but we in the western world are asleep, and unless we wake up soon, it will be too late.
Brigitte Gabrielle, a lebanes lady living in the USA runs this web site trying to warn pwople of the dangers.
The British girl and her comrades, abducted by the Iranians is just a small example of Islamic intolerance and hatred for the west.

http://www.americancongressfortruth.com/

[naomi24]

Theland, I agree.

[luna-tic]

I know we should not let the acts of terrorism alter our daily lives but it already has and will continue to do so.
I actually find living in the world today, a very scary place.
It is just one corrupt ball of confusion and the general public just trying to live their own lives and trying to make sense of what goes on around them.
I suppose someone will say, Welcome to the real world.

[naomi24]

I wouldn't say welcome to the real world, Luna - you already know what the real world is like - scary! Every day when my family go to London to work, I worry. On 7/7, I didn't know where they were or whether they were dead or alive. I felt totally helpless because all I could do was watch news reports - and it was the longest day of my life. Scary's right.

[Theland]

Let's discuss Islam. Who fancies formulating the question for a new thread? (Give the Christians a break for a day or so!)

[naomi24]

Go on then Theland.

[brionon]

Surely you know that the sight of female hair drives your average Muslim mad with sexual desire. [Not moustaches,of course).

[mankymonky]

Don't know about the scarf, but 14 men and one woman, if they did stray in to Iranian waters, who do you think was reading the map?