Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Again we’re going political here, agree or disagree, these are simply my thoughts and since we live in Canada we all have the freedom to voice them.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Now the election’s over, but maybe next time they can touch on actual issues.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The one thing that has annoyed me to no end during this election is the focus on the niqab. The niqab is a clothing item worn mostly by Muslim women in public areas. There are a variety of clothing items that Muslim women wear for head coverings, but the niqab covers a person’s face completely, save for their eyes. Variations include the hijab which are head scarves that cover one’s hair or a burqa which covers a woman’s body from head to toe.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý This election, however, has made the topic of the niqab a bigger deal than I think it actually is. A classic magician move, look here while I do this over here. They’ve completely blown the issue out of proportion which has actually turned into, what I think of, as fear-mongering – the use of fear to influence the opinions and actions of others towards some specific end.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The idea of telling me that a niqab is dangerous, that you don’t know who is under it, and that women should be banned from wearing it while saying a citizenship oath is ridiculous. Obviously someone along the way would have had to verify who that person is before they’ve taken their oath and I’m pretty sure those taking the oath with the niqab would understand why they had to be verified before going into the ceremony. But, it can be done in a way that doesn’t infringe upon their rights and freedoms can it not?
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The niqab has in fact become a main focus for the election and the tactics surrounding the fear-mongering are what have annoyed me.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The niqab is a non-issue, but it has become a great tactic to drum up support, create fear and tell the country you’re the only one willing to make the change.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý In Canada veiled women have always been allowed to take the citizenship oath, so long as female citizenship officials are able to verify who that person is before the ceremony.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý It's therefore not just anyone wearing the niqab who is taking the oath. They've been verified before they take the oath; it’s not just some random person under there. They’ve been through extensive background checks and verifications, why would the government let someone take the oath if they weren’t sure they were going to make a good Canadian citizen?
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Since 2011 a total of two women have chosen to wear the niqab during the citizenship ceremony. TWO out of over 650,000 immigrants that have become Canadian citizens in the last four years wore the niqab.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý To me this is a non-issue. What is it really accomplishing other than making those women who choose to wear the niqab feel uncomfortable and violated, yes violated because they grew up with the belief that they must be covered in public places. If they’re verified in a private setting, which is something that is done and which any reasonable person would understand, then by all means wear it during the ceremony. If you refuse to have your identity verified before in a private setting with a female officer, then you won’t get to take part in the ceremony and become a Canadian citizen, probably for good reason.
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý So next time dear political leaders vying to become Prime Minister tell me what you're party is actually going to do in the next four years that will have a tangible impact on my life as a Canadian because I don’t feel like this was a worthy topic of discussion.
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