Dear Friends,
I’m a woman, a teacher, and if people stop identifying me with terrorists, I’m also a Muslim. But, I’m appalled at what has happened and might still take place next week.
I’m a woman, a teacher, and if people stop identifying me with terrorists, I’m also a Muslim. But, I’m appalled at what has happened and might still take place next week.
The Islamic high school soccer team refused to play with another school’s co-ed soccer team, “ out of respect,” says their coach, Essa Abdool-Karim.
Respect means different things to different people. In my culture, youngsters are expected to look down when they are being scolded. In other cultures, it’s considered rude not to look at the person who is lecturing you. I learnt to let my students make me uncomfortable by staring at me.
We all try to co-exist peacefully in Canada, bending our rules a bit here, compromising our values a bit there. However, there is a limit to accommodation. A girl’s right to play any sport along her male playmates shouldn’t be negotiable, not in Canada, not in 2015, not in the name of “respect.”
What’s next? Sitting at the back of the bus? Vacating the beach, or eating separately on the left side of the restaurant?
The Islamic high school has the right to play by its rules, but not there and then. The authorities should’ve suspended, postponed the game. By not doing so, they sent out three infuriating messages; 1. Religion prevails Canadians civil rights, (to be honest with you, I’m not sure if there is anything written in Koran about boys playing soccer with girls).
2. It’s commendable for women to “sacrifice” their rights and dreams to either keep the peace, or to let their “men” shine.
3. It’s acceptable for men to have what they want, even if it involves denying women their human rights.
Don’t blame me for cringing, I’m a woman. I worked hard for my freedom and independence. Most importantly, I have two young granddaughters, giving up their rights, is not an option!
Respect means different things to different people. In my culture, youngsters are expected to look down when they are being scolded. In other cultures, it’s considered rude not to look at the person who is lecturing you. I learnt to let my students make me uncomfortable by staring at me.
We all try to co-exist peacefully in Canada, bending our rules a bit here, compromising our values a bit there. However, there is a limit to accommodation. A girl’s right to play any sport along her male playmates shouldn’t be negotiable, not in Canada, not in 2015, not in the name of “respect.”
What’s next? Sitting at the back of the bus? Vacating the beach, or eating separately on the left side of the restaurant?
The Islamic high school has the right to play by its rules, but not there and then. The authorities should’ve suspended, postponed the game. By not doing so, they sent out three infuriating messages; 1. Religion prevails Canadians civil rights, (to be honest with you, I’m not sure if there is anything written in Koran about boys playing soccer with girls).
2. It’s commendable for women to “sacrifice” their rights and dreams to either keep the peace, or to let their “men” shine.
3. It’s acceptable for men to have what they want, even if it involves denying women their human rights.
No, girls, in this case, there is no heroism in taking one for the team! You didn’t win a game, you lost a war! Everyone present at this event, who stood by and let this injustice take place, back-pedalled us to the time when women’s rights played second fiddle to men’s privileges. You let down your mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers.
Don’t blame me for cringing, I’m a woman. I worked hard for my freedom and independence. Most importantly, I have two young granddaughters, giving up their rights, is not an option!
