I had seen their sisters in one of our hospitals before. They were not banned. Nobody in his right mind would see their head scarves in religious terms. In India where they originate they are seen as Indian. These women are better known for what they do (substance) than how they appear (form)
All the major religions have this challenge: too much form and too little substance.
There is a global Islamic Revival. The older folks especially LKY's generation sense it more acutely when they compare the Muslims of their youth and now. Religious revivals always make people who are not adherents nervous. The process seems to be accelerating as moderates are beating retreat to the advance of rediscovered Islam. Yes, such revivals are never new. They are always presented as returning to the roots, to truth. They are irresistible or why would outsiders fear them otherwise.
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More and more Muslim women wants to wear the hijab. If we refuse to allow them in our uniformed services and the frontline staff of our public service then the saddest thing could be not that they would be assertive but they would stop applying for those jobs. It is reasonable to think that some would switch jobs to those that permit the hijab.
On the other hand there is another problem. The quiescent majority might begin to verbalize their anxiety if we fail to draw them out and engage them in discussing this issue. Right now they assume the government would not bend. I agree with the PM's approach of constructive engagement but again I give him and Yaacob an F for communication. They must seize the initiative and respond quickly and clearly.
By and large people here take our religious and racial harmony for granted. Will not be pretty when they suddenly become alarmed. Yes Yaacob, what were you doing? Letting the ball drop again eh?
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Go ahead wear the hijab (Form) and wear it with a smile at all times too (Substance) seizing every opportunity for good works. The Taleban needs an opposite and equal response. Mas Selamat need it as much too.
But the non-believing public need to truly understand what this is all about. Then we would take our religious harmony to the next level. In this way whilst it appear we are shrinking our common space we are also enlarging it as well. Other societies fight over form but let's engage in jihad over substance. This is the spirit of the Gospel. You win by meeting the irresistible with irresistible, by fighting form with substance.
Update: 7:15 am
Two examples from the WSJ email I got this morning. All form and no substance.
I do not see any harm in allowing Muslim women to wear the hijab unless it affects their job. Let them have their hijab but explain it clearly to non Muslims to prevent any misunderstanding.
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