- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,641
I do think there are key differences in these two matters.
The chastity ring thing was set up by the Christian right in America. At this point, it is still largely a commercial thing, designed to slow the teenage pregnancy rate. The Bible does not suggest anywhere that girls wear rings. It strikes me that she was just whinging to get publicity for the cause, which as has been documented, was a cause marketed by her parents! She's actually leaving the school this month anyway, so read into her "principled" stand what you will.
The Koran, on the other hand, I believe does , depending on interpretations, suggest that females' heads at least should be covered up. Not all Muslim females observe this, others take it to the opposite extreme and cover their entire bodies except for the eyes.
The Muslim girl took her school to court for the right to wear one of the more extreme garments, claiming she needed to be completely covered. The school contested, quite reasonably, that it allowed Muslims to wear the traditional headscarf, which complied with their religious requirements, as part of its uniform policy, and that she didn't need to wear the cover-all garment, whatever it's called.
She actually lost her case, and the school was found to be acting correctly on H&S grounds, despite what some appear to think.
I think the schools were right in both cases, neither were being discriminated against. It's like when you get these idiot kids who go and shave themselves bright green mohawk haircuts, knowing full well their school's policy on uniform, and then go whining with their parents to the local rag about their human rights being infringed when the school sends them home.
FFS, it's a working environment, there are rules and regulations, deal with it.
The chastity ring thing was set up by the Christian right in America. At this point, it is still largely a commercial thing, designed to slow the teenage pregnancy rate. The Bible does not suggest anywhere that girls wear rings. It strikes me that she was just whinging to get publicity for the cause, which as has been documented, was a cause marketed by her parents! She's actually leaving the school this month anyway, so read into her "principled" stand what you will.
The Koran, on the other hand, I believe does , depending on interpretations, suggest that females' heads at least should be covered up. Not all Muslim females observe this, others take it to the opposite extreme and cover their entire bodies except for the eyes.
The Muslim girl took her school to court for the right to wear one of the more extreme garments, claiming she needed to be completely covered. The school contested, quite reasonably, that it allowed Muslims to wear the traditional headscarf, which complied with their religious requirements, as part of its uniform policy, and that she didn't need to wear the cover-all garment, whatever it's called.
She actually lost her case, and the school was found to be acting correctly on H&S grounds, despite what some appear to think.
I think the schools were right in both cases, neither were being discriminated against. It's like when you get these idiot kids who go and shave themselves bright green mohawk haircuts, knowing full well their school's policy on uniform, and then go whining with their parents to the local rag about their human rights being infringed when the school sends them home.
FFS, it's a working environment, there are rules and regulations, deal with it.
