independently spiritual

Nasrulla's article made me happy. Especially the part where one of the women says 'Islam is in her heart'. Surrounded by all Western propoganda everywhere we turn, and all these WS courses where we talk about how damaging patriarchy is/has been to women it's nice to hear someone with the strength to (or at least appear to) make her own choice. She's decided that she can form her own interpretation and live how she chooses. She doesn't listen to the pressures to cover up nor has she completely given up her faith. I think this is a positive way to look at religion. There are messages each faith teaches. Each individual needs to be able to decide how she is going to incorporate these teachings into her own life. This freedom also allows an individual to pick and choose from the teachings of different faiths making her independently spiritual in a way - but that's a different course.

It must be hard to come from another culture to Canada. Especially a culture that has strict rules about appearance. Young women who choose not to wear hijab must deal with their parents, their communities, their peers. . . if they choose *to* wear hijab then they deal with stereotypes and stares.

I have four friends/acquaintances who've been on the Canada World Youth Exchange. One to Pakistan, one to Malawi, one to Thailand, and the last to India. All talked about the culture shock and withdrawal of living away from Canada - how participants came unglued, how one man became obsessed with coca-cola and wouldn't eat or drink the food of the area. I can only imagine what it would have been like for this person if he'd needed to leave Canada permanently and become a refugee or newcomer to his temporary home. It must be very very hard to leave your home, especially if you know there's no chance of going back.

To come to Canada and face the racism, however subtle or polite it is, really puts into perspective how difficult the situation back home must have been.