Monday, October 16, 2006

To veil or not..

In the UK, there is a row over the burqa, a long, flowing garment worn by Muslim women that conceals their head and entire body upto the ankles, sometimes even the face.

The debate over the burqa is not just about a religious symbol, it goes much deeper than that. It is a manifestation of that eternal conundrum - how much of a woman's body can be visible without being overly provocative or offensive. It's not as if this question is not applicable to men. After all, men are not generally permitted to parade naked either. If you ask this question to people from different cultures, you are bound to get differing responses. If you are brought up to think a certain way, it is very hard to let go of it, especially when you feel your community is under attack.

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