Suggestion: WORLD REPRESSIVE SYMBOLS DAY.
Combining Wear a Hijab Day,
Swastika Day,
Hammer and Sickle Day, and more.

Suggestion:
WORLD REPRESSIVE SYMBOLS DAY.
Combining Wear a Hijab Day, Swastika Day,
Hammer and Sickle Day, and more.

A SERIOUS START:

There's a call for a Worldwide Hijab Day. In Ottawa, the Canadian capital, on February 25th, all women are being encouraged to wear a hijab.

I see that people are being told to see the hijab positively - though it stands for Islam, an ideology (according to the Quran and sharia) that calls for the utter submission of all non-Islamic people to Islam, that is against male-female equality, religious freedom, etc, etc, etc. To me, to suggest I wear a hijab is akin to asking me to wear a swastika - a symbol of a dangerous ideology. I recoil.

I could go on in this kind of tone. Instead . . .


ONCE AGAIN, I START

Psst, wanna have some fun? First ever Worldwide Swastika Day. In Ottawa, Feb 25th. To go with the official Ottawa Hijab Day initiative.

Yeah, how about piggybacking onto Ottawa's Wear a Hijab Day - and also declare it Swastika Day. Or, better yet, how about something even bigger: World Repressive Symbols Day.

Why?

What does the hijab stand for? Islam with its ideology, which is - according to my masses of reading - anti-democracy, anti-male-female equality, anti-gay, anti-religious freedom, anti-freedom of speech, anti-Jewish, anti-Christian, anti-Hindu, anti-atheist, pro-violent jihad, on and on.

I see only one problem with an official Hijab Day, where all women are encouraged to wear a hijab. The problem: it takes attention AWAY from, instead of pulling it TOWARD, Islamic ideology (as per the Quran).

It would be much better - much more ethical - if that were changed.

How?

Elementary. As I've already suggested, one could make it clear that this is part of something bigger, International Repressive Symbols Day.



By the way, is this anti-Muslim? Absolutely not. My parents left Catholicism because they were against many aspects of the Catholic ideology they grew up with: anti-Semitism, no protection for battered women, no birth control, no divorce, no interfaith marriage, no marriage of divorced people, mandatory celibacy for priests and nuns, on and on. My parents never said a word against Catholics. They were not against Catholics. In fact, they had many Catholic friends.

Likewise, this is not anti-Muslim.



The core thing is to show the ideology. And we know what happened with Catholicism throughout the West when the ideology was examined - a huge exodus of nuns, priests, lay people.



Just as my parents spoke out against Catholicism - and Nazism - because they found these ideologies anti-ethical, I think it's time that all people who are for human rights take a stand against current anti-ethical ideologies - and Islam is certainly one of these.



How best to expose Islamic ideology?

Some people do it by writing books. Bill Warner comes to mind. Excellent, clear, concise. Some people do it with videos on various aspects of Islamic ideology. David Wood comes to mind. Sharp, witty, fantastically knowledgeable. Some people write polite formal letters.

I've already indicated another route that might be effective. Anyway, some people aren't reached by the nice polite tones. Plus I've always loved humor. It runs in the family. My mother's memory is failing - but her sense of humor is all there.

So, three cheers for the first ever International Repressive Symbols Day, on the same day as Ottawa Hijab Day - with the swastika standing for all repressive anti-human-rights symbols.

International Repressive Symbols Day - where the symbols will be "anti-celebrated" with evidence of WHY these symbols are designated as repressive.



In other words, instead of a serious official Ottawa Hijab Day initiative, why not have a fun event that could have a much broader scope and could even be more educational. For instance, in addition to suggesting that all women wear hijabs, perhaps swastikas could be handed out by the mayor's office, to show that the mayor understands the implications of the event he's backing. He could even post a picture of Hitler with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.

Stay tuned.

And now, to all of us who care and dare,
to life and to love,
to humanity, and human rights like the freedom to flourish,

Elsa
January 31, 2016
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PS. For more info re the Ottawa Hijab Day initiative, Feb 25th, 2016, when all women are encouraged to wear a hijab, and to express your response, here is the mayor's email: Jim.Watson@ottawa.ca

PPS. Over the past couple of years, I have had a change of feeling Islamic symbols, including the Islamic headscarf. More here, including a brochure.

PPS. In case you have no idea what parts of the Quran some people find problematic, here are a few quotes. (Different translations give different wordings, but the general meaning is the same.) There are many more quotes. Best of all, read the Quran. Now, a few quotes:

Quran: Al Taubah (9 – 29): Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last day, nor hold the forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jaziyah with willing submission. And feel themselves subdued.

Quran: Al Anfal (8 – 12): When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

Quran: Al Bayyinah (98 – 6): Lo! Those who disbelieve, among the people of the Scripture and idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings.

Quran: Muhammad (47 - 4): When you meet the unbelievers in the Jihad strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly. Then grant them their freedom or take ransom from them, until War shall lay down her burdens.

Quran: Al Haqqah (69 - 30.37): Take him and fetter him and expose him to hell fire. And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits. Lo! He used not to believe in Allah the tremendous, and urged not on the feeding of the wretched. Therefore hath he no lover hear this day nor any food save filth which none but sinners eat.

Quran: Al Anfal (8 - 65): O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you 20 steadfast, they will overcome 200 and if there be of you a 100, they shall overcome a 1000, because the disbelievers are a folk without intelligence.

Quran: Al Anfal (8 - 67.68): It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. You desire the lure of this world and Allah desires for you the hereafter and Allah is Mighty, Wise. Now enjoy what you have won as lawful and good and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is forgiving, merciful.

Quran: Al Taubah (9 - 123): O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you and let them find harshness in you and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty.

Quran: Al Dukhan (44 - 40.49): The fruit of the Zaqqum tree shall be the unbelievers's fruit. Like dregs of oil, like scalding water, it shall simmer in his belly. A voice will cry: "Seize him and drag him into the depths of Hell." Then pour out scalding water over his head, saying: "Taste this, illustrious and honourable man!" This is the punishment which you have doubted.

Quran: Al Dahr (76 - 1.5): For the unbelievers, We have prepared chains and fetters and a blazing Fire.

Quran: Al Haj (22 - 19 & 22 – 23): Garments of fire have been prepared for the unbelievers. Scalding water shall be poured upon their heads, melting their skins and that which is in their bellies. They shall be lashed rods of iron. Whenever, in their anguish, they try to escape from Hell, back they shall be dragged, and will be told: "Taste the torment of the Conflagration!"

Quran: Al Bayinah (98 - 1.8): The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures.

Quran: Al Ma'idah (5 - 57): Believers, do not seek the friendship of the infidels and those who were given the Book before you, who have made your religion a jest and a pasttime.

Quran: Al Ma'idah (5 - 51): Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you, seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. Allah does not guide the wrong doers.

Quran: Al-Ma'idah (5 - 33): 'Execution, or Crucifixion, or the Cutting and Removing Off of hands and feet from OPPOSITE sides, or exile from the land.' That is their disgrace in this world and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.

Suggestion: WORLD REPRESSIVE SYMBOLS DAY.
Combining Wear a Hijab Day, Swastika Day,
Hammer and Sickle Day, and more.

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