The Veil - Freedom? or Oppression?

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you'll no doubt have heard, seen, or read something or other about the Niqab or the veil.

Now when I first heard that this was something that was being discussed in parliament, I couldn't help but laugh. I honestly thought it had to be a joke. My first thought was seriously? Surely this country has bigger problems. Surely our government have more important things to tackle, instead of debating about the way a certain group of people should or shouldn't dress.

Having said that, I can completely understand why certain members of the public might be unnerved by women who choose to wear the veil. If it's something you don't know a lot about, or something you've never come across, it can seem somewhat 'alien' and even perhaps frightening.

However, if you take the time out to look into what the veil is and the reason that some Muslim women choose to wear it, the last thing it is, is frightening. In fact, all this news coverage and debate is doing the complete opposite of what the veil aims to do, it is drawing unnecessary attention to these women, who are trying to mind their own business and go about their daily lives.

A lot of the arguments about why the veil should be banned, link back to the story about a Muslim woman who allegedly refused to lift her veil in court. Whether this is or isn't true, I definitely understand that the face veil has to be lifted in court, in front of a jury for it to be a fair trial. 

What baffles me however, is that I know several women who wear the Niqab and have done for years, and I know that if they were ever to find themselves in a similar situation, they would have no problem at all lifting their veil. The same applies at airports, or any other situation where it is necessary for whatever reason, for someone to confirm their identity. Therefore, for this one isolated incident to spark a debate about potentially banning the veil, is to me, quite ludicrous.

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of women in this country do not wear the veil because they have been forced to wear it by an oppressive, tyrannous male family member. In fact, they feel empowered by this piece of clothing. The idea that they are choosing what can and cannot be seen by other people is for them, freedom. Therefore, the people that think they are liberating these women by dictating to them how to dress (oh the irony), are in fact doing the exact opposite of what they are condemning, and are in fact taking on the role of the oppressors. 

I can't discuss the topic of the veil, without making mention of Rachid Nekkaz, a businessman who has paid 699 Niqab fines since the ban was implemented in France. (Faith in humanity restored!)

Finally, I'll leave you with this video that makes for quite an interesting watch:

:-) x

Don't worry.. Be Happy..

After having a quick look at my previous blog posts, it has come to my attention that I blog about a lot of negative things! Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in everything that is wrong with the world, and to overlook the amazing blessings that surround us day in day out. So below, are a few things I've come across recently that have definitely put a smile on my face.

Remember, hate will only breed more hate.

Besides, 'Beneath the armor of skin/and/bone/and/mind most of our colors are amazingly the same.' - Aberjhani

Fairy tales do exist!

Surely this is enough to make anyone smile!

'The soul is healed by being with children.'

- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

:-) x

Cut out knife crime.

'Boy, 15, stabbed over Facebook fight'

The words you never want to read. The words that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The words that send shivers down your spine. 15 years old, with his entire life ahead of him. The saddest part is, he isn't the first, and he will not be the last.

These types of headlines in the news have become all too common in recent years, and we must ask why?

Why is this even happening in our society?

Why do 15 year old children, sometimes younger, feel the need to carry a knife?

Why are these incidents forgotten a week or two after they occur?

Why? 

Why?

Why?

I 100% agree with the fact that the people who did this, and commit these sorts of crimes daily around the globe, need to be caught and punished accordingly. However, I can't help but feel that if a little more time, a little more effort, a little more care, went into finding out the motives behind the crime, and educating our children on the consequences, we might slowly, very slowly, begin the very long journey towards cutting out knife crime.

As I grapple with my thoughts on this topic, somewhere across the country may be a child (because that is what they are, children), who is angry, confused and lost. Who unfortunately, feels the need to carry a weapon, whether it's a gun or a knife or something else. For what? Protection? Self defence? Who knows? And if, or should I say when, the situation arises where they feel the 'need' to use this weapon, we will once again be reading those harsh cruel words:

'Boy, 15, stabbed over Facebook fight'

Hollie McNish is an up and coming poet from the UK. Her videos never cease to inspire and amaze me, and this one video in particular I decided to share because it was relevant to today's topic, so please take out a few minutes to listen to her thought-provoking poetry.

:-) x

Friday Favourites!

Another Friday has come and gone! The weeks just seem to be flying by. This week I apologise, as my favourites are a few days late. Nevertheless, enjoy!

Favourite Smile:

Everyone needs a best friend because, 'a life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend.' - Sarah Dessen, Someone Like You.

Favourite Place:

Airkix is SO much fun! Try out indoor skydiving at one of their three locations for an exhilarating and adrenaline filled experience! I recently went there for a friends birthday and will definitely be visiting again soon.

Favourite Scene:

Sometimes it is so nice, to take a few minutes out of our busy schedules and just appreciate the beauty around us.

Have another great week!

:-) x

'Don't let schooling interfere with your education' - Mark Twain

This is something I've been wanting to write about for a while now, and I think it's about time! I recently watched a video which was both inspiring, and thought provoking and if you've not seen it, then please watch it below before reading the rest of this post.

Check out his channel here for more inspiring videos.

Just over 3 weeks ago, I was sat in an exam hall, surrounded by my fellow students, scribbling away furiously. I had just two hours to answer questions and write essays in an attempt to show my intellect and my ability. Two hours that determined whether I would progress to the third and final year of my course at university. Now to me, at that time, 3 weeks ago, the four exams that I sat felt like the most important tests I have taken to date. I couldn't help but think that if I failed these exams, I wouldn't progress to the final year, and therefore would not graduate, and therefore would be stuck in a dead end job, if I could even find one. 

Now for me, this is just a little bit strange, because ever since I was in school, I was told that the exams that I was facing at that given time were the most important ones I would ever face. Those exams would be the ones that would determine my future. I was then told the same exact thing when I sat my A Levels at college. Confusing to say the least. 

My problem isn't in fact with the teachers that told me these things, I guess they were just doing their job. But for years I have failed to understand our education system. It is something that has frustrated me for a long time, simply because I cannot grasp the fact that those few pressure filled hours, are deemed a fair test of someone's intelligence.

What happens if you wake up on the morning of your exams feeling unwell, and knowing full well you won't be able to perform to the best of your ability? What happens if you study for weeks, perhaps months in advance and on the day, you go blank? What happens if you are a bright and talented individual, who simply has a bad memory? Because this is what I think exams test, not ability, not intelligence, not whether you are capable, but simply your memory.

Thankfully, I have always done 'okay' in exams, but the fact that I know people that I consider to be much more talented, much more creative and even more intelligent than me, who for one reason or another, do not perform too well in exams and therefore are given what may be deemed as a 'low' grade, when in fact they deserve so much more, really upsets me.

Unfortunately I do not see the way students are tested, changing for the better any time soon. (Although in the U.K. there's been plenty of talk about changing GCSEs, but to me these changes are pointless and a waste of time, when there are so many other areas that need reform, both in the education system and with our country in general). But I for one, am glad that next year will (fingers crossed) be the last set of exams that I take! And for all those who have years of exams ahead of you, don't despair. Remember to try your best, and that is all anyone can ask of you. Keep in mind that some of the most successful people around the world weren't educated through 'mainstream schooling', and aren't conventionally 'academic'. A grade whether it's an A* or a U, does not define who you are or your capability.

Remember, 'Education means inspiring someone's mind, not just filling their head' - Katie Lusk. So stay inspired and chase your dreams because, 'if you don't build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs' - Tony Gaskins.

:-) x

Friday Favourites!

Hi Guys,

It's that time of week again! Time to relax and welcome a well earned weekend. Here's a few of my favourite finds this week. Enjoy!

Favourite Advice:

I think if everyone lived by this, we'd all be much much happier :-)

Favourite Image:

I couldn't agree more with Einstein's famous quote, and this image puts it better than I ever could. I feel that it is extremely relevant at the moment, with all the changes being proposed with regards to GCSEs, in particular the idea of making these assessments more exam based! (Watch this space, more on this topic in another blog post coming soon).

Favourite Smile:

Such a simple but effective idea! This is why I love YouTube.

Hope you all have a great week and keep your eyes peeled for more weekly favourites!

:-) x

Friday Favourites!

Hi Guys,

It's always great to get the Friday feeling! Especially when the sun is shining, like it has been today where I live. The sun just seems to lift everyone's spirits! What I'd do to live in a country where it's permanently hot! I got the following idea from Lauren Conrad's blog and thought I'd try out my own 'Friday Favourites'. Enjoy! 

Favourite treat:

Made by a friend, this very unhealthy and calorie filled but deliciously devine cake is definitely a favourite of mine this week!

Favourite quote:

An old saying, but timeless and I think extremely applicable to today.

Favourite Smile:

Because true happiness is giving it away. Check out TruestoryASA's channel for more amazing and hilarious videos!

That's all for today guys.

Hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to share your weekly favourites below!

:-) x

Woolwich attack

Recently something despicable happened. Something that has been all over the news since, and that has split public opinion and sent social networking sites on a frenzy. As you already probably know, on Wednesday 22nd May, a British soldier, Lee Rigby was murdered on the streets of Woolwich, London.

Now I think any sane person will agree with me when I say, what happened that day was barbaric, brutal, and unjustified. However, I want to just put a few thoughts out there.

Firstly, I strongly believe that a life is a life, one is not anymore valuable then another. So when 75 year old Mohammed Saleem was stabbed to death in Birmingham just under a month ago, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not recall this cruel, unprovoked act of violence getting anywhere near the same amount of news coverage or discussion, as the Woolwich attack. All I'm trying to say, is take a moment to reflect before you unquestioningly believe everything the media tells you. Step back and look at things objectively and make up your own mind. Instead of just accepting the opinions and ideas of others that are being forced down you by the television screen in your living room.

Secondly, I want to tackle some of the reactions I've seen circulating the internet following the Woolwich attack. For all those people making inadequate and racist claims stating that all Muslims are terrorists, and should be sent out of the country, I'm sorry to be blunt but these are far-fetched and uneducated ideas. Drawing on an analogy that Russel Brand made, is Football to blame for the violence caused by the small minority of football hooligans? And therefore, should Football be banned? 

How can a religion that is followed by millions around the world be responsible or to blame for these violent acts that a minority commit? In fact, the Quran even states that the taking of one life, is comparable to killing the whole of humanity. That is how much Islam condemns murder.

I think in times of crisis like this, it is easy to turn against each other, to appoint blame based on stereotypes. Instead, we should be brushing our differences to one side and coming together to tackle these issues, to come up with ways of preventing these acts of violence from taking place in our society.

Myles Dyer put it best when he posted the following on his Facebook page,

'Those who use words like 'terrorist', 'evil', or '[race]' to explain horrific acts of violence, wipe their hands clean of identifying actual root causes, and thus preventative measures'.

I couldn't agree more, and though we are far from it, I wish as a society, we could come together at times like this and figure out what steps to take next, together.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of Lee Rigby and Mohammed Saleem and the thousands dying around the world everyday.

I'll leave you with the following quote from one of my favourite novels, Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman:

"I used to comfort myself with the belief that it was only certain individuals and their peculiar notions that spoilt things for the rest of us. But how many individuals does it take before it's not the individuals who are prejudiced but society itslef?"

:-) x