I had arrived at my doctor’s clinic on time and as is the case in any doctor’s clinic you wait. The appointments are packed back to back without any real thought to how much time an appointment requires. But that’s not my gripe today.
So knowing as we all do that there is wait, I took a book. I sat myself in a chair and strategically placed my backpack on the chair next to me, ensuring some space from other patients who like to sit close and start conversations about their ailments. And there I was pretty in my black suit, sitting cross legged, totally engrossed in my book when these two women appear in the waiting room. One sits across from me and the other thought about the seat next to me but takes the one to the far right. Immersed as I was in Iranian history and politics I barely notice her come up to me until she was upon me. Her big black coat open on either side of her like massive black wings of a bat. She stood over me and enclosed me with her coat and told me with an innocent smile on her face that I might want to modestify myself! And so I was accosted by a veil wearing coat wielding woman.
I was expecting this, overzealous moralists had tried to pull that on me before; and so I looked up at her and without batting an eyelid I told her thank you but I am fine the way I am. Her smile was immediately wiped off her face, her chest fell and flustered she slinked back to her chair. I turned back to my book and continued to read until the nurse called me in for my appointment.
What I had really wanted to do was to lecture this woman at how inappropriate her behavior was. What right did she have to impose her moral beliefs on me? How would she feel if I went up to her and told her I thought the way she dressed was inappropriate and that she shouldn’t cover her head? Who knew that the fate of this upright society rests on my bare legs?
This woman, in my opinion, has a filthy sex obsessed mind such that when she sees skin that is what she thinks. And its not her its everyone and anyone who constantly watches innocent people doing their own thing yet think the worst of them. They are constantly pointing fingers at others accusing them of immorality or indecency, yet to me, they are the filthy, dirty–minded and immoral ones.
Next time a woman comes up to me and tells me I am immodest I will ask her for her veil to cover my legs maybe that way we will both be happy!
November 26, 2008 at 12:55 am
Sally I love and adore you 😀 Your strength your views, your character….. I know I don’t write much but you’re not forgotten babe… lots of love xxxxxxxx
November 26, 2008 at 1:10 am
ما بعرف ليش دايما اللي بكونو ضد الحجاب بنادو بمبدأ الحريه الشخصيه
كيف انت بتحمل مبدأ بدك الناس تتعامل معك فيه و انت ما بتطبقه بتعاملك معهم
انت حريتك الشخصيه بتخليك تقعد بالطريقه اللي بتريحك
اترك للناس حريتهم الشخصيه بانهم يلبسو اللي بدهم اياه
انا مش مع تصرفها بس هاد تصرف بعكس شخصيتها وما اله دخل بالحجاب اللي لابسته
November 27, 2008 at 12:40 am
haha that was funny Shalabieh. I hate when people impose their believes on me too. I respect all people covered and not covered, thats their business. once at Barnes and Noble in Miami, a man approached me and said “I see Jesus in your eyes” “I see Faith in your eyes”, told him “Im not interested Im Muslim and I like it” he becamse blue and left me
November 27, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I love your solution, and I hope you get the opportunity to say that to someone in the future. My aunt and grandmother agree. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 😉
November 28, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I learned a new word today,Accosted..and after looking it up I’ll say
“fashar ili bido to accost you shalabieh!”
You know I don’t think this is about religion, some smart ass ppl tend to dominate/force influence on others,thinking that they are superior or know whats best for you in certain things, in this case religion and modest clothing, and she thought that you’d get shy and submissive and give in to her forced opinion,you kicked her ass and she never saw it coming.
These kinds of ppl are stupid,thinking that you are better than someone and can correct them is one thing,interfering with their lives by going and saying say it to them without thinking of the consequence is another stupid thing!
Finally,salamtek I hope the doc visit was minor,which doc is it? oh never mind,I should behave and stop trying to run into you.
November 30, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Sweetie darling well done!
I hate that holier than thou attitude and beatific stupidity, and how they try and enforce their own version of islam on the rest of us, my reply to people like that is that my religion is between me and my GOD and that God doesn’t need or care about superficial things like how I look, he’s got other concerns which we should be thinking of more importantly… Disease, Famine, Poverty & War and wearing cover-ups is actually last on the list… THat’s what I think!