By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 14 Apr 2016 • 9:26
DENMARK: Apart from the occasional elderly female, there is hardly a Burka in sight.
DO you know the secret? It’s called give and take
Well, I’ve just returned from a short break in Denmark and you know something? It is simply awash with Muslims. Oh no, I hear you groan, here he goes again. Same ol’ same ol’. Well, this time you couldn’t be more wrong.
You see I truly believe that at long last Denmark is a Western community that is actually on the road to getting it right. And do you know the secret? It’s called give and take.
The first thing you notice, is that apart from the occasional elderly female, there is hardly a Burka in sight. Even more importantly, nowhere at all did I observe one person clad in the antagonising full veil.
Instead, the faith of most young women was merely defined by an often quite trendy headscarf and the occasional pair of leggings (not a bad choice when you consider the climate!). Quite a number of these ladies were also employed at supermarket checkouts and nowhere did I observe a restriction on their handling of any alcohol or pork products. The men too were clad in more acceptable attire.
After all the Thobe was designed to protect its wearer from sunlight, flies and mosquitos, none of which are actually too prevalent in those chilly northern climes. Because of this obvious desire to integrate into Western society, the whole atmosphere is different.
As you walk through the shopping centres and street markets, gone are the feelings of distrust and discomfort that hang so heavily over the public places of other European countries. People are laughing together and polite to each other.
On one afternoon my girlfriend’s sister took part in a public gospel singing event. Among the crowd of observers, I noticed quite a number of headscarf-covered young people clapping along with the rest of the audience. Because of this more open existence there is no need for Muslims to form the protective ghettos that blight our cities of the West. Consequently people in Denmark are more integrated in their home environments as well. Give and take.
The true answer to peaceful integration. And the first major step in the right direction. Banning the Burka. The attire of hatred and separation has no place in the future of our societies.
Keep the faith.Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com
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I worked with Muslims for 10 years in Azerbaijan and had no problems. Azerbaijan Muslims are just normal people like us and would fit easily in to our society.
I have no problems with Muslims in general though I must confess that if someone enters a shop or shopping precinct in purdah I lave.
This has nothing to do with religion just personal safety
Umm, yeah, but this panorama you describe in Denmark is pretty much the same as here in Spain. Haven’t you noticed, despite living here? The burkha is VERY rare in Spain as it’s only used by ultra-conservative Islamic nations, like Saudi. You rarely see it in, eg, north Africa, Turkey or Egypt. In Morocco, I saw plenty of (lone) women with their hair uncovered, some in long, black robes but with no headscarf, some in high heels and jeans and trendy western gear but with a headscarf, some with both, some with neither. Ditto in Egypt. I don’t believe in banning the burkha or any other form of headgear except where it compromises security or impedes a woman’s job. Dictating how non-natives dress is wrong on every level. I’d rather see socks with sandals banned, because those really DO offend…my eyes. Except in ultra-strict Mid-Eastern States, burkhas aren’t really a ‘thing’ and a hiyab or headscarf is usually a matter of preference. Think about it: Spanish women wear VERY bright clothing (red trousers, hot-pink skirts…) leopardskin patterns, chunky fake gold, skin-tight trousers, short skirts, psychedelic tops and bottoms, white hipster jeans, scarlet nail polish…a typical woman in the UK wears brown, black, grey, denim, and discreet jewellery if any. Spanish women have asked me why I wear so much black if I’m not at a funeral (ie, a skirt, or a jacket). In the same outfit in the UK, I’d be told my pink shoes and matching top are ‘a bit loud’. A hiyab for an Arab woman is my pink shoes, or black jacket. ie, choice.
As an aside, and completely separately from any religious convictions, if I worked in a supermarket I’d refuse to handle pork, too. Or any meat. I’d even take a pay cut for the ‘privilege’ of being able to avoid doing so. I’ll get ‘thumbed down’ for this, but it’s a personal sentiment and I can’t help how I feel. Sorry. I’d rather handle poo. (Preferably in vinyl gloves, though. Not latex, I’m allergic to it).So, yes, I can fully sympathise with any Muslim who refuses to go near pork, or any Hindu who refuses to go near beef, albeit for different reasons to my own. I think forcing either to do either would be barbaric and a breach of human rights. If you can’t understand that yourselves, try to imagine being forced to mop up a stranger’s sick or deal with dead bodies (assuming you’re not a nurse or undertaker). That’s how a Muslim, Hindu or vegetarian feels having to handle meat.Leapy, the ‘Denmark scenario’ is a lot more common than the one you usually paint. You should pop down to your local locutorio one day and have a chat to the owners; they’d be happy to answer any questions you have, confirm they respect their wives (one each) and that they hate terrorism, whilst letting you in on the secrets of Ramadan and explaining how it brings families together to celebrate and helps them become aware of the poor, whom they’re required to donate to over that month.
Kally :: I have never been in a SuperMarket : But like any other Job if you apply & accept the Job.. You do Job Description.. ” End of Story” or Argument..You cant accept then try to change work description.. What about fact that cutting down Forest for Timber or Paper.. This is Destroying the Earth..So you take a Job in Newsagents & then you refuse to handle Newspapers or Magazines ???Or You take Job as Carpenter on Building site.. But refuse to handle Timber ???You don’t like Handling Pork or any meat then DONT take a Job where it is Sold !!!!!!!!!!!!
@TeddyBoy: There’s a difference between handling chopped-up trees and handling dead animals or blood. Paper and trees can be recycled and regrown (certain breeds of Norwegian fir grow so fast it’s replanted every time a tree is cut for paper. I think ther
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