Reply #4: Modesty and moderation

[PsychoDad]

The Quran is pretty loose with it's requirements for modest dress. It only that one, man or woman, cover themselves modestly and to not walk in a provocative or overtly "sexy" way.

IMHO, The real objection to hijab is primarly cultural.

It's interesting that the Hijab gets so much flak for being oppressive from persons purporting to be for women's rights. All this fuss over a piece of cloth. Have these people forgotten that here in america these poor women are forced to wear various pieces of cloth themselves, or face possible legal prosecution? Where is a piece of cloth over the head any more oppressive or logical that some cloth over the breasts, except for environmental reasons perhaps?

And in the saudi desert a head covering makes good sense for men or women.

So, should women from parts of Africa or Polynesia who had been bare breasted for aeons lament their poor oppressed american sisters for their lack of rights or choice? Perhaps they could send some governmental officials to instruct american women in the west on their lesser status. Or would these African or Polynesian women be seen as "uncultured and backward" because they didn't wear the latest fashionable piece of cloth over their breasts? Would they be arrested when they got off the plane for not conforming to our "medieval western" fashion norms?

It's just cultural bigotry.

Anyway, that's my rant. :P

Peace.