So I'm on the bus going home yesterday afternoon, and I notice a woman wearing a beige headscarf. That's not a particularly unusual site on buses in Minneapolis. The city has a large population of Somali immigrants, most of whom are Muslim. But then I look a little closer and I see that the scarf is covered with with small, white Nike logos. Where will we see Nike ads next? On the backs of church pews? Does advertising know no bounds?
After reading a few articles about the new French law which prohibits the wearing of the hijab (muslim head scarves), kippot (Jewish "skullcaps"), large Christian crosses, and other "conspicuous religious apparel or symbols" in schools, I found an interesting connection. Apparently, some of the most left-wing politicians in French government have called for extending the ban to all "commercial expressions," which would include clothing with corporate logos and slogans. So maybe the woman's Nike headscarf was some kind of a protest symbol, meant to combine all the things most heinous to militantly secularist French people in one potent piece of apparel.
Confidential to the supporters of the French law: I'm all for the separation of church and state and I agree that schools should not be places where any religion is promoted. But there's a difference between not promoting religion and actively repressing it. And while there are some symbols and articles of clothing we all know are religious, like a crucifix or a nun's habit, how exactly do you define what is secular? I could put on a black shirt and delcare that it symbolizes my religious faith. What about those who shave their heads? Some do it as a fashion statement, others do it for religious reason, including one Muslim girl in France. When is it a religious statement and when is it secular?
Posted by ldfs at October 15, 2004 10:51 AM | TrackBack