In last night's news, former Home Office Secretary Jack Straw was accused of all sorts - racist, misguided, ill-informed, insensitive. All this - simply because he prefers to see the face of people he speaks to.
Mr Straw has written an article in his local newspaper, the Lancashire Telegraph, about how he requests Muslim women who visit his surgery (that's political office for you non-Brits) to take off their veil when speaking to him. He believes it to be "a visible sign of difference" which could create difficulties in community relations.
In today's climate where everyone is on edge and suspicious of Muslims, you would've thought the Muslim community would try to ease the tension and Islamophobia. On the contrary, any time anyone says anything at all about Muslims and the Islamic faith in general, it is always misconstrued and the ensuing outcry is swift and tremendous.
Whatever happened to integration? Have people not noticed how Filipinos are slowly taking over the world? We are, but no one has mentioned it. That's because we adapt to the way of life of our adopted country. We share our culture and heritage to others, but never insist on them. Can you imagine us demanding everyone to eat rice instead of potatoes?
Mr Straw simply makes his request when Muslim women are in his presence. It's not a prelude to a new law to be passed in Parliament. If hoodies have to take off their hoods when entering a shop, or motorcyclists having to take off their helments before entereing a bank, then why should it be different for any other face covering? It's not about religion, it's about human relations. Think about it.
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