Muslim woman that wears hijab (head scarf) to run for Canadian Parliament

[_Jumper_]

Canada impresses me more and more each day (I am currently on an American). Canucks, you sure have a great country where equal opportunity and tolerance are not just slogans to be trotted out once a year. :toast:


<OTTAWA - Monia Mazigh, the Ottawa woman who spent more than a year tirelessly campaigning to win the freedom of her husband, Maher Arar, from a Syrian prison, is planning to run for the New Democrats. >

<"I didn't choose to be a public figure, but when (the imprisonment) happened and when I came to be known, I think it is one of my personal duties, as a Canadian, to do something to help people around me," Mazigh said as NDP Leader Jack Layton looked on.>

<She said she had been wooed by Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal party as well by Layton but has previously voted NDP and feels closer to that party. >


<"I think she's captured the imagination of Canadians in an important way." (NDP leader Frank Layton)>


Can anyone imagine this happening in America?

Note: Canada also has a Sikh MP who wears a turban.


http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1078917589587&call_pageid=968332188774

[Palestine]

1. turbans are very comfy

and stylish

[_Jumper_]

2. In America a turban makes you a target for hate crimes

Interesting screen name by the way.;)

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. The fact that this is news or to be remarked on at all says volumes

Nothing about the lady's politics, her achievements matter, just the fact that she wears hijab.

[_Jumper_]

4. It didn't make the news because of that

It made the news because her husband, a Canadian immigrant, was arrested in the US and then deported to Syria where he was imprisoned. It was a major news story in Canada for a long time and he was finally freed. She played a key role in the fight to free him.

I just made that the headline of my thread because that was the relevant part for 95% of DU.

[DuctapeFatwa]

7. I know, and that is what I am bemoaning

I am in one of my moods today. Like Uncle Rondo in the Eudora Welty story, "get out of my way, I'm poisoned."

[Minstrel Boy]

5. Monia Mazigh is really inspirational.

Bush outsources torture to Syria, and she fought for a year to get her husband free from it. But she's a lot more. A PhD in Economics from McGill University, and she's a knowledgable advocate of social justice. I'm quite excited about her running for us.

And BTW, I'm pretty sure Canada has more than just one Sikh MP. I don't think the turbans and headscarves are an issue for people.

[_Jumper_]

6. Correct, it does

I think one of your former ministers was a Sikh (in the US only Christians and Jews can get cabinet posts under a Democratic administration; under a Republican administration only Christians need apply). But only one Sikh MP wears a turban. That is a big deal in America. Someone wearing a turban in America would be lucky to find an apartment in America let get elected to Congress. It isn't a big deal in Canada. You Canadians should be proud of that. :toast:

[freeforall]

8. We are!

We have our jackasses too, but generally, we're a tolerant, peace-loving bunch.

[_Jumper_]

9. How'd you become that way?

We need to import whatever Canada did into the US.

[Spazito]

10. She is an awesome lady, fiercesome in her fight for her husband!

I hope she wins her riding, she is a very bright woman who fought the politicians and won, big time! She never gave up!