Say What you Need to Say...
Bill 94 - Speak up and Speak out!
May 27, 2010
As Canadians we often don’t speak up and/or speak out about our concerns and issues. Why? Well there are many reasons for this. For some, we are still very much ingrained with the colonial mentality where just living in a country like Canada is good enough and compared to the injustices experienced in our “homelands” we’re far better off, so it’s ok. For others, it’s the fear of betraying a community by “airing our dirty laundry” in the eyes of the general population thus painting a negative picture of us in society.
Then there are those of us who are afraid of dealing with concerns and speaking out about them because of our own safety and security systemic or otherwise that may stem from discrimination, racism and/or Islamophobia.
But what we don’t realize is that if we don’t speak up on key issues, we won’t ever be in a position to make a change to policies and legislations that are being passed and ultimately affect our day to day well being.
You may ask yourself, we’ll I’m just an average person. I do what I can to put make ends meet, to put food on my families table by working 2 or 3 jobs and by clothing my children with hand me downs from your own children or others. Or you may say to yourself, we’ll I’ve been in Canada for most of my life, I make a good living for myself, drive a great little car and own a condo in the city, I have no time to make a change. What I’m interested in, is how to better my own life.
In either of these two situations, which many of us can relate to, there’s one question that really isn’t being asked. And that it is what happens if I keep quiet? Sometimes the issue isn’t one that you may directly have to deal with, or that may affect you on a day to day. But it can be something that affects someone that’s near and dear to your heart or to someone you know. Even if it’s not someone you know it still affects human beings in a negative way, which means that we cannot remain quiet.
We are all familiar with the issue of the proposed Niqab (face veil) ban in Quebec – Bill 94. It follows along the lines of similar bans in countries such as France, Denmark among others. You’re probably thinking to yourself, why I should care if a woman covering her face can’t access public services. “Good for her! If she’s so concerned, then why doesn’t she just take it off!” Or “It’s not part of the religion anyway, so what does it matter if she is asked to remove it!”.
My response, you should care! Why? Because as Canadians each and everyone of us has a right to access essential public services. It’s in direct conflict with the international covenant of international human rights, the Quebec human rights code, the victim’s bill of rights, and sections 2, 15, and 28 of the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms that as Canadians we take such pride in.
Not only that, but who is responsible and liable for the consequences that come from denying someone essential services? Imagine a woman in a niqab calling for an ambulance because she’s in labour, will the paramedics turn away from her front door because she’s wearing a niqab or a face veil? What happens if she ends up having complications in her delivery? Who’s responsible? What happened to the “hypocratic oath” that paramedics and other medical professionals take?
Then there’s the women who’s standing outside, late at night at the bus stop waiting for the last bus, so she can go home after a long day at work in the industrialized buildings area where her factory is located. Will the bus driver refuse to board her, while he sees a few men standing around eyeing her? Who will be responsible if she gets attacked and/or violated? Not to mention the type of trauma and/or depression, as well as guilt, blame and shame that she will have to live with for the rest of her life.
If this is what Canada believes to be fair and just Human Rights, then we have no business going into other countries to act as a peace keeper or “saviour” for human rights, when really and truly we have not been able to ensure this in our own homes. This of course does not include the historic and current mistreatment of our first nations people, which once again Canada has failed to do anything significant to improve.
Not to mention that, if this bill is being passed to promote gender equality within the Muslim community in Quebec and as a way to “liberate” these women from oppression, this is certainly not going to accomplish that. Instead, not only will it prevent a woman from freedom of religion and expression, it will also further distance them from society. A woman who would previously come out of her home to shop or to take her child to school or to the clinic, will no longer come out. Is this really what the government wants? What happens to all of the people who have suffered over the years because of such systemic racism and discrimination? Have we forgotten about slavery, interment camps and reserves?
Is this not a form of systemic oppression? Is this not a notion of systemic assimilation? What next? I thought we were trying to promote civic and political engagement?
Where are we headed as a country? If such bills are passed, then where will be in 20 years? Will we be living in secular, neutral environment, where no one is allowed to be different? Where identities are practiced in homes, but not on the street?
In a country where we pride ourselves of being multicultural and our constant affirmation of accepting “Canadians” for all of our identities, this is unacceptable!
The idea of the state dictating what anyone of us can wear is problematic. And if this is about security and identification, then majority of niqabi women that I have spoken to would very easily agree to show their face for identification to another woman if asked. Then what is the issue then?
Allowing such a ban to be passed in Quebec will open the flood gates to many other issues.
Today it’s the niqab, tomorrow it may be the hijab and further still it could become the kirpan or the bindi or even the cross. Once it begins, there will be no going back. So don’t keep quiet. “Say what you need to say.” If not for yourself, for others and especially for your future!.
Together we can make a difference! Thank you to all of the individuals, groups and organizations that have come together to make a statement against Bill 94, it is truly a great feeling to see how many people are standing in solidarity for this issue.
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