As far as 1/100 veiled Muslim women in LA… I think you need to get out more. I’ve lived in LA my entire life. I know more veiled women than I know unveiled women. If we’re going to pull biased statistics out of our asses, then I’d say it’s closer to 75/100.

As far as Roqaya al-Ghassra, REPRESENT!

And what if not wearing a scarf over there was like walking around in a bikini in a mall over here, both are not very normal( unless I’m behind the times), both are probably frowned upon. I really don’t see what the big deal is, so this one wears a scarf ,this one doesn’t. whoopdeedoo lets celebrate our differences, lol

My 3 cents

I think the predominant culture and “acceptable” societal behavior have a hell of a lot to do with it, myself. Here in Los Angeles we have quite a large Muslim population (mostly Iranian but others as well) and I doubt more than 1 in 100 Muslim women wear hijab here. It’s probably close to the opposite in their home countries. So if it is really all about choice, why do the same women make different choices, depending on where they live?

My two cents *shrug*

- It is in rare cases that you see women being forced to wear hijab; Most of us do it out of an understanding and appreciation of our religion. It doesnt have anything to do with where we come from or where we now live. Those who have made the decision to wear the hijab have done so because of many reasons, including not wanting to be judged because of the way they look. To explain: People here in the western society i live in since i was four, always give a second chance to a more attractive woman, which really shows that women are always judged first by how they look rather than what comes out of their mouth, unlike our male counterparts.

Seeing women on youtube or wherever being forced to wear the hijab does not mean that we are all forced to wear it. It means that there are women who are forced to wear it. Assuming that most of us are forced to wear it is like having someone assume that all men are rapists because they saw on youtube a video of a man raping a woman.

I’m sure you also know that you shouldnt believe everything you see in the media; it is made and controlled by people and a better story is always a more dramatic and emotional one.

my two cents =)

Why is it so “silly” for her to accomplish something while wearing a hijab? She has a right to wear whatever she chooses and to feel however she wants to feel and nobody, not you or anyone else, has a right to degrade her for her decisions.

We can “perceive the reality of God’s existence” internally without showing it off to the whole world.

Ever wonder why more women don’t run in hijabs? Because it is an objective reality that people are able to run faster wearing lighter, more aerodynamic clothing.

Roqaya al-Gassra should be proud of the beautiful body that God gave her, for it is the temple in which she perceives the reality of God’s existence.

As an American “Arabist” who has lived in MENA (primarily the Gulf) for the past 20 years, I am proud to see Ms Al Gassra run.

Regardless of whether she wins or losses, or if she is fully covered or in “standard” sprinter clothing, having another Arab woman, one who is obviously Muslim, publicly show that women are not beneath men is a great thing.

Ms. Al Gassra is making a statement without even speaking, a statement that I, for one, think is not only moving but also emphatic.

SJ