I don't worry about personal expression of religion - hijab, t-shirts with 'my first Eide', whatever. Each to their own I say. So long as people aren't pressing their views on another, then wear what you want.
But I do worry about the incompatibility of the Muslim religion with the libertarian West. The two cannot in my opinion exist side by side - one side will always be oppressed by the other. At the moment in Britain, because only 8% I think are Muslim (or thereabouts) it's the Muslim population that is the unheard minority - bad for them. However, if population trends continue as they are now then Britain is very likely to have a democratically elected Islamic government in about thirty-years time.
As a non Muslim - a western feminist - that is happy with her life just as it is; and as a woman with a daughter, this worries me. I don't want to live by Islamic rule as my own personal belief system rebukes it.
Anyone who lives in Britain who values the common civil liberties they have should worry about this. True, Britain is not perfect, and it's easy to find wrong-doing and corruption. But at the centre of its value system is freedom, liberty and democracy. these are the fundamental principles it stands for. Britain leads the way in promoting equality. It doesn't tell you what to wear, what to eat, how to behave.
And before I am flamed for making sweeping assumptions about the Muslim religion just look at any website and you'll find terrifying sentiments for instance this little corker 'Allah has already confirmed its validity as clearly stated in the Noble Quran: “Marry of the women that please you, two, three or four, but if you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with them, then only one.” Islam and the Muslim faith has not changed for 2000 years. Mohammed was a war-lord, a plunderer. It is dominated by men - even to the point where Muslim men are driven in this world by the promise of 30 virgins in paradise. Muslim women, on the other hand, do not have 30 buff teenage boys to look after their every whim. Oh no. Allah knows what women want. Jewels and gold apparently, and a rest. Even in paradise women are told what they need and want. And what about the Muslim's view of the infidels and what should happen to the none-believers? Am I am wrong in the fact that these teachings are mainstream views? If so, let me know and I'll hold my hands up but this is all over the internet on general Islamic sites.
I'm very wary of the Muslim religion - and it's not a 'phobia' because that suggests an irrational fear of something and my fear of Islam is not irrational - it's been carefully considered!
If we do not have sensible discussions about race and religion - if anyone voicing an opinion is branded a racist at the mere criticism of someone else's belief system then Britain is leaving itself wide open to an unstoppable force. There is no shame is standing up for what you believe in - I believe in liberty, freedom, equality. Muslim's believe in discipline, order, tradition. I like my life in Britain as it is but my way of life is under threat because as far as I can tell practicing Muslim's are by default part of a crusading religion because 'spreading the word' and 'world domination' lies at the centre of the Muslim belief system. If you're a Muslim and you think I'm wrong, let me know. I'd love to have an open debate about this.