Veiled Muslim Woman to deliver C4 Christmas message.

[uwila]

What do Christians think? Is this offensive? I think it is. But, then I think the culprit is probably CH4, not the Muslim community.

Veiled Muslim Woman to Deliver C4 Christmas Message

Discuss....

sorry, that sounds a bit dismissive. What I mean was, that it doesnt offend my religious feelings to hear from a Muslim on the day of a Christian festival.

I know Blu, but no-one is actually that bothered if you read the comments.

It seems to me that most people can see it for what it is, which is an attempt to be alternative by C4, and it will mostly get a response of bored indifference. Let's be honest, anything has to be better than the Queen droning on about "my people".

I don't think it is a big deal and largely agree with blu and unquietdad... remember innocent until proven guilty?

Also, it is in Channel 4's license that they are supposed to direct their programming to minority groups...

I'm not bothered about the muslim woman much either but I am agin a presenter wearing the veil on national television.

Television is a visual medium (I'm sure you knew that ). Any lip readers (of which there are many) will struggle a bit I fear!

What next, presenters sat behind screens because they are shy? Well as long as they are saying something worthwhile why not?

or turn the radio on

Aaaah, but how can you be sure your radio presenter isn't wearing a veil?

Like it Blu!

but that's point surely?

Radio is a listening medium, you could be sat in a clown's outfit, (or naked!) but I doubt we'd think it appropriate to see Sir Trevor reading the news in a clown's outfit or God forbid naked!?

Well I'd like to hear it before I comment on the contenets.

However, I know a great many Christians who'd be offended if there was a Pagan message and inded, there was protest over 'Pagan Christmas Stamps'- and midwnter is Pagan festival, one that Christianity chose to focus on as an existent feast day when developing Christmas festivities.

I don't think it would be uite comparable if A Christian speech was used RE Ramadan, simply because Ramadan doesn't usurp the (supposedly secular) TV in quite the same way- usurps life genrally to be honest. Ramadan isn't forced down peoples throats in quite the same way.

I certainly have no isue with the veil; subtitles will deal with that for hearing impaired people after all.

LOL Jools! at the thought of a naked Trev on the Tonight programme!

Well I don't think Christians should be offended by things like Christmas stamps that aren't decorated with nativity scenes. Who cares what's on a stamp? You use it to send a letter, it's not an icon of faith!

WhenSanta- presumably you are implying that bikinis are some sort of Christian thing? Let's compare like with like- bikinis don't come into it, surely. And I hardly think the veil would offend Christians in the same way that someone wearing a bikini might offend a muslim.

I think there is a fair amount of overreaction going on here- surely most Christians wouldn't be offended by this non-event- which is, after all, what it is. A Muslim woman (and I don't see what relevance the veil has really) reading a message on Christmas day? Woooooooo!

As for all those bandying about comments about 'anti-Christian messgaes', please remember that you have no idea what this woman is going to say, and I would be extremely surprised if it was anti christmas or anti christian.

FFS.

Are we going to ban anything which isn't Christian from our screens over the Christmas period?

WhenSanta- presumably you are implying that bikinis are some sort of Christian thing? Let's compare like with like- bikinis don't come into it, surely. And I hardly think the veil would offend Christians in the same way that someone wearing a bikini might offend a muslim.

I think there is a fair amount of overreaction going on here- surely most Christians wouldn't be offended by this non-event- which is, after all, what it is. A Muslim woman (and I don't see what relevance the veil has really) reading a message on Christmas day? Woooooooo!

As for all those bandying about comments about 'anti-Christian messgaes', please remember that you have no idea what this woman is going to say, and I would be extremely surprised if it was anti christmas or anti christian.

FFS.

Are we going to ban anything which isn't Christian from our screens over the Christmas period?

Sorry about double post- computer goingn a bit mad.

well I do have issues with the veil - but I'll be interested in what she has to say- might even make a point of watching it if I get the time.

me too, I would hate to see veil wearing newsreaders and presenters become the norm.

Coronation Street in veils - it just wouldn't work would it?

what a lot of fuss! a lot of you are just assuming the worst. did you all kick off about the other speeches c4 have done at christmas?

i seem to remember the queen's last speech was all about the christian values of love thy neighbour.

Whilst I still maintian this is a tedious attempt at being 'radical' by Ch4 I am amazed that any Christians find it offensive. I find all the secular grabbiness far more off-putting tbh.

Even if she wanted to say something against Christianity, she can't by law. My bet is that she will be making the point that IHO wearing the veil is a feminist statement, there won't be equality until women in veils is accepted on tv, and that we all have to get used to our multi-faith society.

If this had happened a few yrs ago we'd hardly have noticed. It just shows you how much we have been manipulated that suddenly this is a topic for conversation.

Those of you who have objections to the veil- please could you elaborate? I fail to see how it could offend anyone if someone chooses to cover their face for religious reasons.

I wouldn't be 'offended' but I'm used to seeing peoples faces when they talk to me, either face to face or through the medium of television. A face is interesting, it has expression. I like people, I like to see them smile or express what they are feeling, what their reactions are to what is being said to them.

In a RL situation I would feel at a disadvantage in that they could 'read' me but I couldn't 'read' them. It's just my own personal feelings, they are neither right nor wrong.

from what I've read it isn't a requirement of the religion.

since you ask giraffe...

I find the veil a misogynistic concept, I believe all religions to be man made and find many of them prescribe actions that I find hard to understand.

If someone wants to wear a veil, dye their hair, pierce their nose or tatto their privates, that should be their decision for whatever reason and I will not/could not stop them.

But I truly believe that for every woman that says she chooses to wear the veil, there are many more who do not have the choice.

gosh, this question has pretty well been discussed on mn before. my reasons for being agaisnt it are

• it is not a requirement of the muslim religion
• it seriously impedes normal communication between human beings, and therefore disables women
• because it impedes communication, it renders the wearer less able to play a full and active part in 21st century life in Britain. (eg most jobs)
• it is often worn for reasons of vanity (Im so beautiful that I must cover my face, or my dh/pa will be hassled by men beating a path to my door)
• it is a sign of insecurity. A woman who doesnt intend to have an affair, or be unfaithful to her husband, wont be. She doesnt need a veil to repel men, she will repel them by how she behaves and what she says.

There may be controversy about whther the veil is required as part of the religion but surely someone who chooses to wear it should be respected for their choice?
Shall we castigate Hassidic Jews for their choices too?
And I don't really think that women who wear the veil are doing it to gain some sort of psychological advantage over others.

Live and let live. It's not doing you any harm.

I think I will just agree to disagree with those who object to the veil.