Respect ones host?

Question

I live in a western society and I believe if I was to visit a muslim state I would respect their culture and heritage and cover myself appropriately to intergrate within the host state. I dont believe Britain is asking to much of its guests or residents to abide by the principles of our western culture as this would create intergration. What do you think?

Answer 1

I'd have to agree with you.

Answer 2

Which "principles of our western culture"? In my western culture, anyway, one of the principles is religious freedom, which makes the wearing of headscarves (for example) perfectly compatible with our culture.

We seem to ask this of Muslims but not of Christians, at least here in the United States. It's odd to read about Jack Straw complaining that the burqa prevents integration when here in the US the major political movement of the last 25 years has been the dogged disintegration of western culture by the Christian Right.

It would be interesting to see the reaction if this "integration" objection were applied equally, but I don't see any chance that it will.

Answer 3

Yes I agree, but unfortunately, because of certain *diots in our government, guests now have more privillages over residents anyway. Respecting ones host only applied several decades ago. Britain is now a free for all country with anyone free to come here and make up the rules as they go along.

Answer 4

I agree with you. I was also thinking whether Muslim women really like to dress in a way as to look as haystacks. Are they actually given a choice to wear or not burkas, hijabs, etc. or their community imposes this on them? I think it's their male dominated community.
I don't think that wearing certain clothes makes you a believer. (A Christian is not a believer because s/he wears religious jewellery).
So, if its only a matter of culture and tradition, then the host country culture and tradition should be respected.

Answer 5

Yes, if we go abroad we respect their rules and try not to cause offence. It's common sense.

Over here, people are free, thankfully, to worship as they wish. In return, they are expected to abide by our laws. The Koran, as I understand it, says that women should be modestly dressed - that's all. Otherwise Moslems from places like Pakistan would cover their faces, but they don't. So it's a cultural thing, not a religious thing. The rest of us wouldn't go to the supermarket in a bikini, or go to church in overalls - again cultural rules we abide by.

I believe that we want the Moslems here to play a positive role in this society. Many other immigrants have before them, without compromising their beliefs at all.

But the veil has no place in Britain, from either a cultural or a religious perspective. We don't like it when people hide their faces, for a multitude of reasons (bank robbers etc.) It seems to me, girls, that what you want isn't Britain. If you want a Sharia state, go and live in one.

Otherwise, wear your headscarf and your modest clothes, practise your faith, make friends with your neighbours, and live life to the full in our free country.

Answer 6

It's the case of the strong belief versus the ambiguous belief. If you have no laws over what you should wear and you're visiting someone with strict requirements, it's courtesy to abide by their customs. It's not like it really puts you out. When they come to visit you, they will again dress as is customary to them since it is required. You don't have dress requirements, so asking them to disregard their tradition simply to be more homogeneous isn't really reasonable.

Answer 7

If people can respect a religion's rules, then they should respect the government's also.

Answer 8

Yes, I would add that the full veil is not required by Islam

Answer 9

one shud respect ones host.. but u CANNOT leave ur religion.. covering ourselves is a part of our religion.. it aint sumthin that we do for fashion or stuff.. its a part of our religion..n Islam is more important to us than anyhting else!!!

Answer 10

don't know