Veils as a Matter of Choice
Saturday, October 28, 2006; Page A13
Regarding the Oct. 22 Outlook articles on Muslim customs:
Veils have been and continue to be a Christian tradition for women.
Wearing a lace veil in church was standard practice when I was growing up Catholic. Young girls still wear one for First Communion, usually with much excitement. Brides put much careful thought into selecting their wedding veils. And throughout the Christian world women who have chosen to take special vows dedicating their lives to God often wear veils.
Are we really so different?
The point is not the veil. The point is choice. To mandate either way, that I must or must not wear a veil, robs a woman of her inherent freedom. I may choose to wear a swimsuit in a pageant, if it's meaningful to me. I may choose to wear a habit, a veil, a chador, a niqab. I have that freedom, as well as the freedom to respect another person's choice.
I recall liking those elegant lace veils as a child. Maybe I'll wear one Sunday.
-- Joanne Ugolini
Derwood
