Some what like you

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This feature jumps straight to the point by using two questions to lead the article.

“Do multiculturalism and feminism mix? What about feminism and religious freedom?”

Although Abrupt this approach works well in the context of an online publication. As internet readers are less likely to have the same amount of time and level of concentration as a newspaper reader.

The doughnut appeared dwarfed in the man’s hand. Sat on the table closest to the street, the delicate café chair creaked under his great weight; “Well what do you think of that mate ?”, he said to his companion, another middle aged man sweating in the heat of the midday sun. The First man was gesturing towards a group of teenage girls, clad in only bikinis which just about covered their meager developments into womanhood. The two sets of wrinkled eyes dragged across the exposed skin, and then agreed it was an inappropriate display; “I hope that my youngest, Kate, would have the sense to put on a t-shirt at least when she got off the beach, I wouldn’t want her walking around like that”.

What women do or do not wear has always been debated. More is less, less is more, to cover up or to bear all?, liberation or exploitation that is the question?. To any young girl this can be a minefield of possible fashion feux pas, to a Muslim girl however, whether or not to cover up is a personal decision which is increasingly taking on wider political connotations.

There is a wealth of current debate al over the world regarding the role of the traditional Muslim veil, in its multiple forms. From the controversial decision made to ban Muslim head dress in French schools, to the recent comments made by British politician Jack Straw in regard to role of the head dress in England’s classrooms, this traditional dress has attracted the media spotlight.

In multicultural societies the Hijab or Burka have arguably become political symbols, providing the focus for policy and debate. Furthermore the links drawn between the Muslim community and extremist groups heading terrorist organizations, has brought many traditional practices under suspicion, and in the case of the head dress; oppressive attitudes towards women.

This feature would aim to address this symbol at a more personal level, and therefore take this personal decision out of the political sphere and into the context of the women themselves. The feature will look at the history and definitions of the multiple head dresses, what they mean to the individual and also take a look at the Headwear fashion industry, such as Headwear Heaven.

“This website is exclusively devoted to those women who believe modesty is beautiful and good. In our line of garments we are presenting all western style clothes, taken from mainstream fashion, which meet the Muslim guidelines of modesty”

http://www.hijabfashions.com/index.php?cPath=21_71

The Muslim human rights commission provides some interesting stats on the Hijab 

This week John Howard Backed down on the proposed Immigration Bill. Having observed the same Prime Minister proceed with Volentary Student Unionism, Work Place changes and most notably the War on Iraq despite opposition; we are forced to ask what was the difference this time.

Was it the 4 ‘Rebel MPs’ who crossed the floor on moral grounds, was it a lack of commitment to the wishes of the Indonesian Government, who firmly supported the bill, or was it lobbying from outside of Parliament?

The Edmund Rice Center, a research foundation focussed on the human rights of international refugees, was in no doubt of their role in the dissmissal of the contraversial bill. This is evident in an email sent following Howard’s admission;

“The Government has withdrawn their bill to
process asylum seekers off shore on Nauru. The Edmund Rice Centre has
been working hard throughout the week with refugee groups and
parliamentarians to prevent the bill going ahead. Last week we released
findings from our ongoing research monitoring the fate of asylum seekers
returned by Australia. The report found nine cases where asylum seekers
had reportedly been killed on their return. We confirmed two of these
cases before being forced out of Afghanistan for safety reasons, and
discovered a further three cases of children being killed in attacks
targeted at their parents who were asylum seekers returned by Australia
from Nauru”

The Government’s decision is a significant victory for those committed
to human rights and the rule of law. It is a credit the people’s
movement that has formed since the arrival of the Tampa in August 2001,
and to the parliamentarians, particularly those within the Coalition,
who stood up for their beliefs”

Outline of the events, and what the bill proposed.

The MP’s who crossed the floor; what they said and why.

A bit of political backgroud on what is possible and what is not when MP’s oppose a bill.

PM’s press release on the decision.

Disscussion of democracy.

Australia’s Islamic community often find itself in the media spotlight. Negative disscussion of extremist infiltration and the role of muslim women, however, dominates the coverage. A. M. Aziza Abdel-Halim from The Australian National Muslim Womens Network, gives an insight into the ongoing work being done to create an Australian community which knows its neighbours.

Information about the Netwprks Activities,

Introuction: the Auburn Girls High School fire

Inteview to come  

The credits roll, unstoppable. The blank screen with unknown names in white text a welcome relief to the experience which preceeded them. Then, silence and a sense of bewilderment. Looking around the red velvet seats littered with squished pieces of popcorn provide a stark almost insulting reminder that thisis a cinema and this movie was intended as entertainment.

Many felt the strength of the recently released feature length; United 93, was its creation of a sense of realness. 

“I did feel it was well done, it was not too ‘Hollywood’, but i still felt uncomfortable watching it. It seemed a little wrong that i was getting some kind of entertainment or enjoyment out of loss of lives” Said Hayley, after watching United 93 at Cronulla Cinemas.

This film tells the story of the only plane which failed to reach its target on September 11th. Directed by Paul Greengrass  known for the blockbuster hit; The Bourne Supremacy, this movie focuses on the actions of the forty passengers and the part they played in preventing the terrorists from achieving their goal. 

Fives years on, September 11th still seems very fresh in peoples minds. There has however been an influx of movies, documentaries and television dramas dealing with the topic in ways previously deemed too painfull.

-List other movies,’World Trade Centre’, ‘United 93′ ( The television drama)

-Get expert opinion from media studies professor.

-More quotes from viewers.

The quite Street gives way to a deep red dungeon, deliciously scented by beer, peanuts and a reminder that non smoking laws are yet to be fully enforced in
Melbourne. The Union pub is a local’s local. This is a place where a seat at the bar is a privileged thrown to the alternative, reserved for chain smoking VB guzzling, artistic types with vocabularies larger than the extensive blackboard menu which covers the walls. Despite the feeling that you may not have been in Fitzroy long enough (since before it was very cool and not a yuppie magnet) to be accepted by the regulars, there are enough dark corners to settle into and inconspicuously observe the slightly muscular black clad bar maid at work, while tucking into a huge chicken palmer and pint of VB original. Despite having to move every time the next shot at the pool table requires your chair to be moved, after a ten dollar jug of draft this becomes all part of the experience. 

The garish red carpet is as unwelcome as the bright white forced smiles which guide the passengers like landing lights through the departure gate along the walkway and on to the last Virgin Blue flight out of Melbourne on a Sunday night. A short flight, a well known destination, a journey of duty, this is not the magic of air travel but a necessary evil for those whose business and pleasure

 stretches them across the thousand Kilometer divide between Melbourne and Sydney.  

The air stewards go about their ritualistic preparations for take off. It seems that they must be trained not only in the art of perpetual perkiness but also taught a traditional dance: Rather like a well coordinated West End production they walk in time and conduct their safety checks to the rhythm of a silent score. It is a performance which is reassuring. Familiar to the passengers and a reminder that for these pristine individuals trusting a nicely painted hunk of metal to get you thirty thousand feet into the air and back is routine, run of the mill and completely safe.  

As the plane picks up speed with a groan and lack of grace, the forced smiles are unchanged but directed towards the windows. Strapped to their special seats the stewards watch the ground disappear as they are in turn watched by nearby passengers, searching for a glimpse of the possibility that behind the smiles they too contemplate whether today they will fall out of the sky.   

Its hot, in a sweaty way. The que of sour faced people overflows out on to the pavement. The take away bags bursting with goodies, are thrust out into the group of waiting people with a shout of a slightly mispronounced name. Kids run around the ankles of the busy staff screaming, and a red faced women restles her way to the front of the counter; “i didnt order this, i asked for no - pe-per on mine and pe-per on the other one, i want my mon-ey back!”. She then turns to a friend; “i dont think he understands me”. His brough furrowed and a trickle of sweat about to embark on the journey from his hairline to the end of his nose, he looks up “Yes madam, i do understand you, i will be with you in a minute i am just serving some one”.

“what!” she replies, redder than ever. ” i can’t understand you……why doesnt anyone speak english in here!”.

The Vietnamese owner of the Cronulla cafe, Tom, watches the woman storm out, frustrated. “i have been here four years and when i arrived i had no English, originally i lived in Queensland and i learnt english there, but its like a different language down here ..maaate” he laughs.

“sometimes it seems like people dont want to try to understand you, i realise it must be really frustrating. Customers dont want to have to strain to here you, thats why i only hire staff who speak clear english” the owner said.

Michaela Bobeck, a tall slender Sweedish girl, who lived with her boyfriend in his home town of Bundeburg found people’s reaction to her accent exhausting. “I was in this ice cream shop in bundy….wasnt i bud?” she refers back to her boyfriend in an awkward sweedish style queensland slang. ” i asked for vanilla, three times and she still was like; ‘what darle?, i cant get ya’. I was just so tired i asked a fourth time, and then i just started to cry. i have studied english for years ..it is so frustrating, and it makes me feel so home sick”.

Language is the biggest barrier faced by newly arrived immigrants.