The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, is considering allowing a Muslim woman, who was admitted to the institution, to wear the hijab as part of her uniform. Naturally, this has raised the usual hue and cry about giving special consideration to people with religious convictions, but to the college’s credit its administrators are thinking the long game here.
The Citadel has been around for nearly 200 years and has a long and very strict tradition on how cadets behave and the demands placed on them on how, when and where they wear their uniforms. Once an all-male academy, the Citadel has been admitting women since 1995.
Secular societies always struggle with religion. The separation of church and state is ingrained in the ideals of the American society, although it is slowly moving rightward to allow conservative Christian denominations greater access to the government. Secular European countries often brag about their inclusiveness of non-Christian religions, but their laws, dress codes, zoning and employment practices tell a different story.
Still, I am not surprised in the least that the Citadel wants to grant this young Muslim woman an accommodation to wear the hijab. What’s more, the college is considering allowing women the right to cover their arms and legs during physical exercises, mandatory inspections conducted only by other women cadets and providing privacy while they get their hair cut in the college barbershop.
Complaints on social media appear to be less anti-Islam and more of protesting the dismantling of military tradition and, as one commenter said, shows “blatant disrespect” for an organization that the cadet willingly joined, yet hopes for special treatment. Part of being in the military is to lose one’s individuality and operate as a team in which members’ lives are dependent on each other. Uniformity and cohesion is the name of the game.
But there is a time and place for everything, and the time has passed in which individuals are willing to give up their religious liberties in pursuit of a dress code that may or may not contribute to uniformity and cohesion. More importantly, the Citadel has a religious accommodation policy that follows federal law that requires employers and institutions to make reasonable accommodations for an individual’s religious practices.
By wearing a headscarf with a uniform, or a unitard during physical training, or having one’s hair cut in private doesn’t seem to be unreasonable or places a significant burden on the college. Further, the Pentagon in 2014 loosened its rules to allow its military personnel to wear articles of clothing that declare their faith. Sikhs may ask permission to wear the turban and grow a beard. Muslim women may be able to wear the hijab and Jews may be permitted to wear yarmulkes. It’s not a blanket change in military policy but accommodations reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
What is interesting is that the military just recently also decided to relax its rules on neck tattoos that were once strictly against regulations, but now open for accommodation. This points to something that the anti-accommodation social media users at the Citadel should keep in mind: The military, as well as any college or university, must be all-inclusive to reflect the society we live in. Neck tattoos may be offensive to some people, but the practice is so common now that it’s an act of discrimination to deny them enlistment in the military or admission to college.
As people today are more willing to wear clothing or articles that signify their religious faith, they, too, must be included in all segments of society.
This is a sensitive time for the American Muslims. They are eager to demonstrate their patriotism. They want to join forces to combat evil. They want to take a stand for their country and their fellow citizens. Does that mean they must give up expressing their faith or following the practices of their faith? That, to me, smacks of anti-Americanism.
The Citadel has been around for nearly 200 years and has a long and very strict tradition on how cadets behave and the demands placed on them on how, when and where they wear their uniforms. Once an all-male academy, the Citadel has been admitting women since 1995.
Secular societies always struggle with religion. The separation of church and state is ingrained in the ideals of the American society, although it is slowly moving rightward to allow conservative Christian denominations greater access to the government. Secular European countries often brag about their inclusiveness of non-Christian religions, but their laws, dress codes, zoning and employment practices tell a different story.
Still, I am not surprised in the least that the Citadel wants to grant this young Muslim woman an accommodation to wear the hijab. What’s more, the college is considering allowing women the right to cover their arms and legs during physical exercises, mandatory inspections conducted only by other women cadets and providing privacy while they get their hair cut in the college barbershop.
Complaints on social media appear to be less anti-Islam and more of protesting the dismantling of military tradition and, as one commenter said, shows “blatant disrespect” for an organization that the cadet willingly joined, yet hopes for special treatment. Part of being in the military is to lose one’s individuality and operate as a team in which members’ lives are dependent on each other. Uniformity and cohesion is the name of the game.
But there is a time and place for everything, and the time has passed in which individuals are willing to give up their religious liberties in pursuit of a dress code that may or may not contribute to uniformity and cohesion. More importantly, the Citadel has a religious accommodation policy that follows federal law that requires employers and institutions to make reasonable accommodations for an individual’s religious practices.
By wearing a headscarf with a uniform, or a unitard during physical training, or having one’s hair cut in private doesn’t seem to be unreasonable or places a significant burden on the college. Further, the Pentagon in 2014 loosened its rules to allow its military personnel to wear articles of clothing that declare their faith. Sikhs may ask permission to wear the turban and grow a beard. Muslim women may be able to wear the hijab and Jews may be permitted to wear yarmulkes. It’s not a blanket change in military policy but accommodations reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
What is interesting is that the military just recently also decided to relax its rules on neck tattoos that were once strictly against regulations, but now open for accommodation. This points to something that the anti-accommodation social media users at the Citadel should keep in mind: The military, as well as any college or university, must be all-inclusive to reflect the society we live in. Neck tattoos may be offensive to some people, but the practice is so common now that it’s an act of discrimination to deny them enlistment in the military or admission to college.
As people today are more willing to wear clothing or articles that signify their religious faith, they, too, must be included in all segments of society.
This is a sensitive time for the American Muslims. They are eager to demonstrate their patriotism. They want to join forces to combat evil. They want to take a stand for their country and their fellow citizens. Does that mean they must give up expressing their faith or following the practices of their faith? That, to me, smacks of anti-Americanism.
