Tragic Contradictions

The newest child health care bill was vetoed today. In defense of his action, Bush contended that government health care should not extend to adults nor to those who are not desperately poor. The ideal is for Americans to pay for their health care through private insurance companies.

Do you really believe that, Mr. Bush? You're an adult and far from poor. Why do you receive government health care? The same can be said for Cheney, for the entire executive branch, judicial branch, and Congress. How can you deny to children and struggling adults what you yourselves take so freely? How is that democracy?

There may not be enough money for government health care but Congress is poised to allocate another 70 billion dollars for the war in Iraq--no strings attached. Apparently this country is not in the business of living but of killing.

A tragic murder of a teenage girl occured outside of Toronto. She got into an argument with her strict Muslim father about wearing a headscarf--a hijab. He became irate and strangled her.

I wear hijab and if I had a teenage daughter I would surely hope she wore it too. The hijab is modesty and identity. Also, I am sick of the American media portraying uncovered women as educated and progressive while we poor covered women are, apparently, ignorant and oppressed. Excuse me?

But the father waited too late to teach his daughter. My husband has worked in Islamic education for 22 years and he can tell you that you don't tell a sixteen-year old to wear hijab. You tell a seven year old, a ten year old. She grows up with it and it won't be strange to her. Ah well. It's too late for both the father and the daughter now.