HOT DOGS

THE VERDE WORD 

This article is not about food rather, it is about freedom in the clothes we wear.

Sometimes in life we have little choice in the clothes we wear. It may be because of our occupation such as military, law enforcement, clergy or education such as school uniforms, the faith we follow such as wearing a hijab, our recreational pursuits such as baseball uniforms or, even wearing our club football jerseys while watching the game.

When we wear clothing that is identified with an occupation, education, faith or hobby, we are proud of and identify with our organisations.  This is rightly so as generally it is a matter of personal choice.

However, when we consider those who are forced to wear uniforms, such as prison inmates, or cultural expectations such as in some Middle East and Asian nations, women must wear a head covering, have long sleeves, or ensure no portion of skin showing.  In some nations, there can be religious or cultural expectations that men must wear a head covering and/or grow facial hair. 

If the above people had a choice, would they choose to be unlabelled or unbadged as belonging to a particular occupation, cultural, national, religious or faith identity?

In the past we may have been a person of uniform however there were times when there is a need to be incognito.  Then of course, there are the occasions when we are glad to get home and into the jeans, trackpants and sneakers, or in my case, my hot dog slippers.

My Hot Dogs

How wonderful it is that we have a choice of clothing to wear and, the freedom of expression. 

When we were kids, did we not wear our Mickey Mouse Club pullovers and ears, or dress like Superman, Batman or even a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?  This is the same thing, we often dress not only in required uniforms, but also dress to reflect our personal interest or passion.

 I have recently read and also have been told by some Muslim ladies that by wearing their hijab, in public, people tend to avoided making eye contact.  Some people even pretend to not notice the hijab wearer and this tends to make Muslim women feel almost invisible.

It is like being an overweight person in a shop.  Quite often shop staff attempt to either see straight through the overweight customer pretending they are not there or hide so they don't have to serve them and consequently, the overweight person feels almost invisible.

I wonder if it is the same for people who wear Indian, Islander or any other cultural derived clothing, do they tend to feel invisible as people try to not look at them.

Do we tend to avoid looking at people of whose culture we are unfamiliar, or even those who have a different lifestyle?  Why do we avoid eye contact with people who dress or appear different than what may stupidly seem normal.  Do we allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable in their presence?

There is no such thing as normal because each and everyone of us are so wonderfully diverse and different!

RELIGION AND NATIONALISM

Westernised female tourists from developed countries may be frowned upon when visiting some countries if they do not respect local custom on dress...which in some areas is law.

In some countries, although whilst in public, the displaying of dressing and behaving according to religious tomes and laws, I understand that citizens have no choice if they want to avoid trouble and avoid being maligned by family and friends.  Yet, although the folks in these countries certainly have freedom of expression of dress, if females want to wear jeans and a shirt in private, they can, but they can be made to feel very uncomfortable or at the very least, frowned upon if they appear in public in those same jeans and shirt.

We in westernised nations have the freedom to dress and go pretty much where we like, how we like and when we like however, it is not always so everywhere else in the world.

It is suggested that those of us who have the right to wear what we like, go where we want, with whom we want and, are able to express our opinion without fear of being harmed, are indeed most fortunate to live in a semi or fully free democratic society.

It is very likely that those of you who are reading this live in a free society.

When you have a day when you change your clothes a few times before deciding which is the most comfortable for your mental place, or mood you are in, give a thought that the luxury of wearing what you like and when you like is an expression of personal freedom that comes with a true democratic society.

So, while trying your shirts on for the day, think about others who are not so free and forbidden by religious, national law or threatened by subversive possible persecution if they wear other than prescribed dress.

Celebrate freedom of democracy, thought, speech and, the right to represent yourself as you feel inside.  And wear your metaphorical hot dogs.


Verde
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