Why Is My Cross Forbidden?

[Christina]

16 October 2006IF A MUSLIM CAN WEAR HER VEIL TO WORK WHY IS MY CROSS FORBIDDEN?EXCLUSIVE: BA ROW WOMAN SPEAKS OUT..By Julie MccaffreyIT is smaller than a 10 pence piece and all but invisible to people standing just inches away.Yet Nadia Eweida's tiny white gold cross is at the centre of a huge legal row that has engulfed Britain's biggest airline and infuriated religious groups.Check-in worker Nadia, 55, was forced to take unpaid leave by British Airways after refusing to remove the Christian emblem. But she claims it is a clear display of double standards as Muslims can wear head scarves and Sikh males their turbans."It seems that only Christians are forbidden to express their faith," she told the Mirror. "I am not ashamed to be Christian and shouldn't be made to feel that way."I want people to know I am a Christian when they meet me.Just like people know when they meet a Muslim."The case echoes that of Fiona Bruce, the newsreader who has not worn her cross necklace on television since BBC governors debated whether it would cause offence to other religions.And it bears striking similarities to the Muslim teacher Aishah Azmi, from Dewsbury, Yorkshire, who is taking legal action after being suspended for wearing a veil in lessons.It will only add to the row over religious clothing after Jack Straw asked Muslim women to ditch their veils.Hundreds of Nadia's colleagues have demanded she be reinstated and yesterday Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain insisted:"Frankly, I think the British Airways order for her not to wear a cross was loopy."As backing for Nadia grows, BA is faced with rumours of staff strikes, Christian boycotts and a slump in ticket sales.JOHN Andrews, communications officer for the diocese of Bath and Wells, said: "I think BA is being extremely offensive to members of the Christian faith."It is rather more than an ornament. It is more than an item of jewellery."Meanwhile Nadia, from Twickenham, West London, is set to sue for religious discrimination.She said: "My case shows a company so scared of upsetting a minority that it has swung too far to the other side and upset the majority."It is clearly not fair that I am prohibited from wearing my cross, when Muslim ladies are allowed to wear a hijab and Sikhs freely wear turbans."They immediately identify that person's religion. I imagine that's why the teacher in Dewsbury is fighting to wear her veil.She should be allowed to wear it in the classroom. I respect her views but what I don't respect is one rule for some and another for others."Ironically, the row started the day after Nadia, who has an exemplary seven-year record with British Airways and is based at Heathrow's Terminal Four, attended a training course on diversity and dignity at work."We spent the day learning how to integrate and understand different cultures, religions, sexual orientations and political allegiances," she recalled."The next day my duty manager asked me to take off my cross. I said it was an expression of my faith. But she refused to accept that."I'd worn it many times, but all of a sudden it was an issue. "I was sent to see the customer services manager, who then sent me home."NADIA, who is single and looks after her elderly mother, was born in Egypt to an Egyptian father and English mother.She believes that, instead of constantly trying not to offend a minority faith, employers should demonstrate equal consideration towards people of all faiths."As a Christian in a Muslim country, I was in the minority and held tightly to my faith," she explained. "I wear a cross because it reminds me what Jesus Christ did for mankind. I think I am within my rights to wear it."Nadia, who attends church up to seven times a week, has the backing of her local MP Vincent Cable, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, who called BA "disgraceful and petty". And she also has the backing of her union, the TGWU.However Nadia, whose great grandfather Thomas Paine helped found the Salvation Army, claims to be overwhelmed by all the attention.She said: "I didn't expect this to escalate. And it seems that the more people who know about my case, the angrier they become."But I am not getting angrier, I am growing more determined."My ultimate aim is firstly to win an apology from British Airways, saying sorry to me for their behaviour and sorry to all their Christian workers who wish to express their faith."Secondly, I want to return to the job I loved. I'm not ashamed of what has happened, and if I go back I won't have my tail between my legs."Sometimes it takes one person to make a change by putting their head above the parapet. And if that has to be me, then so be it. I am a loyal and conscientious employee of British Airways but I feel I must stand up for the rights of all Christians, and all citizens."A BA spokeswoman emphasised that Miss Eweida has not been suspended and said an appeal was due to be heard some time next week.She said BA recognised that employees may wish to wear jewellery including religious symbols. "Our policy states these items can be worn, underneath the uniform. There is no ban."This rule applies for all jewellery and religious symbols on chains and is not specific to the Christian cross."[email protected] Print Close

 

[ROS777]

Kriss; how do we counter this anti Christian bias that hides behindpolitical correctness? Political correctness should be identified as a religion, as it surely is.

 

[Carer]

I think governments and other world leaders are becoming a religion unto themselves.Some of the the things our 'Christian' leaders/politicians get up to is enough to turn anyone off the idea of 'Christianity'.

 

[ROS777]

(Carer;3408)
I think governments and other world leaders are becoming a religion unto themselves.Some of the the things our 'Christian' leaders/politicians get up to is enough to turn anyone off the idea of 'Christianity'.
Who are the "Christian leaders/politicians that you are referring to?So let me get this straight: we shouldn't speak out as Christians because we might turn someone off to Christianity.Anybody that would be " turned off " to Christianity with that flimsy excuse was already "turned off" to Christianity .Let's see you speak out against Islam. I know I'm turned off to the violence and no one or few ??? in the Islamic community speaking out against the Islamic terrorists.

 

[HammerStone]

Atheism/Political Correctness has become its own religion. Simply put, gods have been replaced with humans and it is seeking through "legal" means to outlaw and destroy the other religions, particularly Christianity.The way to counter it is to stand up for what you believe in. That might sound simple at first, but it's a true test of what you believe. We as Christians must refuse to play the politically correct game and recognize that Christianity is something personal and not something to be defined by the masses.Shutting off displays of Christianity in the public square is shutting of Christianity in general.

 

[Christina]

(ROS777;3407)
Kriss; how do we counter this anti Christian bias that hides behindpolitical correctness? Political correctness should be identified as a religion, as it surely is.
I agree with you Ros,but I think Swampfox has it right we each have to stand up on our own in our little corners of the world. Christianity is about your personal relationship with God how far you spread and share that love by example from your center of the universe starting in our own families and friends.If God wants us to make a public statement he will arrange things so it happens.Look how he turned the evil Act of one person into a testament in the recent Amish school shooting he couldn't take away the free will of the shooter,one man intent on committing evil, but he could show the world the striking difference between his people and those that worship other gods. During the Amish school shootings the older girls asked to be killed first hoping that help would come and the little ones would be saved that selfless act came from the teachings of the parents.Which spread out to the Amish community who forgave the gunman within hours,knowing this was the act of one disturbed individual. No outrage at the world,no protesting. Then that soon spread to the entire community who collected money for medical bills and they also reached out to the wife and children of the shooter realizing they were victims also. That spread to talk on T.V programs, of the amazing strength ,kindness and forgiveness their faith in God gave these people to deal with this tragedy.Compare that to the reactions of recent protest over published cartoons and so called offensive words of the Pope .It reminds me of the days in Egypt when God knocked over the Egyptian gods.Our God doesnt need loud protests, killing, hate to keep his name great. He takes one evil act and uses it to show the world what Christianity is about.That is why we don't have to worry about counteracting all the bias in the world like other religions try to do. We just have to be right with God in our own hearts, set examples, plant our own seeds and God will make them grow and spread

 

[HammerStone]

Beautifly stated, kriss!

 

[SilentFlight]

Britain if that's how you know it we tend to stick to england scotland etc. Are having major issues with religious allowance. Parliment are debating whether muslims can wear veils, but they have for a long time and its their religion. Christians should have as much right to show their religion too, but in trying to get this "multi-cultual" society it has messed up a bit. People here are very unaccepting to say it is a christian country is almost insulting becase it's athiest with groups of exception. But the people here they want to keep it english where as others are trying to get biased out by bringing in a wider scale of faith. It can get out of hand, they say now you cannot call a christmas tree a christmas tree its a festival tree so as not to affend. But people should have the right to prcatise as they want to, only issue is people will complain they cant call it a christmas tree but discriminate against the msulim veils. The parliment are trying to handle a situation that seems failing on either result there is only hope misconduct will end and understanding will grow.

 

[Christina]

I agree with your opinion silentflight,very well put you have a good grasp on things for a young person.I think all the free world countries are having the same type problems.I have heard some news on the veil controversy in England we have a little of that in the school system mostly. but it has not become to big here yet but I suspect it will.