Tag: socialissues2016
Our Children; Bullied to Death
It was in the winter of 1967 when a young, bespectacled boy named Steven Shepherd left his home and walked in heavy rain to strawberry fields in Newburgh, Lancashire. The fields were important to Steven. Some months prior, Steven had an unusual and momentary break from a sequence of abuse, physical…
Why I am against grammar schools
Meritocratic Society or Politics in Play? On the 12th of September 2016, PM Theresa May unveiled plans to lift the near 20-year ban introduced by Labour in 1998 against opening new grammar schools. Plans not initially present in the 2015 election manifesto, May’s idea has been met with considerable opposition…
The Playboy Hijab
Playboy: /ˈplāˌboi/ noun noun: playboy; plural noun: playboys A wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who behaves irresponsibly or is sexually promiscuous. Playboy Magazine: Founded by Hugh Hefner, Chicago 1953. Known primarily for its centerfolds of nude and semi nude models. First issue featured actress Marilyn…
Are Refugees More Welcome in Churches than Mosques?
Refugees welcome here! The Guardian newspaper recently ran a story about the Reverend Sally Smith, a vicar from Stoke-on-Trent, hailing her as a present-day Good Samaritan. The vicar is indeed worthy of such praise as she has wholeheartedly welcomed refugees into her parish and into the Christian community. She has…
Rise Above Your Fear
Hands up if you feel like the world is about to end at any minute. Worry not, you are probably not alone. The times we live in are chaotic and the world around us seems to get darker every day. Watching the news has become a surreal experience, as we…
Five Rules For Beating Procrastination
Procrastination is the result of a “domino effect”. Imagine you wish to build a house. However, you constantly wonder what colour curtains you’ll place over the windows. You start debating with yourself about every prospective problem and every prospective failure: “Will my spouse like my choice of curtains?”, for example.…
Finding our ‘tribe’ in a modern world
Finding our tribe in a modern world: Questions on belonging Growing up in London, I felt fairly proud that I knew the neighbour to our right. To this day though, I don’t know the name of the Italian chap to the left, but at least we exchange friendly nods! Nothing…
Getting a hold on obesity
ʿUmar b. Al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) once met a man with a protruding stomach. When he questioned about it he answered that it was a blessing from Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā). ʿUmar (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) corrected him by saying that it was, instead, a ‘punishment’ from Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā).…
Abortion: Through the Eyes of the People of the Book
"Whoever kills a soul it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." All three Abrahamic faiths share the idea that life is sacred and that a person’s life should not be taken. However, the…
Migration Myopia
For as long as people have resided on Earth, migration has been a major driver for historical change. Migration towards the ‘developed’ world was a growing trend in the 20th century, and many receiving communities became increasingly alarmed. Then came the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Arab spring, all of which do…