This (above) came up in my news feed today. Sounds cool, but I wanted to know if it was true, so I did some research. Perhaps I'm just too picky and read too much into things, but the above is misleading. It states that Scotland created a tartan to honor it's Muslim citizens. It also states that by doing this, Scotland has basically said they welcome Muslims as family; that they recognize them as Scots.
Which that's what I found to be cool about this. "Did they really? Because that is awesome." But, that's not how this went down. After researching further, I came across an article which contained a photo from the same photo shoot as the one above (same people, same tartan, probably same building, different photo though), telling all about this. First, the above was only posted yesterday, leading one to believe that it's current news, however, this all happened back in 2012 (with the article being from last December). Secondly, Scotland didn't create the tartan for the Muslim Scots; a Muslim Scot created it. Glasgow-born Dr. Azeem Ibrahim, whose parents hail from Pakistan. The Muslim people in Scotland (or most, if not all) want to wear a kilt, as there are many reasons to wear one (graduation, weddings, parliament, etc.), & Dr. Ibrahim felt they should have one that represents them. So, thirdly, as it seems to be implied, there was no meeting on getting an appropriate tartan made with Scotland, Dr. Ibrahim just went and had one made, as anyone can do, since there are no requirements on making one. He did register it in 2012 as the Official Scottish Islamic Tartan & it was endorsed by the Muslim Council of Scotland. As from the Scottish Register of Tartans website, "Anyone, from anywhere in the world, can register a new tartan (individuals, schools, and corporate groups as well as professional designers and weavers) providing that it meets our criteria for registration." Seems to me like they're not that picky. I am correct. The criteria are that it has to be a tartan, it has to be a new design, and a clear link between the person registering the tartan and the name of the tartan. I could create a tartan. It would be accepted if it looks like a tartan and is a new design. It doesn't mean that Scotland embraces me. I think it's wonderful and fabulous that the Muslim people (or most) like living in Scotland and feel that it's home. I like that they've taken to haggis and made it halal, that they build their minarets to represent the Muslim style, as well as Scotland. I like that this guy decided they all needed a tartan and most of them are pleased as punch to have one, unifying their faith and culture with their home. I think that Dr. Ibrahim did a great thing. However, it doesn't mean that Scotland counts them as family. I hope they do, and they might just because Scottish people are not English people... but also look to the English during this Brexit fiasco, telling people to go home/back where they came from just because they don't look English (when most of the people hearing it, while their immediate lineage isn't English, they were born there, so they are English/British). I mean, the Scottish did want to break away from England, but that has more to do with hating the English for past (and possibly current) personal wrongs done to them. But, it doesn't mean that it has anything to do with how their treat "foreigners" (said of anyone that doesn't seem English and in a nasty tone). But, this needed further research. And it seems divided. I don't feel like reading for days and searching for numbers, but apparently there is less of a Muslim population in Scotland than in England. So, perhaps there is just less things happening, and even though some of the sources say it's all peachy keen roses, it doesn't appear to be. Seams like there are people who are OK with Muslims living there... and some who are not. Just How Welcome Are Muslims In Scotland? >> from The Herald Scotland 08.2018 Muslims of Scotland >> from All Things Muslim 2016 Majority of Muslim Women In Scotland Have Been The Victims of Hate Crime >> from The Scotsman 03.2019 Mosque In Scotland Vandalized With Racist Graffiti >> from Anadolu Agency 05.2019 Public Inquiry To Probe Islamophobia In Scotland >> from Holyrood 06.2019 I think it depends on who you are and where you're living in Scotland as to whether you'll be seeing a welcoming or distancing attitude towards Muslims. Does that mean that Scotland embraces it's Muslim compatriots as family? I have no idea. I think some do and some don't, but as to the numbers, I just don't have the time to figure that out. It's still an interesting story (the tartan) even if it is now slightly lack-luster to learn the truth. Someone doing something for themselves is always commendable, but compared to someone who isn't you doing something for you out of acceptance, well, that's two different things.
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AuthorA girl from South Mississippi who finds herself in exploration. Archives
November 2019
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