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ec. 15, p5

Recently, a new trend has arisen in many provinces: Policewomen donning Islamic headscarves while on duty.

It followed new National Police chief Gen. Sutarman'€™s announcement that Muslim police officers would be permitted to wear the Islamic garb as pious groups had long demanded, but had previously fallen on his predecessors'€™ deaf ears.  (By Pandaya, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta)

Your comments:

The main idea behind  an op-ed piece is to provoke ideas and a constructive debate.

I think the writer just underlines how complex the issue of religion in public policy such as this one is. And the writer is right in questioning Gen. Sutarman'€™s wisdom.

Scheleret

Just a uniform! No headscarf! Not at work!

Balistars

The concept of a uniform is totally undone by letting people wear something different to identify themselves as a certain religion.

It'€™s called a uniform for a reason: identification and impartiality.

Stella

When a person joins an establishment organization like the police or armed forces, they leave behind the ability to wear what they wish.

In the Army, one wears one'€™s hair really short, and for good reason. The uniform is an identity, but the individual sacrifices some individualism in being part of the organization.

Maurice Gold