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A Ban on Religious Garb in Public A Ban on Religious Garb in Public
(about 3 hours later)
To the Editor:To the Editor:
In “When Putting On a Head Scarf Is All It Takes to Get Fired” (news article, March 8), you featured the stories of four women — Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Catholic — persecuted for their faith by the ban on religious garb for government employees, and in other professional settings, in Quebec.In “When Putting On a Head Scarf Is All It Takes to Get Fired” (news article, March 8), you featured the stories of four women — Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Catholic — persecuted for their faith by the ban on religious garb for government employees, and in other professional settings, in Quebec.
Forcing these women to make an impossible choice between their faith and their livelihood is an affront to human dignity. Governments have no business forcing citizens to hide or abandon their faith in some ill-conceived effort to create a “neutral” state in which people are all the same.Forcing these women to make an impossible choice between their faith and their livelihood is an affront to human dignity. Governments have no business forcing citizens to hide or abandon their faith in some ill-conceived effort to create a “neutral” state in which people are all the same.
Thankfully, laws in the United States protect our diversity and allow women (and men!) to remain true both to their religious beliefs and their desire to serve their communities. Our laws protect religious exercise and expression, even for government workers.Thankfully, laws in the United States protect our diversity and allow women (and men!) to remain true both to their religious beliefs and their desire to serve their communities. Our laws protect religious exercise and expression, even for government workers.
Thankfully, laws in the United States protect our diversity and allow women (and men!) to remain true both to their religious beliefs and their desire to serve their communities. Our laws protect religious exercise and expression, even for government workers.
The Quebec article reminds us of what our world would look like without such protections. Women worried they’ll be blocked from promotions? Forced to put dreams of a career as a prosecutor aside? Moving across the country to flee discrimination? That sounds like a pre-suffrage existence, in which women’s inalienable political rights were denied.The Quebec article reminds us of what our world would look like without such protections. Women worried they’ll be blocked from promotions? Forced to put dreams of a career as a prosecutor aside? Moving across the country to flee discrimination? That sounds like a pre-suffrage existence, in which women’s inalienable political rights were denied.
There is one place in the United States where the Constitution’s protections are not yet realized on the question of religious garb, and a spirit of intolerance like that in Quebec persists.There is one place in the United States where the Constitution’s protections are not yet realized on the question of religious garb, and a spirit of intolerance like that in Quebec persists.
Pennsylvania still has an anti-religious-garb law — originally passed in 1895 and renewed decades later in 1949 — that bars public school teachers from wearing religious dress in the classroom. Though rarely enforced, Pennsylvania’s law stands as a symbol of the religious intolerance from which it was born.Pennsylvania still has an anti-religious-garb law — originally passed in 1895 and renewed decades later in 1949 — that bars public school teachers from wearing religious dress in the classroom. Though rarely enforced, Pennsylvania’s law stands as a symbol of the religious intolerance from which it was born.
We should take Quebec’s law as a warning sign of the injustice inflicted by a society that shoves faith behind closed doors and stop the imposition of secularism as a government-sponsored religion.We should take Quebec’s law as a warning sign of the injustice inflicted by a society that shoves faith behind closed doors and stop the imposition of secularism as a government-sponsored religion.
Montserrat AlvaradoMalka GrodenAmrith KaurAsma UddinThe writers, four American women, have partnered with Becket — Religious Liberty for All, a nonprofit. They are, respectively, Catholic, Jewish, Sikh and Muslim. Ms. Alvarado is vice president and executive director of Becket.Montserrat AlvaradoMalka GrodenAmrith KaurAsma UddinThe writers, four American women, have partnered with Becket — Religious Liberty for All, a nonprofit. They are, respectively, Catholic, Jewish, Sikh and Muslim. Ms. Alvarado is vice president and executive director of Becket.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
I just read Pamela Druckerman’s article about turning 50, and I disagree that life and attractiveness are over when one hits a certain age (“Yes, I’m Now 50. No, I’m Not Ready,” Sunday Review, March 15).I just read Pamela Druckerman’s article about turning 50, and I disagree that life and attractiveness are over when one hits a certain age (“Yes, I’m Now 50. No, I’m Not Ready,” Sunday Review, March 15).
Contrary to Ms. Druckerman, 50 is a wonderful age. And so are the subsequent years.Contrary to Ms. Druckerman, 50 is a wonderful age. And so are the subsequent years.
On my last birthday I turned 72, and my life is everything (almost) that I want it to be. I am healthy, fit, considered attractive, and I am frequently approached by much younger men in grocery stores and bookstores, and while out shopping.On my last birthday I turned 72, and my life is everything (almost) that I want it to be. I am healthy, fit, considered attractive, and I am frequently approached by much younger men in grocery stores and bookstores, and while out shopping.
I love the self-confidence and wisdom that come when you no longer believe that you are the center of the universe. I love helping others — family, friends and others less fortunate — by volunteering and looking for opportunities to be useful.I love the self-confidence and wisdom that come when you no longer believe that you are the center of the universe. I love helping others — family, friends and others less fortunate — by volunteering and looking for opportunities to be useful.
Part of successful aging involves letting go of certain expectations, knowing that physical complaints will increase and that there will be increasing losses as time goes by. I find the physical decline, though in my case it’s been slight, the most difficult to accept. There are aches and pains that seemingly come out of thin air, laying you low when you least expect it.Part of successful aging involves letting go of certain expectations, knowing that physical complaints will increase and that there will be increasing losses as time goes by. I find the physical decline, though in my case it’s been slight, the most difficult to accept. There are aches and pains that seemingly come out of thin air, laying you low when you least expect it.
Somehow we get through it and manage to live another day by throwing ourselves into enjoyable activities and work. If there is one takeaway from my experience, it’s that turning 50 is an opportunity, to reinvent, reimagine and redesign your life to be what you want for the future.Somehow we get through it and manage to live another day by throwing ourselves into enjoyable activities and work. If there is one takeaway from my experience, it’s that turning 50 is an opportunity, to reinvent, reimagine and redesign your life to be what you want for the future.
Improving my diet and increasing my activities haven’t turned me 40 again, but they’ve allowed me a new joy in my life. Excellent health allows so much more leeway in living a happy, fulfilled life.Improving my diet and increasing my activities haven’t turned me 40 again, but they’ve allowed me a new joy in my life. Excellent health allows so much more leeway in living a happy, fulfilled life.
Anne LongPeoria, Ariz.Anne LongPeoria, Ariz.
To the Editor:
I wanted to thank Anna Goldfarb for “How to Have a Successful Virtual Happy Hour” (Well feature, nytimes.com, March 20) by reporting on an effective twist: This weekend I hosted my first surprise birthday party.
I gathered everyone in a virtual room and invited the birthday girl last. I think it worked. She cried!
José María PerazzoNew York