Important to display tolerance
Jack Straw and others are out of line with their stance on veils. I thought this was supposed to be a tolerant country where individuals were respected - not a country in which the expression of individual beliefs was suppressed.
As long as people respect the laws of the land they should be allowed to express their beliefs as they please and wear what religious dress they wish.
I would certainly say that female Muslims - along with anyone else - should remove their veils and/or any other head covers when asked to show their ID so one can clearly see that they are who they say they are.
There may be other such cases for which this may be required. Over and above this, however, people should be allowed to express their beliefs how they wish.
When I was at university there were quite a number of people who wore specific dress clearly indicating their religion. One Muslim even performed one of the daily prayers that Muslims perform each day in the postgraduate study room.
There was a great respect for individual beliefs and I for one was positively moved by seeing the Muslim perform his prayers in such a proud and dignified way.
Why cannot such understanding, tolerance and respect be shown in other areas in our society?
I would think nothing of being served by someone wearing a veil, a cross or showing any other such expression of belief. It is about time that people learned to live and let live.
Steven Crake, Shrewsbury
