When sporting of hijab is being prohibited discouraged or frowned upon by India and many non-Islamic countries around the world, New Zealand has proved itself as a bright exception in this regard under the leadership of Jacinda Ardern who ensured promotion of a dress associated with people who are basically settlers in that country! Through her decision of inducting the hijab as part of its police uniform, Ardern has shown to the world what the essence of democracy is all about. Far from trying to kill diversity so as to establish a homogeneous way of life in the society which is actually nothing but crude desire of ensuring cultural dominance of majority or “mainstream” be it through language race or religion; an ideal democracy strives to literally accord equal status to each and every linguistic religious cultural groups residing within the country respecting their ethos sentiments sensitivities attire to dietary habits.
Many countries around the world, under the ever increasing grasp of forces harboring majoritarian mindset and practicing parochial imperialist “philosophy” by making a mockery of diversities, should learn from Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand what respect towards diversity and sentiment of minorities are all about.
Not to forget that when innocent Muslims were massacred in a Christchurch mosque in early 2019; Ardern not only sported a hijab, despite being a Christian, to show solidarity with the community; she also termed the Muslims as “THEY ARE US”! What an exemplary act of respecting diversity and religious sentiments of the minorities! And taking cue from her, Christian women, all over New Zealand, had put on head scarves and niqab during a Friday prayer in honor of the shooting victims!
This is called humanity compassion and solidarity with fellow citizens along with respect towards diversity and cultural religious rights of all.
With Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand shining bright, all people and countries should learn to choose its leaders and role models instead of remaining in awe of self-obsessed megalomaniacs and closed-minded orthodox ideologies. All sensible rational persons , irrespective of religious belief, should vehemently protest against the discrimination meted to the weaker communities in concerned regions facing prohibition in practicing their religion, wearing their attire or enjoying their food.
Apart from her impeccable secularism humanity, Ardern led from the front while tackling the deadly pandemic ensuring minimum loss of precious human lives. Again what a contrast to many nations around the world whose leaders remained concentrated on pursuing their personal and political agendas when the virus was at its deadly worst resulting in deaths exceeding several lakhs! What a sense of accountability exemplified by the noble lady!
And last but not the least. Just like an “ordinary” citizen, the New Zealand PM walks in with her partner in a Wellington cafe during the initial phase of unlock process. But due to physical distancing measures in place, the cafe was “full” and the PM was refused admission! Most sportingly Jacinda accepted it and moved on!
So just like she moved on from the restaurant with utmost graciousness by respecting the laws of the land, the noble lady has now moved on from the highest chair of the land most voluntarily to remain accountable to the nation as she “being human” has “no more in the tank”! What an honest humble confession unlike the self-declared “superhuman” leaders of many “mighty” democracies who instigate their blind admirers to launch physical attack on Government edifices on getting defeated in polls or shamelessly cling to their Chairs by hook or crook despite drastic failure in all sectors of governance and call names of their critics who dare to show them the mirror!
Jacinda Ardern is indeed a Human – – rather an exceptional being full of humanity possessing an all-embracing mindset of loving and hugging weak vulnerable minorities with impeccable sense of secularism responsibility equality accountability and dignity shining bright!
