Cultural events should spark discussion

The picture highlighting the “Islam Fair” on campus was a stark reminder that although at times what we hold in common — such as enjoying delicious food — may bring us together, our differences keep us apart. Here we see an attempt to bring Islam to the non-Islamic world, and a photo portraying two women with faces peeking out from behind elaborate head wraps. While it is pleasant to enjoy the food and other positive aspects of other cultures, such as song, dance and philanthropy, we must not forget our critical thinking skills. Human cultural practices differ significantly, and we must identify these differences if we are to embrace our free will. The photo raises several important questions we ought to ask: Why are these women dressed this way? How would they be treated in their culture if they chose to dress differently? In countries where Islamic cultural-religious practices dominate, how are free speech and artistic issues treated? Human rights? Are religious and cultural tolerance encouraged in predominately Muslim countries?