I have been disturbed, as I am sure many of you have been, about the treatment of Muslims in America these past two weeks. I have been especially saddened that Muslim women in my neighborhood, who have their heads covered, are sometimes too frightened to leave their homes.
I think together we can do something.

If this were discrimination against Jewish men in America, I would hope that Americans would stand behind them, and one way of doing so would be that all men, of any faith or no faith at all, could cover their heads, with a kippah or any head covering. If my memory is correct, this is something similar to the actions of the people of Denmark to save Jews during the holocaust. Each said, "I am a Jew." The Jews were protected by the many. If my recollection of this event is not correct, I would like to think it was true.

So, using this as a model, I thought what if American women - - Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Friends, Hindus, atheists, agnostics - - were to wear head coverings similar to Muslim women? Could we stand together with and protect Muslim women in America by doing this?

I spoke to someone at a local California mosque. I described my idea, and said I was calling as I wanted to be sure that doing such a thing would not be offensive in any way to Muslim women or to Muslim people. He was at first puzzled by what I was proposing. When he realized what I was saying, he said it would not be offensive at all, and then began to say thank you over and over. He questioned what good would this do if I were the only woman covering my head. I said I think I could get other women to do it also.

It touched me deeply when he said he couldn't tell me to do this. I first thought he meant that there may be some Muslim reason that a higher authority is needed to say this would be O.K. Instead, he said he could not tell me to do this as then I would be in danger, and he didn't want me to be in danger. He started thanking me again. I said he shouldn't thank me. This should not be happening.

I'll start tomorrow - - as scared, embarrassed, and ill at ease I am doing this. I don't even know how to wear the scarf, or what color it needs to be, or how to tie it on my head. If I can, I'll see if the Palo Alto Daily would make this a story as then there would be more women doing the same. I will think of the Egyptian Muslim woman I met last week, worried about leaving her house or sending her son to public school, and maybe this will give me strength to take others thinking I look foolish.

I hope this will be only for a very short time. I'll try to keep in touch with Muslim women in this area. When they tell me they are no longer afraid to go out, then this will no longer be necessary.

Please pass the word. I am only one woman.

Originally posted on the MichaelMoore.com message board by "Genepool".