On Facebook, I encountered some negative comments regarding this particular stop on the Secretary of State’s tour of Pakistan. With Foreign Minister Qureshi, she visited the Badshahi Masjid and the grave of the poet Muhammad Iqbal in Lahore. Some comments suggested that she should not have worn the veil, a few went as far as to suggest that she should have staged a protest by insisting on entering these venues bareheaded. I disagree strongly and think the Secretary of State did exactly the correct thing by covering her head in these venues.
First and foremost, we should remember that one of the primary goals of this visit was to change the direction in which Pakistani media was taking its portrayal of the United States. Wherever she has traveled as Secretary of State, our Head Homegirl has staged outreaches to the populace in addition to her ministerial meetings. She set this out as one of her priorities back in February soon after assuming her post. In Pakistan these press availabilities and TV and radio interviews were part of what one commenter at another of my blogs dubbed a “charm offensive.” Yes, I agree. That is what she was doing there, using her charm to try to win the Pakistani people over to us and away from the Taliban.
I am wondering exactly how refusing to cover her head would have accomplished what the Secretary had set out to do. How would that have helped her image and ours in Pakistan?
I would perhaps have had misgivings had she circulated throughout the country wearing a veil, but she did not. She wore the veil exclusively in the religious setting showing the great respect she has shown in other locations for this and other world religions. She was in a house of worship, and , as always, followed the prescribed behavior for that particular religion. To have done otherwise would have been counterproductive and negative.
That last picture at the Wailing Wall was taken when she was Senator from NY in 2005. Other pictures show her visiting a shrine in Japan and the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico where the Monsignor blessed her.
The Department of Homegirl Security 
I completely agree. If she would not have worn a veil, she might have made people happy in the western world, but that was not the purpose of this trip. She did a good job and did not start a [local] controversy which would have overshadowed the reasons of her trip.
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It is a daunting debate at this time of terror visiting and revisiting our cities, day after day, as to where one should draw the line between fending for oneself and creating a sense of panic while doing so. The debate basically revolves around fear and prudence. For instance, anxiety has gripped the parents of many school-going children today. Authorities in Lahore keep closing down private schools that are not found to be ‘prepared’ enough to face a terrorist attack
http://bit.ly/4dGiJW
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Thank you for the input. I feel honored that you chose to share here at this blog. The insight you provide is very important to as complete a view from the ground as possible.
What you say is disturbing. When children cannot attend school, you have a dire situation. The whole future is threatened. All children should be able to attend school. It should never be a privilege. It is our best investment in the future.
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