In the film “They Call Me Muslim,” two Muslim women were followed as they struggled to balance their personal beliefs with the public expectations imposed upon them. In France a young girl was faced with the decision to remove her headscarf or be expelled from school. In Iran a mother was forced to remain in her apartment in order to retain her freedom to dress as she pleased. It was clear that neither situation was a desirable one to undergo, the girl from France even admitted that if given the chance she would gladly move to another country which was more accepting of the hijab. These two women are faced with the same problem that the government is attempting to enforce personal ethics on its citizens. Ironically, the girl in France and the woman in Iran are suffering under the exact opposite conditions, one wants to keep her hijab and the other wants to go out uncovered. The solution to both of these problems is to accept that everyone has the right to decide their own personal ethics such as what is appropriate to wear. Governments and laws are necessary to enforce rules which protect citizens from harm and provide a healthy place to live. However, by overstepping its boundaries, governments can have a stifling effect on its citizens.

In a way, both France and Iran desire to be a Utopia. France imagines itself to be a country of secular perfection, where liberalism is applied everywhere and to everyone. Iran wants to be the best Islamic country in the world, where sharia law is applied to everyone. Both states assume that by enforcing their rules, either secularism or sharia law, that they will produce harmony and peace. The film “They Call Me Muslim” is evidence that this is not the case, that the world is diverse and individuals have greatly varying opinions. The girl from France was not forced to wear her hijab, she chose to herself. And the woman in Iran does not feel compelled to wear a hijab as she thinks that seeing a woman’s hair isn’t a problem. These personal beliefs go against the popular assumptions held by the cultures in which they live. I believe that it is important to allow varying personal beliefs to exist within a culture. This strengthens that culture and provides a diverse set of outlooks on any given societal problem. Banning a hijab or making it mandatory is counterproductive to society and leads to unhappiness. The government should focus on public issues, and the individual can handle their own personal ethical questions.