I enjoyed reading your email and am ever so regretful that I missed your presentation in Toronto.  The major theme I picked up from your essay relates to the role women are expected to play in modern day societies, whether they be Christian, secular or Islamic.  Women are often blamed for the torturous treatment that men throw at them.  Not only in the example that you give regarding the wearing of the Hijab as the responsibility of women and who by virtue are responsible by themselves for the preservation of Islam and Muslims the world over but it is also present in other societies.  When a woman is sexually assaulted all of a sudden she alone becomes responsible for the actions of men - it must have been something she was wearing, must have been the way she walked or danced or tried in vain to live her life the way she wanted.  Again and again women are expected to take on the responsibility of men the world over, only when this ridiculous practice becomes history will the societal values that are placed so highly be preserved by men and women equally.  For instance I'm sure the father of this innocent will be let off the hook because he was driven to action by this young girl.  It must have been something she did to incite him, for men cannot surely be held responsible for these terrible actions alone - the woman or young girl in this instance must have done something.  It is always frustrating to see time and again the victim held responsible for the perpetrators actions.  It saddens me that this practice is seen both implicitly and explicitly throughout this so called civilised world we live in...

Thanks for some pause for thought.

Louise