About jilbab at school and the overused of social media

The case of forcing the jilbab at SMK Negeri 2 Padang has been sticking out on social media. It turns out that the child who is forced to wear the headscarf have the surname HIA. She is clearly a non-Muslim. The twitter universe was immediately excited to see West Sumatra as intolerant of minorities. An Pancasila ideology development agency (BPIP, the most useless government office in my opinion) official said the imposition of the jilbab in public schools is considered incompatible with Pancasila. Well,  indeed, at first glance, it seems that this school is very dictatorial.

But, well let's see from my point of view. It's been 20 years since I left West Sumatra and at that time jilbab is a rare thing.

In my school, the users of the hijab were only the best students, class champions, student council members, and exemplary students. They were the children the teacher looks for if there is a competition or committee. Hijab was not obligatory, it could even become a stumbling block when we graduate. Even though the school has never disturbed the use of the hijab on daily activity, when we graduated we were asked to make a statement letter for using a hijab photo on our diploma. According to the school, the photo of the certificate must show the ear, just like a passport photo.

Maybe when we went to school no one criticized the use of the hijab, because the best students did it. However, there were still state traps that indirectly declare "disagree with the use of the hijab".

But, guess what?

We didn't care. Just a statement sheet is not worth the commitment we started. It might screw our future, though.  And we were just 17 years old children against the state.... We didn’t fret.

If that happens today, maybe people would have vented on social media. But, there's no need. We could handle it. When you're good, they can't shake you. No need to call parents. 

When I went to graduate school, I was the only student wearing hijab in class. When I graduated and applied for an outsourcing company, which turned out to be a non-Muslim property with crosses everywhere, no one questioned my hijab. In fact, I know that applicants with administrative vacancies are asked to remove their hijab while working in the office. I know the reason is I have skill to sell. I don’t sell my appearance and my faith. 

Now, all educational institutions in West Sumatra have Islamic appearance. The hijab teachers, let alone the students. Whether there are written regulations, but West Sumatra has become obsessed with covering one's aurat, even if it's just a ritual. It’s kinda like iPhone todays. Years ago, it was a social status notification because not many using it. But, now, everybody wants to look with it (even if they can’t really afford it. They have to sell their kidney for it). 

Yet, it’s been 20 years, can’t we just let people wear anything they want? Does appearance really matter? For years, non-muslim have been living harmoniously in West Sumatra because they respect and adapt to muslim tradition. That’s the key. In return, they have been treated as locals. Churches and temples are available. Most non-muslim live in certain area, they’re own community. The middle class ones are often mingle in multiracial neighborhood (my childhood neighborhood was one of them). 

One thing for sure, social media makes things redundant. If only Hia's parents or even the child herself could talk it out with the school the way we did it when we were younger, then this could be wrap neatly. Using of social media to gain social pressure is useful, but not needed if you have the skill to negotiate. Hia’s parent surely lack the ability and is willing to ridicule herself in social media. 

I see a lot of people overshare in social media. Parents love showing their hard life. People make things up just to put on internet. This is sick. No matter how much I block, mute, or unfollow,  some trash keeps coming. It’s tiring.