The Hijab on the House Floor

Since 1776, America has only gotten more and more diverse. This diversity is perfectly reflected through taking a look at our newest members of Congress. Ilhan Omar is the current elected Congresswoman representing the 5th district of Minnesota. She is the first Somali-American, the first naturalized citizen from Africa, and the first non-white woman elected from Minnesota, and of the first two Muslim women (along with Rashida Tlaib of Michigan) to serve in Congress. 

Prior to her being elected, there was a ban on head coverings in the House of Representatives in 1837. Originally, this represented a break from the British House of Commons hat-wearing tradition. This rule was passed, back then, with no significant disagreements. Whether this was the intention or not the intention of the Congress in 1837, holding a ban on head coverings could automatically be considered exclusive to American culture. America is predominately Catholic and Christian. On a day to day basis, a person who identifies as Catholic or Christian does not need to wear a head covering of any sort. However, there are a plethora of religions that do in fact require a head covering. Therefore, having a ban on head coverings on the House floor is inadvertently discriminating against different religions, which then in turn is a First Amendment issue, 

We live in a contemporary America that is more distinct and diversified. Because of this fact, this sort of ban was inevitably going to run into a conflict. When Congresswoman Omar was elected into the House of Representatives, the House immediately voted to permit religious headwear on the floor for the first time in 181 years. The vote concluded with a 234 to 197 result, which allowed the new member of Congress to wear her hijab on the House floor. When the ruling passed, Omar made a statement on twitter with the powerful words "No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It's my choice--one protected by the first amendment."

Omar is a more polarizing member of Congress, with some citizens given a negative impression due to her controversial comments and some who absolutely love her. One thing is for sure, she had every right to exercise her first amendment rights and wear her hijab on the House Floor. Such a simple task speaks wonders for the positive trajectory that America is headed.