BATTLES over religious symbols in Britain continued when a Christian woman took on British Airways over her cross necklace and a Muslim teaching assistant defended her stance on wearing the veil. The debate has amplified in the week since British leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw appealed to Muslim women to remove their veils to improve face-to-face communication and prevent separate cultures from taking root in Britain. Rifts over the veil deepened at the weekend, as opposition politicians accused Muslim leaders of encouraging "voluntary apartheid" by forming closed societies. The Conservative Party's shadow home secretary, David Davis, said Britain risked social and religious divisions so profound that society's very foundations, such as the freedom of speech, would be "corroded". Britain's Race Minister also waded in, saying a 24-year-old Muslim teacher who refused to either remove her veil while teaching young children or to work with men, breached sex discrimination rules. In this latest incident, the teacher, Aishah Azmi, was suspended after complaints from parents that their children could not understand her, especially as many had English as a second language. The school principal that suspended Mrs Azmi reasoned she did not wear a veil when she was interviewed for the job and face-to-face communication was essential for teaching English as a bilingual support worker. Mrs Azmi defended her veil as a moral necessity and said to deny her the self-respect and dignity it afforded was discriminatory against Muslim women. The Sunday Mirror quoted Race and Faith Minister Phil Woolas as saying: "She should be sacked. She has put herself in a position where she can't do her job. She is denying the right of children to a full education … she is taking away the right of men to work in schools." His comments came as about 60 Muslims demonstrated against Mr Straw, calling him a "Christian fascist". Mr Straw had said the veil was "a visible statement of separation and difference", not required by Islamic faith. As a matter of routine, he would ask his Blackburn constituents to show their face while in meetings with him. Meanwhile, Christian groups were defending the "right" of a Heathrow airport check-in worker to display a necklace with a silver cross the size of a five-cent coin. British Airways does not permit a cross to be visible, but allows Muslims and Sikhs to wear turbans, hijabs and religious bangles because they "cannot be concealed". Nadia Eweida, 55, said she had been forced to take unpaid leave over the cross, which was a "silent witness" of her faith in Jesus. The dispute arose a day after she attended the airline's "diversity training" that taught tolerance towards religions. Stories of people wanting to protect or protest against a particular expression of faith inundate the British media every day. A married mother in Rotherham, who had a contraceptive method fail, was aghast that a Muslim-owned pharmacy was allowed to cite religious beliefs in denying her the morning-after pill. And the Royal Mail wrote an apology to a Muslim woman wanting to post a parcel after staff in Penwortham, Lancashire, refused to serve her unless she removed her veil. the age.com

*this is my very first attempt at oxidizing!!!!* Alvilda, The Pirate Who Became A Queen Necklace September Etsy Wire Artisans Guild Challenge, Pirates! ( freshwater pearl, black striped onyx and black spinnel briollets, sterling silver eco-friendly oxidizing) Here is the wild and crazy story of Alvida, the pirate who became Queen! Alvilda Alvida (aka Alwilda, Alfhild, Alvild) was the daughter of Synardus, the king of Gotland. Her parents kept her locked in her room, and set two poisonous snakes to keep away all but the most ardent of suitors. The most persisant and brave fellow turned out to be Prince Alf of Denmark, and though he passed the test Alvilda's parents were none too happy about the match. Deciding she wasn't ready to be wedded to some stuffy Prince, Alvilda took advantage of her parents' irresolution and hightailed it out of there. She joined a crew of cross-dressing women, but had barely got started in a career in terrorizing the Baltic coast when they came across a crew of pirates that had lost their Captain. They were so impressed by her capable skills that they voted unanimously to elect her as their new leader. With these fresh reinforcements beneath her ruthless guidance, this formidable woman became such a nuisance to the merchant trade that her former betrothed, Prince Alf, was dispatched to bring the troublesome pirates to justice. Alvilda and her crew fought back to the best of their abilities, but in the gulf of Finland they were bested at last. Prince Alf and his men boarded the pirates' ship, where hand to hand fighting ensued. After sustaining heavy casualties, Alvilda's crew succumbed and she herself was taken captive. With her beauty concealed by a face covering helmet, she was taken prisoner, and it was only when this helmet was removed that Prince Alf realized who the scourge of the seas had been. For her part, Alvilda was so impressed by how Alf had fought in battle that she married him on the spot. She went on to share his wealth and throne as Queen of Denmark, and together they had a daughter, who they named Gurith. Whether little Gurith followed in her mother's ocean going ways is not known. ( thanks to the historical female pirates web page for this information) This beautiful piece represents the darkness of her past, the turquoise freshwater pearls represent her seafaring life and the two stripes through the agate represent the her two lifelines....one of being a Queen and one.... the life of Piracy!