Posted on 07/07/2009 2:45:52 AM PDT by Kaslin
The French Republic is not blessed or burdened with a First Amendment. So when President Nicolas Sarkozy recently suggested that France ban the wearing of the burqa in all public places, the Chamber of Deputies took it up.
Unlike the headscarf, which covers a woman's hair but leaves her face visible, the burqa is a head-to-toe covering that makes walking draperies of women. Some, like the chador worn in Afghanistan, feature a mesh covering for the face. The Saudi version usually sports a slit for the eyes. Here's an online catalogue's description of one: "Khimar and niqab set made of an all season, buttery soft georgette. Reaches to approximately knee level (depending upon your height) and provides full coverage. Arm openings about half-way down the khimar are a convenient feature with this style. Edges are embellished with matching satin trim. Imported from Saudi Arabia. Available in your choice of Navy Blue, Brown, or Saudi Black." Yes "Saudi black." In a country where summertime temperatures often reach 120 Fahrenheit, the geniuses designed a garment for women that is stifling and black.
In London, which has come to resemble Algiers more than New York, these walking shadows are everywhere. Even in summer, some women who wear the "Saudi black" burqa also wear black gloves and sunglasses over their facemasks. One would no more strike up a conversation with such a specter than with Darth Vader.
You needn't approve of the slatternly attire so often found on Western women to stoutly and angrily resist the encroachment of the burqa -- and everything it represents -- into Western life. Let's be clear. It took guts for Sarkozy to say what did. He called the burqa "a sign of subjugation ... of debasement." Al-Qaida, reliably enough, issued a fulminating statement: "We will not tolerate such provocations and injustices, and we will take our revenge from France ... by every means and wherever we can reach them."
Muslims agree that the faith requires "modest" dress on the part of women. Beyond that, things get disputatious. Some argue that the face must be veiled. Others deny it. Both cite Quranic authority. But there is no doubt that the vast majority of the world's Muslim women do not wear these personality-obliterating shrouds. The burqa's revival in some parts of the Muslim world (Iran, Egypt, Morocco, even Lebanon) is more of a political than a religious expression. Some women insist that they freely choose to swaddle themselves. But in many Muslim nations women are subjected to a variety of coercions, both cultural and political, to erase themselves in public. Also, there must be thousands of Muslim women who, by moving to Western Europe, thought they could shed the oppression of their home countries. Instead, they have found cringing European "multiculturalists" eager to excuse every Third World depredation -- from wife beating to polygamy to the burqa -- as a sign of their broadmindedness.
Europeans are not the only ones cringing. In his Cairo address, President Obama engaged in his by now famous false equivalence: "Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith ... Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit -- for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism."
Since the president's speech predated Sarkozy's comments on the burqa, Obama must have been referring to France's 2004 decision to ban the headscarf (along with crucifixes and yarmulkes) in public offices and schools. Let's see, in Saudi Arabia it is illegal to build a church (to say nothing of a synagogue) or to carry a Christian Bible on your person. In most Muslim majority nations, alcohol is prohibited to everyone, not just to practicing Muslims. And little girls are subjected to genital mutilation and other forms of torture and abuse on a widespread basis. Well, President Obama explains, both sides need improvement.
The French approach would be constitutionally complicated in America. But as C.C. Colton observed, "The law allows what honor forbids." For all men and women who consider themselves enlightened, fighting off the burqa should be a matter of honor.
Could the U.S. Ban the Burqa, Too?
NO.
Reasons:
Obama
Liberals
MainstreamMedia
Cowards.
People are not allowed to walk around in public in robes that cover them from head to toe (unless they’re Muslim).
Why the special treatment for Muslims?
The US COULD do a lot of things . . . . . . but, with zero running the show right now, we aren’t likely to!!
Sure, it should be legal... until the FIRST time a muzzie or anyone else uses it as a cover for a bomb or any other killing device. Then, no more.
They shouldn’t be allowed to go in the bank and stuff, if they are which I don’t know, that’s wrong.
But if anyone wants to walk around the streets in a burqa or a halloween mask that their perfect right in this country.
But not KKK robes.
Walking around in the USA with your face covered is usually frowned upon, at the very least.
Just wait until street thugs find its acceptable to wear this and go into liquor stores to rob and kill and the security cameras can’t do squat to identify them.
All because of our “sensitivity” to religious freedoms.
People may not like it, some punk cop might even give grief over it to such a person but it’s not illegal to cover your face in public, with KKK robes either. Nor should it be.
Burqa’s don’t kill people, Jihadists kill people. Facists and small-minded bureaucrats get obsessed with appearances and minutiae because it’s easier than addressing real problems.
I believe it IS illegal in some jurisdictions, based on old laws against the KKK. And although those old laws might not pass today's constitutional muster, I'm all for them.
Couldn’t have said it better myself
No, having a woman totally cover herself to become anonymous, ... in our society ... is COUNTER to FREEDOM. I frankly "enjoy" seeing people from other countries walking around the streets of Atlanta wearing their traditional outfits. Good for them, and good for the FREEDOM we have here that they can basically dress as they like. But a totally covering burka is one step too far ... If I put on a black ski mask, black sweater and pants and walked into the grocery store, I'd probably be arrested. Let them have their traditions, but HERE our tradition is that we look people in the face so we can "see" their smile. It should be against OUR law to cover a person's smile.
It sure is illegal. Try robing yourself head to toe and walk around downtown and see how fast the police are on you.
If your statement were true, all Catholic women would be required to wear a habit. The habit is not only not required, but is a privilege conferred only after years of probation as a novice and the voluntary taking of vows of poverty, chastity (which rules out marriage), and obedience. And even after that, a nun may be released from her vows whereupon she would remove her habit.
Agreed. Islam is a barbaric social and political system in religious drag. It is not compatible with our traditions and Constitution.
Islam will thrive here only because Christianity has been purged from the public sphere by an out of control federal court system that denies the Christian, Natural Law foundation of the Declaration and Constitution.
People will not believe in nothing. Islam, Progressivism, Marxism, Environmentalism, and other nonsense, etc will fill the void.
Since many states have banned masks as part of their anti-KKK laws they should be able to ban burkas for the same reason.
Except on Halloween.
I’m in favor of the burka, especially when it comes to Helen Thomas.
Using the rationale of security risk (ability to conceal weapons and explosives, just like the gangsta baggy pants) the burqa could be banned from public buildings and public transportation. Private business and institutions are free to make their own regulations anyway.
I think Mrs. B. Hussein Obama should start the fashion ... with her and the two girls.. the rest of the kool aid drinkers would follow...
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