France Bans the Burka

It is interesting! The bottom line appears to be that all women deserve freedom, which includes the freedom to wear the burka. But I strongly agree with that the writer said; that the burka is not a symbol of Islam, but rather is a symbol of the Saudi-based tyranny that plagues these Muslim societies.

I would also like to hear the opinion of women who do have to wear the burka. We can speculate as much as we like, but I think ultimately, if it isn't oppressive, it's a personal decision, and true democracy can't really knock that!

Hi Guys... I think you both might find this article an interesting read!
http://briarpatchmagazine.com/blanket-condemnations-contested-feminisms-...

Hey! Don't knock Voltaire! :P

I understand what you're saying...and I'll admit that it was unfair of me to generalize these woman by assuming that those being forced to wear the burka would have the resources to remove themselves from an abusive relationship.

But what it comes down to for me is that democracy is always a double-edged sword. As long as we promote liberalism, freedom, whatever you want to call it, by the same token we must be tolerant of those who don't adhere to the same social values. We have free elections- but we couldn't ever MAKE someone vote. The whole system would come apart if we forced everyone to make the "freer" choice.

But I feel like we might be oversimplifying these women's motivations for wearing the burka...I'd be curious to hear the opinion of a woman who actually wears one.

Great, bring up Voltaire. I can't even argue with that! Of course I believe in the democratic value that is freedom of speech but the very principle of the burka defies this!!

Okay, the burka, in Middle Eastern countries is something used not to express ones self, but to mask women and make sure they are insignificant. Why should public services to be supplied to someone who doesn't show their face? If a man in a ski-mask came up to you and demanded health care, you'd be wary, right? Why is it different if it's a woman in a burka?

In Canada, as recently as two months ago, I have heard of women who are living here and unable to leave their abusive marriages and do as they please. Abuse still occurs, with things such as financial abuse--refusing to allow wives to be financially independant so that they are unable to live unless they are married, physical abuse, emotional abuse, brainwashing the children who are vulnerable to being manipulated. It's unfair to claim that women who live in modern countries are able to leave their husbands even if they aren't affected religiously or culturally.

By allowing women with burkas, men with swords (as is traditional in several middle eastern religions) in our society, we fail to differentiate between Canada and the Middle East. Yes, Canada is a "melt-pot" but no, Canada should not have to change our laws to allow for things that aren't important. The burka is not an oxygen device that results in women being unable to breathe if they take it off--it's an item of clothing, and if it's causing so much trouble all over the world, then why should we condone it?

The burka is part of the reason that our country is at war right now--we went against the Taliban in Afghanistan because of the henious human rights abuses that were occuring there, and the burka and niquab are part of that. What's wrong with wanting to keep some semblance of sovereignty in our own nation?

Thank you for the comment!!
I see where you're coming from...but I still feel like Muslim women in France and Belgium would have the resources available to them to remove themselves from that type of relationship if they wanted to. I'm not saying that I agree with the burqa, in fact it's the opposite. I'm thankful to have grown up in a society where women are able to present themselves as they choose. But I also understand that for these women, the burqa is in their culture, and who am I to tell them how to act?
I think that sometimes being part of a free society means being accepting of those who choose (from our perspective) to go against the grain and live without some of those freedoms. Voltaire said "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." And like it goes in that Rage Against the Machine song, "Even if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

While I understand your argument, Morgan, I think what you have overlooked in this is that while the burka may be a "comfort blanket" of sorts for these women, more often than not it is a public sign of the fact that women are lesser to men in that culture. The majority of these woman who are veiled do so because their husbands will not tolerate them NOT wearing the veil. If you read the Koran, you have to understand that the fundamental values behind Islam are not conducive to the sovereignty of countries, and I personally am glad that someone is taking a stand against this.
The facts are these: In France, the laws are made for French people. If someone wants to hold so dearly to their own values, there are other countries where this is allowed, but by letting the public know that in France, you are first and foremost French, you are helping to eliminate homegrown terror operations, as we've seen in Denmark, the UK, the States and even Canada.

Bottom line: it's not that big of a deal to greet men you don't know.