posted by Sam Richards
This issue has meaning for me now that I visited one of the most conservative of Muslim countries where women in the “niqab” or “abeyya” or “hijab” were all around me. Certainly many of the more Western oriented women only worn the abeyya intermittently, and many refused to wear it at all, but many extremely progressive women wore it in the same way that many “progressive” women in the U.S. wear high heels, make-up, and nylon stockings. Like their American counterparts, few claim to be victims of a male-oriented, oppressive culture. Rather, they take it as a matter of course.
No doubt there are more than a few women throughout the Muslim world who feel oppressed by the mandate to cover up, but I’m thinking that the vast majority just go along for the ride–and a much smaller percentage totally embrace the experience as a path toward spiritual and psychological growth. (I have to believe, much like the two women in this video.) So my question is related to the French government and people who think they know best for Muslim women — “We are going to turn you into enlightened French citizens.” What should they wear to demonstrate this? Perhaps skin tight jeans and high heels? A tight fitting shirt with an under wire bra? Thong underwear? That’s enlightened…not to mention comfortable.
Seems to me that truly enlightened governance allows people to pursue the path toward self awareness and growth that best suits them — as long as they don’t harm others in the meantime.
I also have to say that I take a lot of time to get ready in the morning. In a way, I envy these women who do not waste their time having to pick out an outfit, do their hair, and make-up. Yes, I know that I do not have to do this, but let's face it, in order to fit into our society, it is expected for girls to go through these routeens. I hope that France ends up not passing this law and will leave these poor women alone. Let them wear whatever they want and practice their religion however they want. I do not see any good from this law being passed.
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I think this potential new law is ridiculous. It seems to me that the only reason this law would be passed is because the lawmakers are intolerant of these women’s religion. The two ladies interviewed said that they would willingly take off their veils for identification purposes, what else is needed? Why would one want to monitor what others wear, it does not make sense to me. Why are other people, women in particular, allowed to parade around in revealing clothing that some may find offensive, whereas these women will not be allowed to dress as their religion tells them to? How they are dressing is voluntary so there should be no need to interfere at all.
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After reading the article, I hit play on the video and honestly couldn't believe what I was watching and listening to. It’s absolutely ridiculous that the French government, or any government for that matter, feels as if they can control what an individual chooses to wear. That's completely against that individual's rights, and seriously, WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS WEARING? Are the burqas these women are wearing hurting anyone? Are these burqas polluting the environment somehow? Are these burqas actually real life undercover terrorists in France who are holding secret gatherings between large groups of fellow burqas all over Europe in order to create some sort of elaborate plot to end the world? Come on. It's absurd.
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Just because women wearing the burqas look different from the other women in France, it’s suddenly so intimidating and scary and wrong and how dare they insult our French culture like that! Honestly, I'm not even going to get into why women wear these burqas, because unless they're stashing 9023520350 guns under their garments illegally and the whole burqa wearing is a SCAM, then what the hell does it matter? I wear a lot of pink, do I ever have to explain WHY I wear pink? Of course not.
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As for the French people believing these women are being suppressed by males into covering up their bodies, maybe. I don't know, I don't know much about Muslim societies and beliefs; However, I do know that it seems like these women are choosing, themselves, to wear their burqas. I don't see any male forcing it onto their bodies. To them, its about their religious beliefs. Or maybe they simple don't want to be sucked into the image of women in the European culture as wearing tight clothes, make-up, and expensive shoes. Maybe to the women who wear burqas, THIS is being suppressed by males into competing with other women to look the prettiest. I find it kind of cool actually that these women somehow find the loves of their lives without even revealing their faces. Its amazing and pure and so much different then what we most of us are used to.
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After seeing the video i think that passing a resolution would more effective than a law which would fine anyone who wears a hijab or a burqa. A resolution would would not encourage women to wear the hijab daily as they wont be able to carry out their daily activities without interruption. if the french government starts a law against the use of the burqa or the hijab, they will be forcing women to not follow the customs that they believe in, I dont think that this is a good move by the government as they will face a lot of opposition from the islamic community.
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But ultimately, its their choice to wear what they want to wear for whatever reasons they want to associate with what they're wearing. Since when is it okay to push people into looking exactly the same? And quite frankly, what the hell is next if that law were to pass? I for one would be scared out of my mind for what a government, which is supposed to be rather refined, will force its people into next. Its simply irrational to condemn these women for what they choose to wear as Europeans find it insulting to their culture and proof of male suppression, when in reality, anyone could say the same things about the clothes women in Europe wear. Its all opinion, and absolutely ridiculous.
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Whether or not Muslim women should or should not wear clothing that covers their faces should not be up for debate like this. What purposes other than to ebb fear is the reason behind not allowing these women to dress as they please. If a teenager can where short-short skirts with high heels and make up, why on earth you anyone call a woman who decides to cover herself going against the ethics of a nations. It is utterly ridiculous. The motives for this need to be checked because it’s not as a though this is the first time France has had women who veil themselves.
If any law is to be made it should be one that permits women to choose how they dress, allowing them an equal to opportunity to accept or reject the wearing of the hijab or any other religiously inclined article of clothing. France, historically, has always been inclined against religion and more toward what they call “enlightenment” as was even obvious with the French Revolution. I do understand to some degree, when in Rome do as the Romans do, but that should be in maintaining the traditions and cultures of a land (showing respect to the ways of the country that has taken you in). Because in the same breath, some immigrants try to then recreate a country that has always been or has been for hundreds of years into what they want it to be when they could find just what where they left. As an immigrant has some respect for those that take you in because when you first found out about that nation it was as it is so unless your life is endangered leave well alone. But those nations that do take in immigrants need to at least cater to some variant of their needs as they are a part of you now and it would be very selfish to ask someone to forget who they are for you own perverse lust for superiority.
The law should not pass, it is not ethical. I’m surprised it even came up. But then again the answer is always in between two extremes: let the women choose, and the let the law protect that choice fervently. Don’t fine someone $1000 dollars because they don’t want you to see their faces; what of masquerades that are so fancied by the west as a part of culture or embracing history. Think of it as a year round masquerade that means more to someone than having fun for a night but a personal decision. The women have agreed to unveil themselves for identification is security is the issues but regulations as to how these women are to be treated as they are “identified” should be set to avoid human rights violations by the law that has a way to isolating people
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Can I start by just pointing out how funny it is that some people in France are considering passing a law telling women what they may and may not wear in order to protect them from what they see as a patriarchal and misogynistic subculture? I guess I just didn't realize France was so full of hipsters, because this is pretty ironic.
So basically, the French (or at least some French legislators and citizens) are saying that they know better than these women to make decisions about what they should be wearing as they go about town. How is this progressive and/or pro-feminism?
I know the definition of feminism is pretty muddled, and a lot of people hold very different beliefs about what feminism is, but here's what I think: feminism is the belief that women should be treated and seen as individuals, not as some heterogeneous group that would do well a with one-size-fits-all lifestyle. I don't believe that feminism means that women should fight to become CEOs, or burn their makeup and bras, or anything specific. To me, it just means that a woman should be free to govern herself the way any man should be free to govern himself. Whether a woman wants to be a CEO, or wants to be a stay-at-home mom (or anything and everything in-between and beyond), I think her decision should be just that–her decision. Of course, these are just the thoughts of one person.
From this standpoint, the idea of making a law that would legislate what women may or may not wear seems ridiculous and demeaning. But I'm willing to cut France a bit of slack on this one (just a bit, though–I'll get there), because I'll be honest: I don't think this is really about helping these women be progressive, or anything of the sort.
I think the French people who are in support of such a measure are merely reacting in the same way that some Americans are now getting huffy because they can't always assume that everyone will speak English when they walk into a store or public space (particularly in the southwest). In America, this has manifested in people standing out in the street with signs saying things like, "Make English America's Offical[sic] language." I think many French people are feeling culturally threatened. They see the influx of immigrants, notice a lot of women wearing full-body veils, and begin to worry that their own culture will be overrun and usurped by these newcomers.
Now, I'm not saying this fear is entirely rational, or that their response is right or just–I'm merely saying that this is what I think is going on, here. I think that these people are trying to hide behind the screen (I'll admit, it was really hard to resist the urge to go for the pun, here) of being 'progressive,' so that they can achieve their aims without having to admit that this is really just thinly-veiled (oops, there goes that) ethnocentrism.
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I worked on a research project about stereotypes of women in the Middle East for a project last semester. In my research, I found that it is the Western world’s view of these women that bothers them most. It is not their burqas. Western society depicts the women of the Middle East as submissive, docile, and underprivileged, but what do we really know about their feelings towards their way of life? In my very limited knowledge, I know that there are some women who resent that their religion wants them to remain fully covered. These women generally dress more like those we would see on the streets of State College. However, the majority of women in this society use their veils to symbolize their beliefs much like a Catholic woman might wear a crucifix around her neck. I have a hard time understanding why such a diverse country like the United States cannot accept another society being a little different. It’s a piece of cloth not handcuffs. Maybe the West doesn’t have to save these women. Maybe the West just has to be a little more UNDERSTANDING of these women. We are not very often exposed to media that shows us the lives of those in the Middle East. Most of what we hear on the news or see in a movie is about the terrorists, which have caused so many Americans and Westerns to fear the Middle East and to think of it only as a land of terroristic threats waiting to happen, but they are people just like us. While they may not have the exact same interests as we do or the same culture as we do, they most likely have many of the same values and hopes and dreams. As far as the French government debating banning burqas in their country, well, that seems absolutely ridiculous to me. A burqa is not a symbol of oppression or evil or terror. It is simply a religious symbol of piety. This is something that should never be taken away from a person. There is no reason that France or any other country for that matter should strip its citizens of their religions unless they want to recede about 100 years in history. To take their burqas will not transform them into “enlightened French citizens”. Instead, it will build resentment from Middle Eastern women towards the French government. In order to turn them into enlightened French citizens, the French need to welcome these women with open arms, introduce their culture to them, learn about the Middle Eastern culture from them, and bring about an understanding of the way each other views life. That would certainly prove to be much more useful than forcing them to expose themselves when they feel as though it is against their god’s wishes.
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Is it ethical for France to pass a law that would forbid Muslims from wearing burqas? Absolutely not. We follow our own culture and it is a part of us. This comes back to our discussion of race and desirable traits. People can straighten their hair, lighten their skin, and wear certain makeup to look a certain way. But this is a choice. We wouldn't force people to do these things to look like everyone else around them. So why should a law be passed to make Muslims "look French"? And who is to define that the French look like? No one ever said that the way the French appear is the normal way to look. To the Muslims, they probably think the way they dress is funny or weird. It is only by the standards of the French that maybe "high heels" and "tight shirts" are the "correct" way to dress.
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The banning of burqas seems to be unnecessary. I agree that if the women who choose to wear them are truly doing so because of their strong religious beliefs and not because of oppression, then there really is no conflict. They should be free to wear whatever they wish. The funny thing is that in today’s society we aren’t even concerned with the people that don’t wear enough clothes anymore. It’s the people that wear too many! Shame on the French. According to the video, the only thing that can be argued as being “hurt” by the full dress is the Islamic society. Technically, the only way that’s possible is if the majority is offended by this freedom of expression. What is there to be offended for? The stereotypes should be played out by now. The French government even admits that it would be difficult to enforce the banning efficiently. I think that’s a sign. Let it go. No one’s telling the next guy he can’t wear a hoodie and sun glasses. For all we know it could be tied to a part of his inner religious beliefs, whatever they may be. So why should these women conform and give up their intensity? They shouldn’t. Not unless they choose to.
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Additional blog # 1
Whether it is a pair of designer jeans, a regular t-shirt, or a burqa, we should have the freedom to wear whatever we like. However, the French do not agree. As of right now, there is a debate as to whether or not the French should ban Muslim women from wearing burqas.
Some people believe that women wearing the burqa are sending an underlying message about the religion of Islam itself. Others think that, these women are isolating themselves from the outside world. Furthermore, according to some Muslims in the CNN video, feel that women who dress in the full garb known as the burqa, is just ridiculous. They say that there is no part of the Koran that states a woman has to be dressed like that. There are also people who believe that this is not appropriate for the French culture overall. Here is where I think the problem really lies. It is also amazing to me that all these people have opinions about the subject, but never cared to ask the opinion of those it matters to the most.
It seems that the people or officials of France have never even taken the time to ask these women why the choose to wear the garb. In conjunction with that, the officials do not care if they should pass a law that will put strict boundaries on not only these women style of dress, but also there individuality as a whole. My question is, who are these women really hurting or offending by wearing the burqa. I mean come on is this really that big of a deal? They are simply expressing themselves. Most of these women where to hide or protect themselves from the harshness of the world. Some wear it for religious reasons, and others may wear it just because they like to. Whatever the reason may be, France does not have the right to be put a restriction on anything. How would the French feel if we said that they could not come to America because of their French accents or that once came to live here, they would need to leave their customs behind? They would feel that those restrictions were unfair.
We all have different opinions on things. We are all different. Our style of dress, the way we talk, or walk, how we act is all apart of our cultures. Our culture is our individuality and no one should have the right to put a ban on that!
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The fact that France is even considering banning burqas really irritates me. I have not done research as to why some women wear them, and why it is appropriate with regards to their religion, but if that wearing a burqa is going to make them feel comfortable, than how can you possibly deny them that right? There are more than plenty of strange things that people wear in today’s society, so I just do not understand how picking and choosing what can be worn is justified- and on that note, how come the government of France gets to decide what people wear? It seems absolutely preposterous to me. I can’t even imagine what the conversations regarding the banning of the burqa must sound like. It altogether just seems like a silly concept, and it is altogether not fair as well. Whatever happened to individualism? And respect, for that matter? Because I think it is completely disrespectful to say that women are not allowed to wear burqas, for no specific and justifiable reason, when that is a part of their religion. I would like to hear what the people of the French government would say if they had people of higher power telling them that they are not allowed to wear some of the things that they put on. Also, although this may be implied, it is not as if these women are just wearing the burqas for the heck of it. If the burqas served no purpose and did not have any reasoning behind them, then it would be a little better, but these burqas are a part of a religion. How is it fair to deny anybody that right?
I completely agree with the statement that Sam made in his blog regarding governments that are truly enlightened. France is not enabling people to pursue their ‘path of self awareness and growth’ because the government of France is not in tune with its inhabitants. As an American, it may sound a little cocky, but the people of our government are completely aware of everybody’s desire to pursue individualism and have a sense of independence. Because France is even considering to ban the burqa, they are completely denying this right. In addition to this, and also as stated in Sam’s blog, the burqas are not harming any person in the country of France whatsoever. They do not have degrading words stitched on them, nor do they project a negative or foul image. You cannot expect who follow the Muslim practices of religion to completely conform to a new set of guidelines- that is completely changing a major aspect of their religion. Therefore, I think it is really selfish and ignorant to even expect these women to obey the prohibition of the burqas.
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I had no idea that this was going on in France. I found it quite interesting to read about it and also watch the video. I find it quite amazing that people are that concerned by the burqas that they feel the need to have to ban them. I do not see what the harm is in the Muslims wearing them. Not only is the French government trying to ban them, they are wanting the fine to be one thousand dollars. I find that to be a bit absurd. I believe that they should have the right of expression just like everyone else does. The women in the video even said that they would show their faces for identity purposes if they were asked to do so. If people feel threatened by them because they cannot see their faces then I find that also to be a bit sad. One question that came to my mind is- If this were Christians in their place, would there still be this issue?
I myself do not fully understand why the Muslims wear them, but I do realize and respect that it is a part of their religion so therefore I do not feel the need to make a big deal about it and feel threatened. I feel way more offended by things that people in our own country wear. I feel there should be a ban on some of our own clothing rather than the burqas. People walk around all the time with their boobs or butts hanging out. As other people have said, we wear high-heels, thongs, etc, and all of that is to attract men and for sexual reasons. These women are wearing them to be conservative and respect their husbands or other men in their family. How can someone try to take that away from them? I find that way more offensive and way more of an issue than these Muslim women who are completely covered up. It is part of their culture and I think it is crazy that the French government can just go try to tear that away from them.
I just feel that there are way more problems in this world than to be worrying about something as simple as this. Has there really ever been any harm done because of them wearing the burqas? I do have a small issue with the fact that there are husbands that force their wives to wear them. I do not totally think that is right, however that is not the issue here. There are many women out there, like the ones in the video, that choose to wear them totally on their own-therefore I respect their decisions and would never try to take that away from them.
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Why should the French government have the right to tell the Muslim women what they can and cannot wear? Imagine this, President Barack Obama makes a State of the Union address telling young college students they can not wear collegiate apparel in public places or that teen girls can not wear pants and all teen males must wear ties. We will feel attacked, discriminated against and wrongly governed. How will you feel and how would you react?
The French government do not have a valid reason to ban the burqas, they want to abolish them simply because they are different. What makes different wrong? Differences make us unique. Differences give us the opportunity to value other cultures and beliefs. Differences allow us to come together to understand each other and each other’s cultures. Differences set us apart us from each other. Differences are the reason we are not robots. Why must these Muslim women conform and give up their right to be different?
On top of being a way for them to be themselves, their burqas serve religious purposes. Should Christians be stripped of the Bible or of wearing crosses in public, should a Hindu woman be banned from wearing a sari? When is the lined drawn? When is it too much? Lets think, they are not walking into stores and mugging people. They are not using their coverings to do wrong doing so why are they asked to change?
Is it because they are Muslim or because they worship Allah, the same god that the terrorist worshipped? It seems that way. Since 9/11 Muslims everywhere have been discriminated against because of actions of a select few. This should not be because the reality is a religion did not hijack the planes and cause disruption, a select group of terrorist did. It is the same as assuming all black males are burglars or that all rednecks are racist. Can we allow the Islamic people to live their lives without trying to dictate their every move?
I will wear my Penn State apparel whenever I please, I will also carry my bible when ever and wherever I please. I will also wear a cross on my neck, car, house, dorm, or laptop. It is because it is my choice. Just the same, the Muslim women should be allowed to wear their burqas. I say if their burqas become the cause of disruptive behavior then they should be ruled accordingly until then let them express them the way they please.
I leave you with this question: would you be willing to give up a part of you, your religious beliefs, customs, or even style of dressing without a legitimate reason?
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I don’t really get why France is making a big deal about Muslim woman covering their faces. If that is what someone chooses to wear for whatever reason, than so be it. Its not like these people they are trying to control are trying to control what the rest of the world wears. I can understand from a security standpoint but I’m sure many Muslim women would be willing to show their faces for any reason that seems logical. It’s not as if since they cover their face they can’t be logical. Than again they are woman and all woman have problems with logic so maybe France should work on some new laws targeted towards all women, regardless of race or religion.
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I think that the French government has no real right to ban Islamic women from wearing burgas. Although they do attract attention and in many ways look suspicious, I think that they mean absolutely no harm by wearing them. I know that if I was very religious and chose to wear a certain clothing but was denied to, I would be very upset. The French government should put themselves in their place and consider that it is simply just clothing and even thought their face is covered, they do not oppose to removing the clothing to identify themselves so what’s the harm?
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After reading Sam’s post “The Enlightened “West” Knows Best” I came to see the comparison of women that wear abeyya to the way some women dress in the United States and Europe. I don’t know much about Islamic culture and the scripture of the Kuran but I have always thought a little bit negatively about the way women are treated in the religion. But after reading Sam’s blog I feel ignorant for thinking that way when I don’t know anything about the culture. Sam said that many women are accustomed to veiling of their bodies and think nothing of it. Women dress in revealing clothes and high heels in the culture that I am apart of and I did not even realize that the pressure they may feel to dress this way may be a like the pressure some Muslim women feel to veil themselves. In regard to the video of the two women in France I think that the government has a good idea in wanting to alleviate oppression on women. But to truly know enough about the religion and the culture to decide whether this is something that is created oppression they must dig deep. I think logically it will be hard to come up with a plan to keep these women from covering themselves in public because it may end up hurting more women that it is helping. If these dedicated women that refuse to go out in public uncovered have to confine themselves to their homes it will be very detrimental to their lives. If they decide that they are willing to break the law it would be a costly fine that is not affordable for many people. This is another reason why I think coming up with a plan to solve this predicament would be very difficult. If these women decide that they want to break the law without paying the fines the government would have to put them in jail. If there are a multitude of innocent Islamic women thrown in jail it would not look good for the French government publicly or in the eyes of Islamic nations. As a college student I would consider myself a fairly educated person in the United States and I don’t really find it a very good thing that a fairly educated person in the U.S. is has such lack of understanding of the Islamic religion. It has shown me that I need to look deeper into things so that I can understand them before I judge. It makes me wonder what people from other countries think of the United States culture when they here and see of the way people act and dress. I could see people thinking that men are very oppressive in the society. But I think the women feel the same way as some Islamic women, they don’t feel oppressed at all, and if they did they would change the ways they dress immediately.
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Talk about hypocrites, aren't the French supposed to be the most civilized, cultured, and fashion forward people on earth? I mean some French fashion looks like a beach towel and a chainsaw tried mating and whoever thought of it makes a ridiculous amount of money on clothing that isn't even practical or useful. I mean pants that have rips all the way up the legs so there more like shorts, but men are wearing them in the winter. Now they have the balls to tell women what and what not to wear makes no sense, at least the burqas actually accomplish some practical use for clothing, such as warmth. Who would think that there would ever be a real need for a fashion police force. Forget the DEA and the war on drugs let's spend more time and money on enforcing what people wear. I can see it know on the French evening news "today a well known and dangerous burqa distributor was raided and several hundred yards of illegal fabric was confiscated". It's ridiculous these women are not dangerous and are not refusing to ever show there face. I understand that it may be different in other countries, but my fundamental understanding of what police are meant to do is serve and protect.
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So under this idea who are they serving? and they certainly are not protecting anyone by infringing on people's rights. In the video one of the reasons given by the French government is that women who wear them are oppressed, so why not protect these women by addressing the real problem which would be the men in their lives. Protect them by not allowing men to force them to wear something they don't want to.
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Wouldn't preventing Muslim women from wearing whatever they went be a step backward in any equal-rights perspective? This is a step backward for women's rights, a step backward for religious freedom, and a step backward in any freedom. They are frickin clothes!
I understand that the attire is religiously significant, but I have always been opposed to school uniforms and proper attire and similar B.S. regulations. At this day and age, anyone should be allowed to wear whatever they want in public. Obviously, some may not approve of certain fashion choices, and rightfully so. But, who are these displeased individuals to say that someone is unable to wear what they want. France is supposed to be a progressive country and a world leader. Thus, they should act like one. Now I am not saying that the US is always perfect and unbiased, but you would never see a United States political leader attempting to ban clothing like in this case.
Dr. Richards brought up a great point with his quote, "“We are going to turn you into enlightened French citizens.” What should they wear to demonstrate this? Perhaps skin tight jeans and high heels? A tight fitting shirt with an under wire bra? Thong underwear? That’s enlightened…not to mention comfortable." These French leaders should really define enlightened. How would forcing these women to dress differently enlighten them?
Now I could see enlightening foreign citizens by means of schooling them and their children. Or maybe even providing free French language classes. But making them dress more like French citizens, come on. They are basically saying you are not French, unless you dress like the French. I love thinking hypothetically when tackling a touchy subject, so I will pose this thought. Imagine US politicians putting a ban on clothing styles because they weren't American enough. Sorry girls, you can't wear Uggs anymore because they are Australian.
Here's a funny story. My brother was suspended from High School, among many other students, because they deemed a Friday one week "Fresh Friday" in order to dress up like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. They faculty thought that their attire was inappropriate and geared towards mocking some of the black and lower income students in the school. The funny thing was that a many of the students that did this were black or of lower income, including my brother. So, the faculty was completely ill informed. My point is that the way a person dresses should have no bearing as to whether they are a good citizen or not. A person can and should dress however they please. Whether it’s for religious purposes or the idea of style, an individual’s attire does not tell you who they are as a person.
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Another perfect example of how ridiculous this prospective law is how they justify it with this quote "Burqas are not just an article of clothing, but a symbol that is incompatible with the French Republic". Really? Only burqas are a symbol incompatible with the French republic. So a shirt with a swastika on the front or any other type of hate symbol or speech emblazoned on a shirt would be fine because there is no law against this therefore these items must be compatible with the French republic. What an awful way to justify a law, it creates a very scary precedent. It sets forth a slippery slope that if something is incompatible with the French republic then it is lawful to ban it. What if someday doorknobs are seen as incompatible will all of France need to switch to door handles or maybe all doors will be pushed open. This is an absolute ridiculous metaphor, and I know that, but do you see my point?
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While reading this blog I was instantly confused when I read the French government’s statement saying they were going to turn women who wear burqas into “enlightened French citizens.” I thought, enlightened, I’m pretty sure that idea is completely against the term enlightened? So I looked it up in the dictionary to make sure I still belonged at Penn State. What I found was this, enlightened: freed from ignorance and/or misinformation. I found this to be very interesting. So, being enlightened means you’re free from ignorance, but to me telling people they can’t wear something (especially when it’s religious) is itself ignorant. And what do they mean by “enlightened French citizens?” Is there a dress code for being enlightened in France?
The next thing I found interesting was during the video when they interviewed a man from a mosque in Paris. He stated that there is nothing in the Quran that says women must cover their faces. I don’t know much about Muslim beliefs or the words of the Quran but why would these women be wearing them and saying it was for religious purposes if they weren’t? A friend of mine’s family is Muslim, and growing up she was never allowed to wear a bathing suit or even shorts/skirts. She hated it and couldn’t understand why she was told to do so and no one else had to. I know she is still a practicing Muslim but does not abide by the rules she had to when she was growing up. This makes me wonder about the women in different countries. Why would they continue to wear them (like they said to in the video) if it was illegal? Could subjugation really be the answer? Which leads me further to think…would legal issues be better off than their husband’s consequences? Do they use their religion as an excuse to cover up for their husbands demands?
Regardless, I don’t believe that France should be trying to ban any form of clothing. It is a person’s choice what they want to wear whether it’s for fashion, religion, or comfort. How would it be possible to enforce such a law anyway? By wearing a burqa these women are not hurting anyone. I find a deep v-neck and a pair of short shorts or visible thong much more offensive than a fully covered woman. These women aren’t trying to get other women to wear the same. They are not intruding on anyone. I don’t understand how you can legally ban a form of clothing. There would be numerous court rulings and it would end up costing the government more money trying to enforce it than it would to just accept it and leave these women alone.
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I think it is completely ridiculous for a government to ban women from wearing burqas. Although it is a personal and religious choice that I still do not quite grasp, no one should stop them from wearing what they want. Many of these woman wear the burqas because of religious reasons and if the government tries to step in and stop them, it will make the line between religion and government very blurred. This reminds me of the other blog post where the boy was praying on a plane with tefillin. If he was to wear his tefillin in public, would the government try and stop him? Would they think it is wires and cables of a bomb he is planning to blow up? It is unfortunate that in our society today we are very, very cautious around unfamiliar cultures. In the video clip, the women wearing the burqas appear as outcasts in the city because every shot is of them walking alone or with one other person. It is their personal choice to wear a burqa and trying to conform these people to be more like "the French" is absurd. Trying to make them fit in and strip them of their personal beliefs is wrong, but enforcing it with the law sounds like an impossible task. Will the government stop a woman on the street and make her take off her burka and publicly humiliate her? By legally banning burquas, it will make them appear as more of a taboo and as dangerous. It is an item of clothing! Ruling it is an illegal item to wear publicly shines a very negative light on Muslim culture. It is sad that in such an advanced society, people immediately get nervous when they see a woman in a burqua. They are not bad people and they are wearing their burquas as a choice. Stopping them from wearing the burquas is oppressing these women and their culture. I don't understand what makes the French government believe that they can regulate and know what people should and shouldn't wear. How does a government determine what is right from wrong? All people should be free to present themselves however they want, especially if it is for their own religious purposes. However, if the French people were living in a Muslim country, they would be treated differently because of what they wear and how they appear in public. The people who are from the country would be judging them and stereotyping them the same way the French people are. It is very hard for people to break the barrier now when it comes to stereotypes and stop looking at what people appear on the outside. No matter where you are in the world, you will encounter very different cultures. Instead of trying to ban something that is different, we should embrace it.
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Whenever we hear the word democracy, immediately, freedom of choice comes to mind. Living in democratic societies where everyone and anyone have the freedom to make their own decisions on how they choose to live their life as long as it does not negatively affect the well-being of others definitely sounds like an ideal model for a nation/society. As such, I have heard the USA described as a “melting pot” of cultures during my high school history class. That being said, we can intermittently come across people whose cultural practices and backgrounds they’ve brought to the table may seem odd or maybe even unacceptable to us. However, the question is, tying back to my first statement, living in the world of today, in a democracy, can we simply persecute and reject the practices of those who just look or act differently from us?
This sort of distrust and resulting persecution of anything that isn’t “normal” to one’s culture is the sort of attitude which existed in the past and has formed the deeply embedded hatred and suffering we see in the world of today. Black people were enslaved in Africa and worked as slaves in the United States simply because they were seen as “lesser” and less cultured than white people. This lead to the American Civil War resulting in one of the bloodiest conflicts since the forging of the nation itself which was horrific not only due to the number of men killed but the fact that the men on both sides were brothers, shedding each other’s blood over the issue of slavery. Though the issue of anti-semitism against black people has been solved on the legal side of the issue (slavery abolished, black rights), the stigma of sins from the past still haunt society today.
Now taking the article into account, we see the French Government attempting to ban the burqas from being worn by Muslim women. Being a democratic government, have they ever wondered why Muslim women where shawls to cover their entire body? This is in accordance with their religion which has been deeply rooted into their culture for who knows how many years. It is considered shameful and uncouth for Muslim women to expose themselves in public. Putting aside the fact that the French Government is democratic, from a moral point of view forcing one’s ideals and beliefs upon another is blatantly wrong and towards the extreme. If this law/act were to go through, in what sort of light would this place the French government or even all the Western countries in? We would be violating their religion and defiling their beliefs.
As much as any person claims that they aren’t racist, it just simply isn’t true. Racism is simply a measurement across a spectrum and we all lie somewhere in that spectrum. That is why we must all work together to right the wrongs of the past and prevent any further hatred to develop between nations, countries, races and religions. Putting aside our biases and hatred is a small price to pay for the peace that we can forge in understanding and mutual respect for each other , as we are all human beings. We’re all in this together!
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It is ridiculous that the French government is trying to ban the wearing of burqas by Muslim citizens. I believe that it is a fundamental human right for us to wear what we want, especially if it does not offend the general public, and even more important, especially if it part of one’s religious beliefs. This would be similar to the United States government saying that Jewish people are no longer allowed to wear Yamakas in public. How would people react to this? In fact, I, as a Catholic, would have a problem with it, because I know how important it is to the Jewish religion. So, how can the French government honestly try to ban Muslim women from wearing burqas?
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The French Government should absolutely respect the wishes of French citizens, on a case-by-case basis. A poll is simply a majority belief that is statistically based, and it should in no way justify creating a law that prohibits you from wearing certain artifacts of clothing. If the problem was nudity, and revealing one’s body to the public, I’d understand, but who is seriously offended by one’s personal choice to wear clothing that fully covers the face. Is it a matter of national security, or does the French government seriously have nothing better to deal with at the moment? Each person has the right to wear what they want, for whatever reason they choose to do it, whether it seems “ridiculous” or not.
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This is a very sensitive subject for a lot of Muslim women across the globe. I feel that the women in France have every right to wear their burqas. Personally, I feel that it shows individuality for a persone to wear whatever they want as long is does not harm someone. In this case, the women in France are not harming anyone nor are they showing too much nudity that is offenive for people to see them. The video had interviews with women from the Muslim communtiy and the women state that the burqas are for religious purposes only. They are not trying to make statement with the law. They are simply trying to express themselves freely among their community in which they live. When I was in high school, I had a teacher that wore a burqas everyday to school. The first day of class she explained to us why she wore a head dress that covered her whole entire face. At first it was hard for me to visualize my teacher's face because it seemed that the person who was teaching me were just a pair of eyes.__Of course as the school year progressed my teacher was just like everyone else in my eyes. She was a great teacher and taught with passion and showed the entire school that people should not be judged by looks but rather than personality. I feel that you can apply this same situation in France. The women should not be charged with any law that demands them to uncover their faces. The women if the obey the already established law should be able to dress however they feel necessary. __Many Muslim leaders feel that Muslim women should not wear burqas on thier faces. They feel that the practice is too severe of a religious practice. Just like in all religions, there will be people who take it to the extreme. For example, there are Christians that take their religion to the extreme. Some Muslims might feel that wearing tight clothing is inappopiate and unacceptable in the Muslim faith. It all boils down to personal opinion about how to dress. The French government should accept the fact that people are different and the people have different ideas about stuff. Like I have different ideas about what to wear then what my bestfreind's ideas are. Telling someone how what they can and cannot wear is a bad idea when it nvolves religion. Wars in history were faught over different ideas about relgion. Now I'm not trying to say that a war will start in France but instead the women will either not obey the new law or just move out of France, therfore; hurting the French economy. Overall the French government should not make a new law to uncover the Muslim women's faces. The women should wear their burqas freely and proud.
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I don’t think it really matters what the French government does because I do not see how it affects me. Sure the Muslim women may be oppressed but they can always move to a more friendly government which does not care what people wear as long as they wear something such as the U.S. I can see the French government rationalization for banning hijab because it may hide the true identity of someone and may cause certain people to feel insecure. However I feel that anyone should be able to wear or do anything as long as it does not harm another person. Making someone feel uncomfortable or insecure does not count. In a warzone like in Iraq I can understand the military banning this because insurgents can hide behind them but I do not believe that there have been any insurgent attacks or IEDs in France. Didn’t France not enter the war wit hIraq so there are not any in France so I find it completely ridiculous. While Europe seems to be progressing to a more security conscious and less freedom oriented nation especially with England’s security camera and Nanny State laws. Hopefully this will not detract on France as a tourist destination
Another problem I have with this is that it may be a baby step to banning more clothing or more of different culture’s unique aspects. How is the hijab any different from other religious full body clothing for women. Jewish women wear them, some orthodox Christians wear clothing everywhere and covering the face. Isn’t a hijab very similar to the uniform of a Catholic nun? How can France think that banning hijabs will help Muslim women become enlightened to the alleged oppression they face by their religion. Maybe some are ok with it and do not want to change because this is all that they have known. Many people are afraid of change and why would the government want to force someone to change their appearance just so they can become enlightened as to how the government thinks they should. Everyone should be able to achieve enlightenment through their own way and their own thinking. But in the grand scheme of things France banning hijabs is not the worst thing that could happen. Something worse would be the rest of Europe following suit and banning certain types of attire. From there they could ban more and more things until they are just as oppressive as China or other Muslim countries. Hopefully the U.S. will never start down this slippery slope by giving up one freedom in the name of security until there are no freedoms worth securing. There is always some risk with freedom and that is what everyone must accept otherwise they can go live somewhere else.
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First of all, I think this is a violation of rights for the French government to restrict clothing and what one chooses to cover themselves with. How you portray yourself is up to you. While we have laws on the minimum amount of clothing required in public, I do not see how we can limit the amount of extra layers one decides to put on. When I go skiing I wear goggles and a neck gator that leaves only the tip of my nose out and exposed…will this not be allowed either? If their main concern is the need for identification at all times, then doesn't a face mask on a helmet violate that as well?
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I do agree that we are all concerned with saftey and that the need to feel safe is one of human's desires at all times but havent we all seen people around even Penn State campus with hoods and face coverings that impede the identifcation process as people walk by me. So besides the fact that the women in France may wear their coverings for religious and/or personal beliefs, what is the difference. And I thought that seperation of church and state was a goal as well. So why does France want to make a law involving both personal clothing choices and religios freedom? Seems like a giant conflict ready to explode.
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Secondly, I realized something about our culture. I also wanted to comment on the thought of men shaping the ideals and clothes choices of women. I never really thought about the idea that even here in America, men decide what is accectable for women to wear. Why do we wear heals? They hurt. Why do we wear makeup? Its annoying and it comes off when you try to do anything active. Why do we wear tight jeans? They make it hard to dance and move about in ways that us girls love to do. I put on my clothes each morning in ways that I think look good, but who told me they look good? Clothing stores and magazines and celebrities and all they promote is sex. It must be this desire by all women to please men that drives this fashion and "normal clothing" that we all wear. While my clothing choices are completely different than those of the women who wear burqas I think society shapes both of our choices.
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I wonder if next thing will be turtlenecks…what if we arent allowed to wear those anymore? And no more helmets sorry bikers…we have to be able to identify you as you go down the road. Its your own choice what you wear as long as your not hurting anyone. So wear them I say. Do what you want. Wear what you feel. Be yourself!
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Wow. I am still amazed at lucky I am to be in a country such as America, where all citizens are able to exercise their freedom at will and are subjected only to the confinements of one's beliefs. We really are able to do anything we want, for the most part, provided that we do no harm to others and respect others' rights. That is not to say that there are no rules in place. Obviously the government is still a mainstay of power in our country and there are laws put into place to ensure that no harm is done to others and that others' rights are respected. However, we still serve as an icon of freedom in the world. This is part of the reason that I find this blog post so interesting. France is a country that is supposed to be very similar to America, in at least the freedom it attempts to bestow upon its citizens. Thus, it comes as a shocker that France would even consider imposing a law to ban burqas from being worn in public. This action would seem fundamentally against the freedom of the citizens of France. Though some may argue that the wearing of burqas would promote the fundamentalist beliefs of Islam in a pubic venue, wouldn't enacting a law to prevent this essentially be saying that those Islamic beliefs are wrong. Furthermore, wouldn't this potential law open the door to an infinite number of laws preventing people from wearing different clothing that "pushes their beliefs onto others". At some point, the government of France may just dictate what people can wear. At this point, France would be moving away from democracy towards communism. I personally believe that enacting this law in France would be not only wrong, but also hypocritical. This law would limit people's freedom of religion and freedom of opinion rather than allow one to believe in what they want. My main reasoning against this law, however, is that those who wear burqas are not pushing their beliefs onto others. They are not even advocating that others should believe in what they do or that their beliefs are right. Rather, they are merely following their beliefs and showing pride in their beliefs. Additionally, those who wear these burqas are not harming anyone. One thing that I think would be interesting would be to see how people would react if America was debating whether to enact such a law. I think that if this was America that we were talking about, this story would be a headline. This would essentially cut into our rights guaranteed to us by the Bill of Rights. All things considered, I believe that the government should not allow this law to be enacted.
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I think banning the burqas is a horrible idea. How can you ban people from wearing certain clothing? People walk around State College practically naked and no one says anything about it. This is more distracting to me than someone being fully covered up for religious or cultural purposes. I think it’s also more hygienic than being dressed inappropriately. These women choose to wear the burqas, or at least the majority does, it’s not being forced on them. It’s a choice. The Muslim women have been wearing this type of clothing their whole lives. It would just be like telling Americans they couldn’t wear jeans or telling them they couldn’t wear something like a cross necklace to show their religious beliefs. The French are all about fashion and quite frankly I find their fashion to be a little eccentric. I don’t blame the Muslim women for wanting to wear what they do. I could see where people would judge them and look at them for what they’re wearing but I don’t think it’s half as bad as some of the things you see on the runway. They also don’t have to worry about what they’re going to wear everyday, much like a school uniform. Today many of the hijabs or abayas are more decorated and more fashionable, giving them more ways to express themselves with what they wear.
The French think they know best but I don’t think they understand anything about the Muslim religion. I don’t think there should be a mandate to cover up but if that’s what they believe and that’s what they want to do, then I see no problem in this. I don’t doubt the oppression that some of these women feel, and I’m sure some husbands or family members demand that they wear the burqa, but you can find those types of people everywhere. Women in the United States get physically and verbally abused everyday and it’s a horrible thing but making Muslim women wear “normal clothing” isn’t going to stop this. So I tried to put myself in another perspective, and imagine that the French government is trying to help the women who are being forced to wear these by the men in their lives, or whomever. But by trying to pass this law, the French are simply doing the same thing that these possibly narrow-minded Muslim men are doing to their wives, daughters, etc. They are just afflicting the other side of the spectrum. The women who choose to wear these burqas are being prohibited by the government. Well that is quite similar to the men who force women (who may not wish to) to wear the burqas. It’s like fighting violence with violence. I think many people in the French government have no idea what these women go through or what’s best for them. It’s not their place to tell them how to dress.
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As I came across this article, I was very surprised that the French government is considering passing a law to ban women from wearing burqas. Furthermore, I am even more shocked that three in five people in a poll agree that the clothing should be banned. A woman should have the right to wear whatever clothing she chooses. The government should not be permitted to revoke a person’s right to wear a certain type of clothing, and the fact that this idea is being heavily considered is extremely disheartening. If the government goes through with banning burqas, women who wear them will feel stripped of their identity. For years, these women have chosen to dress a certain way, whether it is for religious purposes or for various other reasons. This law could potentially embarrass or humiliate an individual who continuously wears such clothing. A great burden would also be created in terms of identifying one’s self with a particular group of people. People who dress similarly to each other are able to band together and hold similar beliefs. Stripping this right from several thousand people would be wrong and inhumane. We must think about a person’s response to this law before jumping to conclusion and passing a bill because of the beliefs of others who do not fully understand the reasoning behind dressing this way. This issue must be haunting those who would be affected on a regular basis. People may be wondering where they would turn as a means of escaping the law. A law should be created to help protect people and eliminate dangerous situations from arising. However, this law does not resolve any problem and in turn, would create difficulties for many people. Also, it seems that the less than 2,000 people in the country who wear the veils would not be able to impose a great threat on the French society. Such a small number is insignificant when taking into consideration the millions of people who live and carry out a daily schedule. Government officials should take into consideration that banning the usage of veils denies freedom to those who choose to wear the clothing. This controversy is creating negative publicity to followers of the Islamic religion. Rather than spreading damaging information in the news, people should work on making peace within their country. Currently, a large number of people hold poor views about different cultures and in order to reduce this, the government should steer away from feeding an extremely controversial topic. Society needs to stop criticizing other people and the way they live and focus on rebuilding relationships with people of all walks of life. This would not only eliminate tensions, but it would create a more peaceful atmosphere as well.
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After reading this blog from Sam and watching the clip from CNN, I do not agree with the French government banning the use of abeyya or hijab. It is not like them wearing the hijab is showing a threat to the French for god sakes. Islamic women wears a hijab is because of their religion and it was also by choice. These women even wear them against their husband’s wishes. I think that is absolutely ridiculous that there are rules of what women are allowed to cover; really now? I would think that women would get in trouble if they were wearing very little clothing. But what I believe is that there should be no rule of what a woman should wear. It is going against women’s rights. Comparing to America, women can wear make-up, nylon stocking and high heels to impress their men, or even to impress other women for competition. In the end a women should wear what suits them, not to impress anybody else but themselves. But in France, there is a law where women are banned to wear their abeyya or hijab. Women in France especially Islamic women should be allowed to wear whatever they want. I believe that women have the freedom to wear whatever they please. France has now limited what used to be a human right in their country. If they seriously think that this isn’t an oppression of Islamic woman they are utterly insane. For them to say that it just does not work with their society is basically telling the world that if you cannot be French, then don’t bother trying to live in France. Their disgusting attitude that is too common in France truly upholds the French way of life over any other path. They are obviously not really accepting of other cultures. Choosing to pass this law not only tarnishes the image of the French government and people, it simply puts them in the same position as the people who first insisted that the women wear the veils. Either making women wear the shrouds or banning the use of it is theoretically the same power. No one should not being treating women this way especially the government. I believe that the French government cannot stop the Islamic women from practicing their religion and wearing their abeyyas or hijabs. Every woman is different; they believe in certain religions and they follow their culture. Come on, just because the French does not agree about women wearing their veils does not mean they are banned from wearing them. It basically shows that the French does not give a crap about others and they believe what they think what is right or not. Like the two Islamic women said on CNN, they are not giving up and they will do anything to stop this. Hopefully after everyone watches this, we can start having a world that is nothing but accepting.
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I think a law mandating the styles and fashion of woman is ridiculous. The clothes don't symbolize oppression but even if they did I don't think the government should be mandating such things. They are clothes nonetheless. I think such laws are reserved for countries without democratic governments and if such a law was actually instituted it would just culminate into a whole bunch of controversy and other more ludicrous mandates would inevitably follow suit. I can't believe such a debate is even going on right now–in this day and age and in a supposedly modern "westernized" country such as France.
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What ever happened to being able to do what you want as a human being. Expressing yourself and your beliefs and views in the way you want. If no one is hurt why should it matter to you. It's all tolerance. If you cant tolerate something, then your going to do what it takes to stop it. However, things get extreme, when a person becomes intolerable of another persons lifestyle. We need to learn to accept these kind of things. As long as they aren't hurtful or derogatory. The thought of banning clothing is like burning books, its outdated and ignorant. France needs to learn to tolerate this and not opress these women.
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I’m not sure why the government of France believes that the law to ban burqas is at all useful. Even if it were for religion or not (which I believe that it was mentioned in the video that the Qur’an does not say that the women need to be covered), the two women from the video explained that they have their own reasons for wearing a burqa and that if they needed to show their face for identification then they would. I know that it isn’t my place to judge whether or not that the nation of France is being right in their action, but unless these women have caused actual problems due to their clothing, then I would say that it isn’t fair.
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I am confused as to why France feels the need to regulate what people wear. One of the men in the video said that it’s not just an article of clothing, but a symbol. In reality, most articles of clothing are a symbol, whether religious or secular. I feel that France is singling Nation of Islam out because of their history. Religious beliefs are not something that should be regulated by the government. It is a choice that someone makes between themselves and their God. Who is the French Government to say what the expression of someone’s religious belief should be? If they plan to regulate this expression of Muslim beliefs then they should be prepared to regulate overt symbols of every religious belief. Would the French government tell all Rastafarians to cut off their dreads, tell all Catholics to stop wearing rosaries, or tell all Buddhist to stop wearing prayer beads?
I think it is bad enough that some private companies even here in America try to regulate what people should wear in order to turn them into what they think modern day professional, enlightened people are. As some jobs you are required to wear makeup, as if that is not a personal choice that a woman or even a man has to make on their own. Some places of employment do not allow males; this mostly pertains to black males, to wear braids in their hair. They say it is because it’s not just a hairstyle, it sends a message. It sends the message that the individual is not a professional and that they represent a culture and lifestyle different to what that company represents. The male with the braids however or even dreadlocks may be wearing them for a different reason. They may be a Rastafarian or follow the religious path of the Nazarites and abstain from cutting their hair.
I think that it is admirable that the ladies in the video will be willing to break the law for their religious beliefs. Most of us will never have to make the choice between man’s law and God’s law, but I think if many of us were put in that same position, we would go along with the law of man publicly to avoid trouble or persecution. I honestly hope this law is not passed because it will only serve to agitate Muslim people and when they retaliate and fight for their rights they will look like extremists and radicals to everyone who is ignorant of their customs and still hold animosity toward Muslims. That is just going to foster more hate and problems. It seems that the people who are trying to pass these laws are not Muslim and really have no right to regulate what they can and cannot do within their religion.
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Why is it that the French government is even considering proposing such a law is quite ridiculous to me. Obviously there isn't much to do if there is such a fuss about something as simple as a hijab. They are trying to create a law based on assumptions they've made that they hold to be true for ever women who wears a hijab. Yes, some of them may be forced to do so by their husbands, but I'm sure there are just as many women who are wearing it willingly and for religion as the two women in the video were doing. The French government doesn't have the right to deny women to wear something just because they believe that they are being oppressed by it. Women should have the freedom to wear whatever they want. And it just really shouldn't matter to the government what these women wear or not. I would think they should have more important things to discuss. Furthermore, I could see how it wouldn't be that bad if they were banning an item of clothing for certain reasons. But because it influences these womens decisions in terms of religion it is not ok that they are trying to do this. They should be given religious freedoms and if they are being kept from wearing the hijab they are being forced to relinquish something important to them, something much more important than an item of clothing. They would be relinquishing a large part of their piety and that is something we can all imagine would be devastating for those of us that follow some religion and probably even for those who dont. I just don't understand how the French government could even consider doing something for these women under the assumption that it was better. Who are they to make the assumption that everyone one of these women hates wearing their hijabs. Who are they to take away something from some women who want, just because it helps others. It's just not right to make a situation worse for some people just so you can make something better for others. Obviously we've seen situations like that alot in history books, and it makes me question the integrity and even intelligence of some of these people. This logic I believe should appeal to most people and so how is it that a bunch of people in a soc 119 class at penn state are able to realize that this is wrong, but these powerful, intelligent men and women in France cannot see the simple logic?
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I completely agree that a government that does not put high restrictions on the way people live their life has a success. Most people do not like to be told what to do. Having authority irritates people. When you are constantly being told what to do, it makes you not want to do whatever it is. If your friend keeps telling you to do your homework before you go out at night, you are going to keep putting off your homework. The more someone tries to control you, the more you are going to want to break free from that resistance.
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I don't see this as a government matter. I see it as strictly religious. Where I would see it becoming a government matter though would be what the punishments are for women who choose not to wear the burqas. If there is no punishment, then government should leave it as a personal, religious choice. What else would they do? Mandate that the women who have hidden themselves their whole lives and whose mothers and grandmothers have done the same, must be stripped of something they are comfortable with and put into jeans and t-shirts? No. It should be personal choice.
It does also makes me wonder if the girls would choose different if they knew what else there was. Would those women be happier wearing cooler, more free clothing, that doesn't make them seem like lesser beings than men? We saw in class that people who go to college over only having their GED are more likely to not just blindly believe in the Christianity creation story, but more often believe that there is a god and that evolution has occurred. Maybe if we let these women go to school or send them into a society that was much more liberal with different morals and values, they would choose.
I guess that is my major point. I don't feel that any mandate should be placed on them. If they, of their own power and through the knowledge that they have obtained, still choose to wear the burqas, then more power too them. But if it is something they are forced to do, as a form of oppression, then maybe the government does need to step in; allowing those women personal rights and freedom.
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I certainly do not know enough about Islam to make judgments on the entire of women. What I do understand is that women should be allowed to wear whatever they wish. Certainly, being fully covered can be oppressive in some cultures, but it can’t be assumed that all women feel oppressed by this, and indeed many feel empowered. The situation is difficult, because some women are forced by their husbands to wear the burqa, but banning burqas isn’t going to solve this problem. To some extent I think the French have good intentions in this law, but it is clearly socially unconscious and unfair. There is a long history behind the reason that the French are not quick to accept this type of culture into their own, pointing out again, the importance of knowing the history behind situations like this.
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The French have taken the covered veils issue a few steps too far. I agree with most of the people responding to this article. Although the French seem to feel as though they are helping these women out, clearly if they could see past their own noses they would realize they are not helping anyone out. The French seem to have a special attitude about them, a special French fuck you swagger. As someone who has personally visited France I can say that I have felt the hospitality of this swagger. The French people themselves walk around with their noses held high and an air of arrogance around them. They act as if their language and way of life is somehow better than the rest of the worlds. Don’t go to France and expect them to embrace any other culture but their own. Although I am not an American I was witness to an American couple being refused service in a French café, after not being able to pronounce what was on the menu correctly. This goes to show what kind of people they really are.
After that being said, it does not surprise me that the French think that they can just forcibly impose what they believe to be a better way of life, on people who make up their citizens. The French government is discriminating and holding down the Islamic portion of their citizens who chose to cover their faces. This was a human right to clothe yourself however you see fit. Only you know what is best for yourself and you can’t expect the government to tell you what you can and cannot wear, what will be next? Will they say that you can only wear the color blue on Wednesdays? The government is no better than the original males who decided that the women should have to wear the veils in the first place. Their message may be different but they are putting women in the position of not being able to decide for themselves. Even still we learned that most of these women who decide to cover their faces do so because they want to. It has moved from an expected part of the religion to part of their culture. It almost seems as if this becomes a right of passage for women as they grow older and wiser. There is clear evidence that many of the women are not forced to wear these veils but chose so individually. These women know what is best for themselves and conduct themselves in a way not to impress men or other women. They stay true to their religions and inner morals. Apart from all this, are the French really going to try and fine women 1000$ for their veils, and even still the amount of women that make the statistic is 2000? Out of 66million, is that a joke that they even waste the time, money and resources to even discuss and pass such stupidity. Come on France, we all know you guys are assholes but really?
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Are we really "free" to make our own decisions? Or is it that we are "free" to make our own decisions as long as they are the right decisions? Who gets to determine which decisions are right and which are wrong? Absolutely horrifying with you think about it.
A fad here in the United States (and probably other countries as well) is some of the amazing hairstyles that you see. Being older, these mohawks, "spikey" dos that are often pink, purple, or green, still strike me as weird when I see it. I have really had a hard time adjusting to this fad. Who would someone do this to their hair? This is not normal. After thinking about it for a while and getting over the initial shock of thinking that this is "just wrong", I came to the conclusion that it really does call for some respect. These people are pretty bold and seem to be really comfortable wearing their shoes, which is an excellent quality to have. They have no problem being different. However, some do not see it the same way as I do and feel it is "just wrong". So, do we need to make a law banning weird hairstyles? No. It does not harm anyone. Why not remove all "weird colored" hair dyes off the market and fine those who disobey $1000. Who gets to decide which "weird colored" hair dyes are "weird"? So what is the difference between this and a women wearing a burqa? Is it religion? Is it culture?
The Islamic religious leader in this clip says that there is nothing in the Koran that says that women have to wear burqas. (I did not know this) It is a cultural. I did some surfing in order to educate myself as to the tradition. I found that historically women of child-bearing age in some of the Middle Eastern countries were often taken in raids. Covering their faces and bodies made it more difficult for the raiding party to determine the women's age. Given the historical knowledge, I wonder if women choosing to wear burqas feel as though it is their security blanket protecting them from the many sexual predators of the world. (FYI, another reason for burqas was to protect them from sand and wind in the dessert.)
With this enlightenment, it would make more sense to me that the French government make a law requiring the burqa because it protects women. If the information I read was correct, France has the 3rd highest rape crime rate in the world (behind the US and the UK). Of course this is absolutely absurd, but government should be making laws that keep their citizens safe and not laws that are intrusive or discriminatory. They should also reconsider whether their way is "the better way to be".
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I agree with Sam – it is not the government's place to force it's citizens to assimilate to their culture. This is the same problem that we have in the United States. People demand that everyone learn to speak English and follow their same religion but in reality, when America was originally formed, it was immigrants from all over the world that brought their culture and practices here. A country where everyone is uniform and different does not foster diversity and in my opinion, hinders development. Diversity fosters so many new ideas and innovations that any culture would be lost without it.
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I can't imagine that the French government doing this. I can't imagine that people wouldn't consider this a discriminate act towards a group of people who have done no harm. I don't think that this is in anyway compatible with the French system of ideals, its just a article of clothing. The fact that it may be a symbol to another culture should be irrelevant to whether or not they should be allowed to wear them. It doesn't really mean everything to the majority of the people in France. I could maybe see if this was a known symbol of hate in french society, something harmful to a group of people, but its most certainly not. It's just that people in Europe seem to be more open about their discriminatory behavior, from my experience. It's not that people in America don't think to themselves why don't they dress more like us, its just that Americans have more of a personal censor on what they say. In Europe, people aren't as judgemental towards discriminatory remarks that others say, so they just have no reason to censor their behavior. If people in the U.S. said the same things, there would be a huge social uproar, and a media circus. People in the U.S. probably reacted harsher to these comments than the French did. I'm not saying that I agree that burqas should be banned, I just think that in France, people aren't as uptight about saying these things as Americans.
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