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 think that it is truly disgusting that the French government even think of creating a law depriving Muslims of wearing the “niqab,” “abeyya,” or “hijab.” Personally, I do not believe that it was up to the government to tell people what they can and cannot wear. If Muslim women choose to wear the “niqab,” “abeyya,” or “hijab,” they should be able to. This law would be exactly the same as telling any westernized citizen that it is unlawful to wear a long dress. Many “westernized” conservative women choose to wear dresses on a daily basis. How absurd would it be to create a law banning women from wearing dresses? This law could be categorized with such absurdities as not allowing a Jewish man to wear a yarmulke or a Hindu to wear his headdress. It seems ridiculous to me. It should not be the job of the government to tell its citizens what they can and cannot wear, especially with respect to religion.
I have several friends who choose to wear the “niqab,” “abeyya,” or “hijab” simply because they wish to follow the laws of their religion. To not allow them to wear this would take away from their heritage, their religion, themselves. This law, I believe, is also extremely inconsiderate of citizens as a whole. To have a government ask me to do something outside of the laws of my religion, let alone make it illegal, would tremendously upset me. The naiveté astounds me.
The television clip by CNN stated that these women being interviewed who wish to wear the “niqab,” “abeyya,” or “hijab,” would easily comply with removing their headdress for identification purposes. This seems extremely reasonable to me. However, to completely strip these people of their right to wear what they please and to deny the following of religious traditions, does not seem fair.
Additionally, I do not see the reason as to why the sudden proposal for this law arose. To my knowledge, there have been no substantial incidents with women wearing these specific outfits. Although these outfits may not fit the status quo, it is imperative to accept people for who they are, not what they wear. This law seems to me that the French government is taking two steps backwards in the race relations world rather than the needed steps forward. The law would simply tell French citizens as well as the rest of the world that it is simply okay to tell people and religions what they can or cannot practice. If the practices aren’t offensive or detrimental, I do not see the problem.
Lastly, I do not think that by changing the appearance of religious Muslim women, is the French government is going to “..turn you into enlightened French citizens.” I do not see the logic in this statement.
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I found the news clip pretty shocking. It didn’t really make any sense to me. I don’t understand why they would try and make a law against these women wearing what they believe is appropriate according to their religion and their beliefs, they are not hurting anyone.
I understand that some people view it as a way of oppressing women; it’s an old tradition that they believe should be stopped. However, the women themselves said that they enjoy wearing the veils and that some women even do it against their husbands. Its obvious that its more than just some tradition brought on by men in order to make women more subordinate, it really means something to these women to be able to wear something that protects their beliefs.
Another thing that confuses me is how they would ever go about enforcing that new law. I know the article said that there would be a 1000-dollar fine but I find it hard to believe they could really enforce it. And another thing is that if they somehow did start enforcing it, would women really stop wearing them? By the way that the two women spoke in the article I don’t think that women that passionate about something that they so obviously care about would.
I completely agree with the two women way they said that they were only fallowing their religious beliefs and that France should respect that. How could France make a law against something religious? It, to me, is like asking someone of the Christian religion not to wear a cross, or someone Jewish not to wear their Yamaca. Its sad that France wants to take away the fundamental rights of Muslim women and it actually seems a little bit hypocritical because one of the arguments that was said in the news clip was that it was an old tradition that seems oppressing to women, when really their the ones trying to tell Muslim women what they can and cannot wear.
Even though the news clip did talk about how some Muslims agree with the passing of the new law, and that there is nothing in the Qur’an about how women need to completely hide their faces, that’s still not enough to go off of.
I find it hard to believe that this law will ever be passed and it’s upsetting to hear that the passing of the law is not only in question, but a certain possibility.
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As an American woman, I look at the Muslim culture and sometimes think it is terrible that they have to “cover up” and hide behind their clothing. I know I would hate it if every day I was forced to completely cover everything and only have my eyes peeking out of my clothes. I have always heard that the women in that culture are not only forced to dress like that, but are also usually not respected and are treated as lower class citizens. Having this outlook before I read the article, I just assumed that the women did not like this “oppression” and would be relieved if they were given the choice to wear whatever they wanted and given a bit more freedom. After the article, I once again realized that this really is not the case at all. Yes, in some areas the women feel that they are oppressed and forced to cover up and show as little skin as possible. Yet, some women do not feel this way at all. I seemed to have forgotten that they do not live in the United States; they do not experience the same culture as I do, or even the same religion as I am, so it is a completely different situation than I am used to. For some women, this lifestyle is what they want and what they choose. As the two women said in the video, they want to be covered up. They will choose to do this even if the laws change and they are forced to not cover their faces. To them, it is a sign of piety, it is their religion, and it is what they know. Looking at it this way, it is understandable to see why they would want to continue to do this. From my ignorant American perspective, I do not see why anyone would want to do that, but of course- I am not from where they are from and I do not know how they have grown up. Some of these women do not know anything but this culture and would not feel comfortable doing anything else, especially because it is their religion and their “fashion choices” are a part of their beliefs. I do not think a country can just make a law saying what you can and cannot wear, and impede on people’s religious culture. If I was the two women in the interview, I would do the same thing as them. I would keep my burqa on and go about my day, even if I breaking the law or was considered “extreme” by other Muslims. I salute those women who are sticking to what they know and believe, even when everyone else is telling them to conform to another model of what they should be.
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Here we go again with a difference of cultures. I appreciate the questions you bring up regarding the "enlightened". To me, this brings up an issue I was exploring earlier this week. I was thinking of the vast amounts of cultures across the globe and how different people travel across cultural boundaries and try to tell others that the way they are living, or their traditions, beliefs, and ideals are wrong? I do not see much sense in this. When we do this we assume our culture is perfect. So, in this case I see the French telling these Muslim women their culture is wrong. In other words, what your people have practicing and believing for years in not the right way to live. I find myself picking at my brain sometimes trying to figure out how this works. People consider others oppressed so they try to correct them by oppressing their views on these people?
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I think its very ignorant and typical of westerners to believe that these women are oppressed because of their burkas. Although I do not believe that it should ever be mandated that they do wear them, by the same token I also do not feel that there should be a ban on them. I personally do not believe in religious mandates and laws, and if it is forced upon them by the men then I feel it is wrong, but what makes us think, or "know" that because we are more educated or "better" that we should decide what is right or wrong for these women. These women may also believe in the religious law that they have believed in for their whole lives and I who are we to judge them?
Personally, would I want to wear that on a very hot day in the middle of summer? Absolutely not. But i just do not think that the government has any right to get involved with personal choice or religion on any level, whether they think they are doing them a service or not. People are always trying to impart their own ideologies and beliefs onto other people, and in many cases these beliefs are not welcomed with open arms. I think this is just another one of those cases, and I personally feel as though it is not up to any governmental body to get involved. To me, religion is a choice. For some people, religion is something they can follow and something that provides them with strict guidelines about how to carry out their lives. Many people need this stability. These women have been wearing burqas all their lives, and maybe a forced change would be the worst thing for them. Knowing that they have options is really all anyone can do.
I really like, and agree with, the last statement of this post. I think they are the perfect closing words for an article like this; "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."
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Similar to the previous blog, “I Guess It Pays to Learn a Bit About Other People,” the tradition of wearing a burqa is a misunderstood practice by those who do not take the time to learn more. I do not doubt that some women are forced to wear the burqa – mainly because when I’m around my grandfather he makes me be a “good little Turkish girl.” On the other hand, I know the majority of women in his mosque choose to cover up in order to show their faith in their religion. In my experience, I have only met one woman who wears the burqa by personal choice to deepen her spiritual connection. Though I do not agree with all of the customs of my grandfather’s religious culture, I do respect his wishes because they do not cause any harm.
In the case of the women who are forced to adorn the burqa, by attempting to control how the women of their country dress, the French government is really just as oppressive as the men who pressure the women of their family to wear burqas. By ‘freeing’ women from the repression of the men of their families, the government is not freeing the women from the real threat because the men will continue to control them around their households.
According to my grandfather, the entire head scarf and veil is mostly a devout Muslim tradition. I am not suggesting that my grandfather’s word is truth; I am simply using my resources to acquire knowledge on a foreign subject. From my understanding of the purpose, a woman wears a burqa in order to remove the distraction and temptation that their beauty emits. Though I think men should just have some self-control instead of concealing their women, this is not the issue at hand. In my opinion, the concept of the burqa – if truly to facilitate concentration on religion – is a wholesome concept. In Christianity this may be compared to one’s “Sunday best” since a self-respecting member of the church would not enter service in their trashiest attire, instead church-goers wear clothes that they perceive as consistent with their values.
The French government’s attempt to pass this law is a sign of ignorance. By prohibiting women from wearing the burqa, the government it creating the message of a uniform that represents how the citizens should look. From a security point of view, I can see how it may be easy to conceal weapons as well as one’s identity while wearing a burqa. The anonymity of this cover up therefore can be seen as threatening in public situations. If this is the government’s real fear then it may be more widely accepted as a law. With this being said, I still do not believe that is a sufficient basis to ban a harmless religious custom.
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All i have to say is WOW! and after WOW i want to add that i am writing this a girl who loves fashion and style and has been using clothing and fashion to express myself and my views and stand out from others for years. clothes have become a clutch for me. when im happy i wear bright colors when im sad i wear dark colors. if i wasnt able to wear the clothes i wanted when i wanted i would feel restrained and held back. i would feel as if im blending in with the crowd and had no control over my life. Even though the women wearing burqas dont have different styles or variations they still feel that the burqa expresses who they are personally. when people in america walk around practically naked (sometimes even fully naked) everybody and there mothers is offended but still no ban on just wearing nipple covers or bathing suits around public. The burqa covers up the whole body so that part cant offend anybody, the burqa is black so there are no gang colors or any colors as a matter of fact since black is a shade and the burqa is a tradition passed on from generation to generation. If you had a doll that was passed down from your grandmother to your mother and then down to you and the american government tried to confliscate it for no reason how would you react? personally i would yell and kick and scream and even run away before the government took my doll from me. the burqa is an iteam that these women have had in their lives since they were born such as a favorite color or favorite blanket. noone can ever win in this world. pure, good, harmless people cannot conduct their lives because the government has a slow day and asks themselves what can we change today? and who do the french think they are? the burqas are mainly prominent and important to religion in the middle east such as islam and iraq. the frenchs ban just seems to be anti-middle east and pick an unnecessary fight. to add a fine to wearing the burqas is clearly targetting specific religions and specific points of view. personally, when someone tells me i cant do something and dont provide any specific reasons i want to lash out and go against their wishes. the french government seems truely insensitive and rude. and who is to say that some people wearing burqas wont get caught and have to pay and others will get caught and have to pay the fine. this is a very selective process that seems to not have been thought out fully. maybe the next time the french have a boring day at the office they will go play golf or watch tv instead of trying to imposse an unrealisitic and targeted new rule to their country.
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Personally, I don’t see the big deal in letting people express their views, whether they are religious, political, or clothing views. It seems almost absurd that the French government can come out and say that they are attempting to ban burqas in the country of France. It reminds me of something like George Orwell’s 1984 or Huxley’s A Brave New World where the government attempts to control OR successfully controls aspects of society. Its as if somehow people are made “less human” by being told they aren’t allowed to wear certain clothes, especially ones that represent aspects of a culture.
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After reading this article and watching the video, it gave me a whole new perspective on women who wear the burqas. At first I agreed with the French. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that these women were forced by men to cover themselves up and should be banned from wearing them. Now I have the complete opposite view. These women wear these garments because of their religion. Forcing these women not to wear this is like telling people who are Catholic that they can’t wear crosses or that people who follow the Sikh religion that they can’t wear turbans. I believe that everyone is entitled to do whatever they choose. For the women who are forced by men to wear the burqa should absolutely allowed to take it off and wear whatever they want. The inequality gap between both men and women is closing and I think that forcing them to wear these heavy garments everyday against their own will is outrageous at this day and age.
As for the women who still want to wear the burqas, I believe they have every right to continue to wear them. Whether it is their religion or those not minding the garments, there should be no penalty for them to choose to wear it. The two women in the video made it clear that it is their choice because they want to show their religion which is their prerogative. For the French to step in and try to tell them that they are not allowed is ridiculous. To even think about taking a step so soon as to start fining these women is even more ridiculous. Then they go on to say that some other punishments may be to deny these women of simple everyday things. If that was to happen, what are the women supposed to do? Drop everything they know and just go out and buy new clothes as if it not a big deal? I think it a complete waste of time and energy to even contemplate banning these garments. In my opinion I think it is just a bunch of ignorant politics sticking their nose in other people’s business. These garments have not affected the government in any way. They are not harming or threatening anyone or anything. So why waste time to try and get rid of them? One thing that the government has not taken into consideration is that taking away these garments might be harder for these women than just allowing them to continue wearing them. These women have grown up knowing only this, so having a sudden change may be more harmful than helpful for them. Plain and simple, these women should have the choice, aside from men, aside from the government, whether they want to continue wearing burqas or not.
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I also feel that the government wants these changes to take place because they believe their way of living is the only way. It is often difficult for people to imagine what life is like in other parts of the world because they don’t take the time to fully analyze them. This is definitely a problem in the United States. Many Americans don’t see the importance of becoming familiar with different people, cultures and customs. When they see these people for the first time, they often are shocked and have little to say. If they became more comfortable with people of different cultures and learned the story of why they behave or live they way that they do, they wouldn’t be so shocked when they finally saw pictures of them. I think that the French Government is scared of these Muslim women because they feel that their differences are a threat.
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When you put these women side by side, they look threatening. It’s hard to imagine the process it would take for almost every Muslim women living in the Middle East to essentially all wear the exact same thing. Even though they can instill different aspects of their culture into these citizens, you cannot change a person’s beliefs and values just by changing their location. I think if the French were truly serious into enlightening people of other cultures, then they would take more time to also learn the aspects of that culture. If anything, this should be a learning process for all individuals involved, not a mandatory ruling over people of certain cultures.
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This was brought up in my history class today, and I had not heard of it before then for some reason. It definitely peaked my curiosity, as I couldn’t even begin to imagine why this is an issue for France. My history teacher then told us that any form of religious expression, including wearing a crucifix in public, is illegal as well in France. This is definitely why this is becoming as large an issue as it is in France. No, I do not agree with the French government's decision whatsoever, but I believe that a law is a law. Although the law about wearing religious expressions of any kind is hundreds of years old, it is still a law. It must be followed. Islamic women are coming into France knowing full well that they will face issues with wearing their clothing, yet they choose to come into the country anyways. In the video, both women were foreigners who became French citizens. They probably knew full well that there would be issues eventually yet they continued to wear what they wanted to. I am definitely one for allowing expression, and I truly think they should be allowed to wear whatever they want, but there is clearly an issue far beyond the reaches of Islam and religion in France. It's going to take a massive upheaval of the French government along with the French people's mentalities for it to be normal to wear burkas in public. Until then, Islamic women will be prejudiced against. They are going to face problems. Like said in the video, if this new law is passed to include burkas, many women who decide to wear the full headdress will not be serviced to. This is similar to blacks in the middle 20th century in America. They are facing discrimination, and it isn’t fair but it is still the case. These women will have to find a way to work around this. I was surprised to find out that it is a choice of theirs to wear the full headdress however. I can’t even imagine how hot and sticky it must get in there on a humid summer day, yet they are devout enough to wear the garb in which they feel appropriate. Unfortunately France is not for freedom of expression as much as we are here in the states, but hopefully some day that is changed. These women do not mean to cause any trouble. Most of them are extremely quiet and just want to go outside to work and to get things done, and it isn’t in an attempt to spread their religion. This is the issue which the law has but it really should not be a problem.
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The fact that France is even considering a ban on a harmless religious practice observed by only around two thousand fundamental Muslims is morally reprehensible and only serves to undo centuries of progress towards social and religious equality, and the freedom of expression. The French Revolution of the late eighteenth century was based largely on enlightenment beliefs that all humans have inalienable civil rights; it toppled an oppressive monarchy and sparked a movement throughout Europe towards the formation of democracies. With France having played an integral role in the spread of democracy and freedom, it is sad and disappointing to see them attempting to limit the freedoms of their citizens to practice their own religious beliefs.
The wearing of a full burqa by some Muslim women is nothing new; it is an established and controversial practice. While some women may feel pressured to wear the burqa other do choose to wear it and see it as an integral part of their religion. Using the allegation that people were coerced or pressured into wearing something to justify taking away their right to do so is counter intuitive, because you are doing the exact thing you are trying to stop. Also, because France is “supposed” to be a democracy where individual freedoms are tolerated, any women in fear for her safety for not wanting to wear a burqa has many places to turn for support to uphold her civil rights. When you start to limit freedoms, or even interfere with them, you remove these support channels and the women have nowhere to turn. Unfortunately the French people seem to have been swept up in a wave of post-9/11 anti-Islamic sentiment. Thomas Jefferson once said, “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” This unfortunately seems to be the case with France. The video mentions that a recent poll found that almost 3 in 5 people support the ban. It is hard to believe that almost 60 percent of the populace supports such a blatant ban on personal freedoms. These people would certainly think differently if the issue at hand were the wearing of crosses or yamakas.
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I think that the government should have no right to ban any dress codes of other cultures. Each individual should have the right to dress how they want, when and where they want. It should be a personal choice and not an imposed law or regulation from a government. In Europe as well as here and other places the ladies tend to dress as they want and although our grandparents or even parents would not always approve what we want to wear we still wear it and tell them that they have to get used to the trend and convince them that that's the style and everyone wears it. Well, for Muslims it's their style, they fashion, their choice. If they grew up wearing “niqab” or “abeyya” or “hijab” then they should have the freedom to wear it when they want even when they immigrate to other countries and are seen in public. Plus, I doubt that their relatives will listen to them if they decide to go against their religious/cultural dress code and start dressing the way government will see fit. But in the same time, I think that they should not be treated any differently in airports when it comes to searching and patting down for security purposes. I think that they should be searched thoroughly just for hazardous situation and the protection of well-being of other individuals in that airport or later in the air. That said, I don't want to hint that those people who are wearing that type of clothing are prone to any terrorism but the people who would want to be involved in such deeds would certainly misuse the traditional clothing to cover up their faces and maybe even bombs on their waists. In today's world, everything is possible and I think that the government should take some percussion to eliminate such potential threats. However, the government should not have the right to punish the rest of the good fellow residents who only wish to follow their cultural traditions by sticking to specific dress codes.
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UkieKru Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Aside from the government role in banning burqas, I feel bad for Muslim women who have to wear it not by choice but by force. Moreover, that force is usually not physical but emotional. In fact, most of the females don;t really get beaten up for not wearing that specific type of clothing but more of emotional abuse. Men might not want to marry those ladies, the females would get negative comments and a lot of stairs on the streets etc. While I think that the women living in Muslim countries don't really have a choice as to what to wear. In countries like France, Great Britain, USA etc they have the freedom to do so and I think they should. I never wore any traditional clothing but I think that it might be a little uncomfortable to wear all black during humid summers. But as I said before, it should be up to a person to choose if they want to endure such hot conditions or maybe they would even reconsider their religious affiliation and their dress code or they might change their country of residency all together. No matter what their choice should be they should always have the right to make that choice and no government should ever stand in between those choices.
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I do not believe with the French governments decision to ban the burqas. It is a personal and religious decision that the women make on their own. They should be able to wear whatever they want especially when it is not harming anyone. It is interesting to see how in America we can basically wear whatever we want out in public as long as our private body parts are covered up. You often see people wearing the most absurd outfits but no one will ever question them because they have the freedom to wear what they want. For example, women can wear short shorts and revealing low cut tops that most Muslim women would think is completely unacceptable. The way people dress is a personal decision made by the individual. What I may think is a good outfit may be completely different to what another person may think.
I agree with the women’s statement in the video clip, “we are following our religious beliefs and France should respect that.” Even though there is nothing in the Koran that says that women must cover their faces it is just simply a personal decision. Nobody ever cares when Jewish men wear yamaka’s it is the same issue. I was watching Oprah the other day and they were interviewing two Muslim women who wear the burqas. Both the women were in their late forties, however one was married with kids and one was single. They women were saying that growing up they never wore the burqa because they never felt the need to. However, they started to become more religious and into the Koran and decided to make the switch. They said they got a lot of mixed emotions from people but they do not care what other people say. Therefore, I do not agree with the video when they said that some people believe their husbands make them wear the burqa’s because the one woman interviewed was still single.
I think it was very heartening to hear that if these laws are passed the women would not be able to go about their everyday lives normally. They would not be able to go to the store or walk around town without breaking the law. I would understand if the French government decided to pass this law for businesses or jobs, however it is completely wrong to discriminate against their everyday clothing. If businesses want to pass laws where the burqa’s are not allowed to be worn in the work place, then so be it. But I think it is important for the French government to let the Muslim people to live their lives in peace and comfort. The government should spend more time worrying about more important issues.
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I think it is wrong what France is trying to do. Muslim women should be allowed to wear these gowns if they like. To begin with I do not fully understand the culture of these women. I do not personally know any women who wear an “abeyya” or “niqab”. Although it seems odd for women to wear such articles of clothing, they should have to opportunity to do so.
The only reason I can think of why these women would not be allowed to wear this type of clothing is because it masks the identity of whoever is wearing this “abeyya”. A question that comes to mind is,
Have there been any crimes associated with someone wearing an “abeyya”. If people kept robbing banks masked by an “abeyya”, I could see some sort of substance behind this article. To my knowledge there has not been a string of robberies tied to this type of dress.
It is hard to imagine this type of oppression. What I don’t understand is that some of these women wear “abeyya” when their husbands do not want them to. I guess it is just my ignorance to the culture of these women. This area of Pennsylvania has a very small population of Muslim if any at all. I have seen some Muslim women wearing “abeyya” but I did not take offense to it. I just thought that this was the custom that these women were used to so it did not bother me one bit.
If this legislation passes and women are not allowed to wear “abeyya” in public settings, what will be next? I have heard of clothing optional beaches in France. So it is acceptable for people to wear nothing, but it is unacceptable for women to cover themselves from head to toe except for a strip across their eyes.
I think that governments should worry about more severe problems that their country’s are facing. Problems like homelessness, crime, slavery, healthcare, and so on. Freedom is something that is taken for granted on a daily basis. Here is the good ole United States people are allowed to wear pretty much anything that they want. The KKK wears white robes that cover themselves, although for a different reason, but are allowed to do so. Is the U.S. going to start fining members of the KKK for how they dress. I am not saying the KKK is good, I personally think that the KKK is a joke, but it is and should be up to the individual to decide what to wear, not the country.
I hope that France does not pass this ridiculous law that is totally against human rights. I think that in these times people should be able to dress how they want, not how the government says they should.
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I think it is absolutely ridiculous that any governing body would attempt to regulate the type of clothing their citizens are permitted to wear. People in the United States often question and challenge the regulations to the right of free speech in this country and now a western nation, France, is attempting to prohibit and monitor the clothing its citizens chose to wear. Although it seems unlikely even if the law, or any variations of the proposed law, is passed French authorities will be able to enforce the law, which they readily admit. How do you persecute someone for the way they dress, what are the repercussions? While this seems like an invasion of the citizen’s private life, it is important to understand where this push for legislation comes from. Initially, when I read the “should France ban burquas” headline I thought that the reasoning would be for security reasons, somehow making the conclusion that a hidden face, a very unique and recognizable feature, may somehow be a security concern. This is not the case and French women who wear face covering clothing have said they would show their faces for security purposes. If this law were to be passed it seems a scary indication of the government’s power to influence unnecessary aspects of life. What would be next? Banning citizens from wearing light colored shirts on the first Monday of every month? Banning the clothing habits and patterns of citizens seems ludicrous especially considering there are only two thousand women in France who report wearing burquas, according to the CNN video provided. I find it especially interesting while the administration attempting to tell the women that the clothing they wear is outwardly showing the oppression they face when most women wear the coverings out of choice. The women did not seek to have the clothing banned because they found it oppressive, the government simply thought that only women who were being repressed by men would opt to wear such garments, and I especially like the connection to women in the United States wearing makeup and high heeled shoes. While I consider myself to be liberally minded, and some may consider some of my ideals in line with feminist views, I go out on the weekends in heels, makeup, and fun dresses. This in no way undermines or contradicts my beliefs, it simply is how I like to dress, how I feel comfortable and there is no way that I would change my habits and wardrobe simply because the government bans such clothing telling me that I must feel oppressed because I dress in such a manner. I have a strong feeling that this is how these women in France feel.
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“The pair says they will willingly show their faces for identification purposes, but if it comes to it they will break any law that runs contrary to their religious beliefs.”
Good to see that there are at least some sane people left on this planet. I guess it says something when those who follow the same religious ideology that the West frequently denounces often are the ones speaking the truth or making more sense, rather than the either ill-informed or out of touch Western governments. This makes me think of all of the propaganda about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bin Laden has told the West multiple times that if they would simply cease supporting Israel and deploying military bases and air drones in their home countries, the terrorism would stop. I would postulate that most ordinary Americans are also ill-informed about some of the consequences of our actions overseas.
What is the motivation for this?
Is it national security? If it truly is national security, then the Western world has slid downwards quite far in terms of liberty, so to speak. Laws that are created out of fear, like this one, serve to divide the populace and instill more fear in them. If the importance of the surveillance state is such that anyone would need to be readily identifiable in this way, the French sure must not have much of a concern for civil liberties. If an when this does pass, it will definitely create a precedent for establishing a myriad of other laws that are also restrictive to individual liberties…all in the name of national security. What’s going to stop them from then banning masks and sunglasses? You know, those things cover your eyes anyways so you can’t be readily identified by a law enforcement officer! It’s a national security threat. But seriously, if they were serious about keeping peoples’ faces exposed in public then there’s nothing stopping the French government from going on and creating a few more restrictive laws like the one I mentioned above.
Is it money? The $1000 fine is pretty hefty for having your face covered in public. We’ve all heard that governments tend to increase the price of traffic tickets and other fines during a recession (It’s happening in America today.) Not many people can afford a $1000 ticket. But, creating new fines and penalties during difficult economic times is not only counterproductive, but helps line the pockets of the local police unions who then channel their newfound wealth towards lobbying for more pay and benefits. (At least in America that’s how it would work. Not sure if the French have it divided into local/state/federal governments)
Oh, and did I mention that it would be highly discriminatory in terms of peoples’ religions?
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Living in America, I feel our first amendment protection is one of our most valued and important rights. I never have to worry about having to please the government with my hair, clothes, or image and I am very grateful for this. Human beings should be able to make chioces about things as simple as the way they dress and what they look like. Also, one could argue the French government is targeting women. I know men do not feel the need to be fully covered from head to toe, but the women do. At first when I read this article I thought it was ridiculous to tell someone how to dress, especially since it has to do with a religion and shouldn't the government stay out of religion? I think I felt this way because growing up in the United States I learned about the importance of separation and state. The struggle that people had to overcome in order to get this rule, that I feel is a very important aspect in our society, really affected me. However, after thinking this over I realized that what the women are wearing is actually oppressing them because it represents and shows that women are a lower class then men. The muslim religion teaches women that men are superior and if I am correct that is why they are in a sense forced to wear these long, body length, shapeless gowns. Now I am not suggesting that they should wear tight fitting, revealing clothes with skin popping out everywhere. However, I think they can wear modest clothes, if they wish to, and in this way women will be able to choose even more for themselves and get away from the oppression they are facing. I feel it is saddening that women are choosing to wear clothes that alienate them from society and that represents them as being of a lower class. However, this is all they know and when someone tells you what you have done and known all your life is wrong and you are not allowed to do it anymore this can be shocking and horrifying. The women are feeling our of their comfort zone and are probably afraid of the criticism they will receive if they are not allowed to wear the gown anymore and instead have to wear clothes. I imagine many of them will wear something similar to it anyway, because like I said before, that is all they know. Unfortunately this will still perpetuation the sexism aspect of their way of life but ff they do learn a different way I life I do feel they will be happier and learn to stand up for themselves.
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I think that it is ridiculous for the French government to be enforcing rules based on physical appearance. Many of the women from Middle Eastern cultures choose to cover their bodies not because they are being oppressed by men, but because this is the way they want to dress in order to represent their culture. These women believe that the garments they choose to wear help promote and preserve their culture. If someone took that away from them, they would basically be telling them to abandon tradition that women in the culture have practiced for hundreds of years. In a way, limiting these women to what they can wear is essentially not allowing those of religious backgrounds to wear symbols of their religion. Just because these women support a more radical look in supporting their culture, does not mean that they to be corrupt. If someone was wearing a cross or Star of David on their neck, no one would think that this behavior is odd. Because these women look so different then most of the world, people automatically assume that they have not made any substantial gains in the women's rights movement.
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I really think the French government crossed the line on this one. Who are they to impose on the religious rights of these people? The women should have every right to wear their burqas if they so please. Especially since it has to do with religion, I do not see how the French government can form a case out of the situation. I really can’t see where this banning thing sprouted from. From what I know, France is a secular country. This means that they have constitutional rights, and freedom of religion is one of them. I also know that their government does not have the right to intervene in religious affairs. They adhere to the principles of separation of church and state.
I am a bit puzzled at the reason behind the whole banning of the burqas ordeal. I have considered a couple things. Some women who wear burqas are more than likely forced by their spouse to wear them. Banning the burqas, would greatly help reduce that, or even extinguish it. But there is the fact that some of these women wear it voluntarily, which is pretty much the X factor in my previous statement. My other thought, would be that maybe the French have a certain “look” they are trying to uphold. When people think about French women, the general idea would be a petit lady with near skin tight clothes. Or at least, that’s my opinion.
This movement of trying to ban burqas seems a bit racist to me. This is not shocking, considering the fact that Europeans tend to be very open about their racial comments, and views on racism. I am not trying to say that all Europeans are racist. All I am saying is that it doesn’t come as a surprise to me.
After thinking deeply about the situation, I guess I do have a bit of understanding of why the French may want to ban the wearing of the burqa. Covering the whole face with the burqa may cause identity issues in the criminal investigation process. For example, what if someone wearing a burqa were to rob or injure a civilian. If the civilian was questioned by the law about how the offender looked like, what type of examples would he be able to give in order to help the investigation? This would prove as a difficult problem in this type of situation.
There are many pros against this debate, but there are more cons. I have given my fairest opinion on both sides of the argument. Personally, I do not agree with the banning of the burqas, but I do see a few reasons in which they may seem like a hindrance in daily life.
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After watching this video I would have to say that I feel horrible about the women in this video and other Muslim women like them. I never realized that they were the ones that wanted to wear their full veals or head pieces…I always believed that it was forced upon them. After seeing this, I realize that many Muslim women make the decision to wear burqas themselves. With this, It is CRAZY to think that France is trying to make it illegal for these women to wear their burqas. Since when does the government have a right to tell us what we can and cannot wear!?! Especially when the piece of clothing being banned or frowned upon is related to religion. What gives the French government(or any government for that matter) the right to tell someone they cannot express their religion. By wearing these burqas these women are expressing their religion. By making it illegal for them to wear them would be depriving them of their freedom of religion and expression. This issue needs to be fixed asap!
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What I think is ridiculous is that we, as Westerners think that we know what is best. Who are we to govern these women? I feel that many times, actually most times, we are ethnocentric and believe that we are right. No questions asked. However, we don't understand the real reason why these women are wearing burqas. This is part of their religious belief, a religion that many of us do not even understand.
Take for example female circumcision. We are repulsed by different tribes in Africa removing the clitoris of women. We believe that this is a form of female mutilation, but that's not why it's done. They do this because they feel that it's sanitary and gives the girls the status of woman. These are age old traditions, and many women are honored to be circumsized. We, however, march in and create all these groups to stop these practices. Again, I ask, who are we to know what's best? Personally I believe that it's terrible, but did anyone ask these women how they feel about it? Not only are their language barriers, but their are cultural barriers too. There is no way for us to possibly know what they're feeling.
On the other hand, there are a lot of things that we do that other cultures do not agree with. For example, females in the United States shave off all body hair. If you visit a European country, people would think it was extremely strange to see you without body hair. This is one of many examples to illustrate how others view us as weird.
But in showing this example, it shows that we are not the only culture that is ethnocentric. I feel like we're taught to think that we have an extremely ethnocentric culture, but so do others. Every single person believes that their culture is best, whether they want to admit it or not. That's their way of life, what they know, and so in turn what they practice. It's evolutionary effective to go with the flow, or you'll become an outcast.
Personally, I do not agree with burqas. I do feel that they oppress women, but I also know that's because it's what I've been taught to believe. I know that I wouldn't want a man, or a government, telling me how to dress and how to behave. Especially if it was to prove a point of superiority. However, isn't that exactly what the French government did? They decided that they didn't like something, and therefore controlled it. Many muslim women probably feel most comfortable burqas. Just like I grew up without burqas, this is all that they know. Let women do what they want, and make decisions for themselves. Women have faced this type of oppression forever, and I don't know if it will ever completely go away. I know that sounds depressing, but I do think it's an unfortunate truth. I hope there's a day that women are treated like equals, but with news of laws like this, I'm just not sure…
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I honestly don’t know why this should even be that big of a deal. Do people forget where they come from? There are such things as history, culture, and change in this world, but people don’t think about it much when they consider how they became the way they are today. Throughout history is where we develop various cultures and changes. This article makes me feel like some people are ignorant to this concept. It makes me wonder if there are some countries out there who want their people to conform and resist change… but if this is true, then how did the country change throughout history and develop their own cultures? If one change happens in a country, there will always be a change. Change is the only constant. Really, let people wear what they are comfortable with wearing. If there are Muslim women who want to cover up as opposed to revealing parts of their body, then let them cover up. Who is to say that they are “wrong” for doing so? It isn’t enlightenment when you tell someone “[you] are going to turn [them] into” something he or she doesn’t even want to “turn into” in the first place. People don’t like if you try to change them to begin with, so why try to change a whole group of people if you can’t change one? I’m pretty sure it isn’t a problem if there are women in the world who prefer to cover up rather than to flash every part of their body as they can.
Also, to ban burqas altogether just makes matters worse because this article of clothing is a part of these Muslim women that the French government is trying to get rid of. I like UBUNTU19’s opening statement to his response to this matter (“Has it ever occurred to them that maybe forcing them to NOT wear the burqas is just as forceful and the man that make them wear them in the first place?”) because it really does open up a new point to consider. It’s like telling these women you’d rather see them naked than not, which is kind of perverse but true. Additionally, going back to my point about conformity, to tell women to ban a part of themselves is like telling them to be like the rest. It’s like telling them they can’t express what they want to, which means you’re taking away their freedom of expression. Does the French government want to do that? I don’t think they want people to feel like they are, but if they insist that women shouldn’t be wearing these burqas, then they obviously would be contradicting themselves by doing so. So, why don’t they just leave these women be?
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The' best of the west' to me in my opinion is a complete misunderstanding. Across western countries, like France or the United states, people have an assumption that different is bad and their opinion is correct. The Muslim women in France that wear Burkas have the right to wear whatever they please. How you dress or carry yourself is a reflection of what customs you believe in and cultures you are a part of, no government should be able to cripple your rights. This problem that takes place in France doesn't only happen in that society. In many countries around the world problems like these are not even talked about, citizens don't have the power or right to speak on laws of their countries.
Maybe the country is just worried about the risk of having a parka on in the middle of the summer when the sun is at its best. And on top of that the hoodies are black. If i were the goverment and saw people walking around with hoodies on i would be concerned to not just wanting to be asshole goverment but try to protect them from their unique and possibly dangerous customs. And its not only Americans saying and worrying about this it is also the men that share the same religion. Thats kind of ironic being that is the reason why they claim or we suspect they wear them for. To cover up their true beauty for the men that a wait them in the future. But yet you have the men in your religion concerned as we are as an immigrant culture not evening knowing and understanding the reason why.
But still having the govement involved would cause much contreversy between religions. Let the people that are cut from different wool than we are as americans do what they know best and everyone will be happy. The less people are disrespected the better .
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The first time I remember encountering someone who wore a burqa, I had just moved away from a predominantly black and white school district and begun middle school. The head coverings were a definite source of wonder to me, but everyone else dressed differently from me too, so I figured I was the one in need of a style makeover.
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I agree that it is not the place of westerners to try and dictate what the people of the east, or any other part of the world for that matter, should do. We live in very different worlds, and what is right for us, is not the same for everybody. However there are certain circumstances under which I feel another country should be able to step in and say something about what a country is doing. A few years back, I did a presentation about honor killings in predominantly Muslim countries. An honor killing is when a member of a family or clan, is killed for what appears a justifiable reason. One of the things that struck me about this particular custom was the fact that the victims were mostly women. Certain cases that we examined discussed women killed for not wearing the customary "hijab" of their culture. This was disturbing because it made oppression by families okay for women.
However, I do realize that not all of the women wearing "hijabs" are under the same oppressive pressure as others living in their country. Despite this, there are still those who live under these oppressive dictates. I don't believe that the west should govern and tell these countries what is right or wrong, but I do believe that human rights activists have a right to fight to these laws abolished. The freedom of progressive women in these countries does not take away from the injustice being done to other women within their culture. Many of these women have grown up knowing that this is how they should be treated, poorly and as inferior to men. But, sometimes it takes an outsider to make someone realize the circumstances of their situation. It is not always a negative when someone introduces a new point of view the may help enrich what you knew before.
It all really just depends on the approach taken by the western countries. The women who choose to wear their customary “hijab” CHOSE to wear them. They were not forced to do so as others in their culture are. As such, we should work to give these women a choice. Granted, it is not the way in which many of us were raised, and it may seem pretentious in a sense, to portray that your way is better than another’s. But I don’t believe that is the objective. Given the history of the west, freedom from oppression has always been something that seemed necessary to fight for. Perhaps the apparent oppression of women in certain Muslim countries is a freedom the west feels they should fight for as well.
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Three out of five lawmakers voted for banning women to wear burqas. And those women who continue to wear them once the law is legalized, they could face a fine of $1,000. I can't even express in one word how I feel about this idea that the France government has come up with. Doesn’t the government have other serious problems to worry about and try resolve other then telling Islamic women how not to dress.
Personally, I would be very pissed if I was one of those women. I cannot personally relate to those women or say I completely know how they feel because I do not. However, I can understand why some Muslims would be upset over this law. It’s like denying Sikh men to wear their turbans in America including my dad. So of course, I would be pissed, hurt, and upset at our government. I’m sure those are just few emotions that the Muslim women and men are feeling right now in France. It bothers me that the government thinks they are doing the "right" thing. My question to them is, in what way is this right? Why are they denying someone of their religious practices and culture? That is just morally wrong. It seems like the government has too much free time on their hands that they are wasting their time, energy, and money into something really stupid like this. What angers me the most is that if a women is caught wearing a burqas, she can be fined at $1,000. Like really? I cannot believe this government. How can they be so narrow minded? It is straight ignorance. In what way are they doing anyone any good? Do they think the country will be in better shape if they enforce a dress code? What’s next then France? Banning people of their cultural foods? Also, what is this teaching the country’s youth? How to be rude and ignorant against other people’s beliefs? Just wow, I am amazed at people’s stupidity.
I try to understand where the government might be coming from. But I don’t understand their view. I could not think of a logical reason why the government would want to ban women from wearing burqas. How are those women causing any harm? They are following a belief. Last time I checked, there was nothing wrong with that. Honestly, I don’t know much about France or their government (I’m in my own world most of the time). But I do know one thing – what the government is doing is unacceptable and unnecessary. For instance, imagine if the American government decided to ignore all the other issues going on right now (which are a LOT) and instead, create a law that forces Sikhs from wearing turbans or women from wearing burqas or hijabs. How would you respond to it? Probably, the same way I responded to this idea by their government. My point is this – let the women continue wearing their burqas. Focus on issues that require more of their attention and resources.
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I fully understand the religious freedoms and rights thing. If these women want to wear burqas then more power to them. I do however see the governments point of view in saying that wearing burqas and other things that cover your face may be dangerous. Unfortunately we live in a unsafe world where things as beautiful as religious symbols like burqas can get abused and used to hide weapons to hurt people. Do I think it should be made a law to ban them? No. That’s ignorant and silly. I do not believe a law should have such power to take away freedoms, but I do understand the reason behind wanting to do this. I personally think the ideas behind burqas seem unfair to women. I am not well educated on the situation but from what I have heard and seen on tv news and in papers has made me feel that these are objects to lessen the power of women. I may totally be wrong, I know that these things are often used to hide the beauty so only a husband can see it. I personally disagree and think it is restricting and unfair, however if the women are raised to think that it is what they should do or truly want to wear it then I am all for it. I think that people, including women and minorities, should have the same rights as everyone else. Freedom is a big thing and living in a free country should allow for things such a burqas. Like I said I do not personally agree with them, but I am also not fully educated in the ways of them so I have no right to judge others for wearing them. I would never tell someone not to wear one because from what I can tell they are holding women back. Again, I am not educated enough in the area to really discuss and perhaps neither are these politicians. If they were maybe they’d agree with the muslim culture and think it’s okay women wear them. The politicians are probably trying to keep people safe. Which is their job and is understandable but discrimination should never be a way to go about doing it. Life is not about putting others down to make yourself feel better or about making people more like you. Making people more like you is going to make everyone boring. No one wants to all have the same culture. Different cultures and beliefs is what makes the world beautiful. The mix of cultures is beautiful too. Everyone is different for a reason. There is not one way or one person better than the rest. To think that some group is better than others is ignorant. Growing up ‘on the other side of the track’ or in this case the world would help everyone realize this. All cultures are beautiful. Yes there is good and bad in all but it is in all. We see what we want to see and maybe we shouldn’t be worrying so much about the burqas and start worrying about the hungry and the homeless. There are always bigger issues to be dealt with… the recession also comes to mind.
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I always thought it was not fair for Muslim women to wear burqas. I thought women should be able to choose what they want to wear. Never once did I think that they did not care what they had on. We do not know if they prefer to be covered up. It is a tradition in the Muslim culture to wear burqas. Until they stand up for what they want, they will remain to wear the burqas. I think to a certain extent that they should be able to wear what they want. Nobody should tell people what they should and should not wear. It should be a law to let them wear what they want. If they prefer to wear the cover ups than that is what they want. Maybe they should do a test one day to see what the women really want to do. For a day, they should let them wear any clothing they want. If most women wear the cover ups then every one should shut their mouths up about it. But if the women choose to wear other clothing that shows their face or parts of their body, then the Muslim culture should rethink the law about what women should wear. All of these disputes in the world could be solved if they just to test. It would kind of portray a real life survey. Then again, the Muslim people might not want the women to have the choice. I do not think anybody could change the law without the permission of the people who made the law. If it is a big enough issue, the women should protest. Well not protest but do what they want. If all the Muslim women stand up for what they want, most likely the law will be changed. They can not punish everyone Muslim woman in the country. That would be the best bet for the Muslim women. Most of them are probably scared of what would happen if they go against the law, but hey everyone has to take a chance.
I do not think Muslim women wearing cover ups is other people's problem. I mean people have the freedom to say what they want, but it is becoming to big of an issue. Most countries do not talk about what goes on in America, like America does other countries. Then again, we are a country who believes in freedom of speech. I understand what the Muslim culture says about what their women can and can not wear is wrong. They are there own country who has their own laws and beliefs. We can voice our opinion on the topic, but we can not change their law. Maybe people should just stop mentioning it; they already heard what we had to say. It becomes really annoying to hear the same thing over and over. The Muslim people probably think us voicing our opinions is really offensive. We are just speaking on what we believe, because we have the freedom to do so. I look at it from both point of views.
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I highly disagree with the French banning the use of the burqa. Simple because its a part of there religion and its part of there lifestyle. I believe that the only occasion in which they should not be allowed to use the burqa is if they are traveling by plane or if they have to take some type of picture for and id or a passport. Because this is a part of there religion they should be entitled to wear whatever they want if they are not causing any harm to anyone. I don't see what the big deal with them wearing the burqa is anyway. Its not like its effecting anyone else in any way. I believe that if they are being forced to wear the burqa by there spouse then there should be a law that allows these woman to wear whatever they want. But if they are wearing it willingly then the french government has no right to get in the way of there religious beliefs. Im from nyc and see i see muslim woman wearing the burqas all the time. And it doesn't bother me at all. I feel bad for them that they have to wear that in the summer too because they must get really hot wearing those. Coming from nyc there is much more for me to worry about other than what people are wearing. I don't think its right to expect everyone to dress the same. Thats part of a country being diverse. That everyone isn't the same. That people bring there cultures from other countries and share them with the countries that they migrate too. And this is how us americans and other countries learn about other cultures. And then we take what we've learned about these cultures and try and mixed them in with ours. But then again we have to understand that there are people in this world that aren t open minded at all and don't really like to learn new things. They are really old fashioned and like things to be how they've always been. And i believe this is whats going on with the french government. They don't like that these Muslim people are coming into there country and are bringing there cultures with them. Its not right that they force these Muslim immigrants to abandon there beliefs and wearing the burqa is definitely part of there beliefs. If i was one of these immigrants i would definitely form a group and boycott this law that the french are attempting to pass. Because it is not right and it is completely unfair. And if this law does get passed then this needs to be brought up worldwide and the french need to be exposed for the unfairness of there laws.
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If this were to happen it would cause a lot of problems that the government would have to deal with that I think eventually they would get sick over and just unpass the law or restriction. If they were to tell the ladies they couldnt wear their veils it would be just like telling a jewish man that he can't wear his yamika. It would be disrespectful to the man as well as an insult to his religion. If they are doing these things and they aren't harming anyone, there should be no reason why they shouldn't be allowed to it.
Trying to explain to someone about why they cant do something just because people have decided they cant is like explaining why you cant have purple as your favorite color and why french fries cant be your favorite food. Its a totally worthless battle that will always be lost in one way or another because there isnt enough reasoning behind the action. Let the ladies wear their veils until they veils themselves become a problems and cause problems to the countries and the world rather than just people who feel its dumb.
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At what point does tolerance become the accomplice of intolerance? This is a human rights issue, in many Islamic countries, women are obliged by law to wear at least the hijab. In other places, Pakistan for example, if they don't wear the hijab they may likely have acid thrown in their faces. Men are not obligated to wear the hijab and are not at threat of having acid being thrown in their faces for not wearing one. Climb down from your ivory towers.
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In my opinion, the French government is way out of line here. The choices of those Muslim women may not as fashionable as what the typical French citizen may wear, but that is no reason to condemn them to having to wear what everyone else wears. While I believe that it is not the government’s place to tell someone what they may or may not wear, and this to me would be a clear violation of human rights held by French citizens. I do not know the laws of France though, so I can’t say that for sure… but I can say that I think it’s ridiculous to propose such a law and even more ridiculous to try to enforce it. The women aren’t hurting anyone or anything by wearing their all-body-covering dressings, so there’s no reason to force them to stop.
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nice
lol good video
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Personally I agree with France’s dislike of Muslim women wearing burqas. While they may not be Muslim terrorists, the burqa is a symbol of fundamentalism in Islam as was mentioned in the video. There was the one Muslim guy who said wearing a burqa is not commanded in the Koran. Isn’t fundamentalism associated with living buy the Koran? So it makes no sense to use this as a claim to wear a burqa. As much as we may want to ignore it, it is no secret that wearing a burqa stems from oppression of insecure Muslim men. This “tradition” goes back a very long time….back to contexts that our contemporary mindsets cannot understand. It’s oppression, plain and simple. I believe that Muslim women are cultured to believe that a burqa will please Allah. They defend it out of fear. As for France being against burqas in public, what is the big deal? France is not America. France does not grant the same rights to citizens as America does. It’s a typical American habit to think that everyone should be like us. Then we make a big deal over the dealings of other countries. If France, which is NOT a Muslim nation, doesn’t want Muslim women walking around fully covered with only their eyes showing, then France can do whatever the hell they want. I say ban it. Especially in the world we live in today. Islam is associated with terrorism this day in age whether we like it or not. That is not going to change until Muslim extremists stop killing people in the name of Islam because those people don’t live their lives the way Muslims do. Get over yourselves! So the way it appears to the public is that burqas represent terrorism. If you don’t like that you can’t wear a burqa in a country that doesn’t want you to, then move away and go back to the middle east where burqas are welcome. Oh wait, women probably wouldn’t want to move back because then they may experience oppression again. A link?; I don’t know. Or maybe they don’t want to move back because they like the quality of life that western culture provides. If that’s the case then wearing a burqa would seem like some sort of blasphemy. No one in this world can have their cake and eat it too. We are forced to make decisions. If wearing a burqa is a “decision” as Muslim women claim, then they should choose to wear it in a place that allows it. It’s so silly that they think it is acceptable to walk around completely covered up in public in the name of a religion that is known for wanting to murder innocent people at any point in time! Who knows, they may have AK-47’S under those things. It would be naïve to think that they would never do that.
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I agree with this blog entry 100%. I never thought that when Muslim women wore those head coverings, it was because they were oppressed. I always thought it was because of their religion. I did know that every person that practices Islam does not have to wear them, and if you are unfamiliar with the religion, then of course it might freak you out a little, but that is just ignorance. France should not ban the burgas because that is like banning Christians from wearing crosses or Jews from wearing the Stars of David. It is a violation from your rights as a person.
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A country that is as democratic as France for them to ban Muslim women from wearing abeyyas is crazy. It is part of their religion to wear this traditional attire when it public. The women are dressing in a very conservative fashion and I do not see why that should be a problem to anyone in France. The reason that most of these Muslim women are so covered up is that these women feel as if their beauty is only suppose to be seen by their husbands. When they are in their homes, they wear regular clothing and have their hair down to show their beauty to their husband and kid the only people that deserve to see it. I think that if the government were to ban the Muslim women from wearing burqas then they should ban all things that express religion. They should ban people wearing the cross or Jewish people wearing the Star of
David. Women usually dress very sexual and I think that is more dangerous than a women being covered up are. Females are practically naked when they go to beaches and pools and nobody will outlaw bath suits to be worn by women. At the beach, there are little kids and teenage boys all over the place and they are being seeing women naked. Women wear very little clothing all the time in order to get what they want but that is not outlawed. They walk around in high heels and sometimes no underwear and that is not illegal. Women not dressing appropriate are a bigger issue than a women deciding that they should be covered are.
It really shows by them banning Muslim women from wearing their traditional attire it shows how behind they are as a society that citizens are judging people so harshly by the religion that they practice. Most of these females that dress in these conservatives ways do not feel pressured from their husbands but want to dress like this. Many feel as if they want to do it even if there husbands do not want them to because it shows how much they respect their husbands. I think these females should have a freedom of religion and freedom of expression. I think that fact that they outlaw women could wear this go against women rights. With the France banning the wearing of abeyyas, I think that they will have many Muslim people leaving the country and returning to their native land or going to America. I think that the new law will not last long and soon they will have to get rid of it by the amount of people that will get prosecuted for wearing their religious attire.
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