Burqa Forbidden in France!

[amicus]

http://blog.taragana.com/n/burqa-not-welcome-in-france-sarkozy-88868/

“…women wearing the burqa would not be accepted on French territory.

“The problem of the burqa is not a religious problem, it is a problem of the dignity of women. It is a symbol of subservience, of submission. The burqa will not be welcome in our French republic, ” Sarkozy said during his address before a joint session of the two houses of Parliament in Versailles.

~~~

Also heard there are approximately five million Muslims in France and many more in other Euro Nations.

Also thwarting the concept of the America Centric nature of political events...



Hi there, Euro's & Brits!

Amicus

 

[TE999]

Talk about locking the barn after the horse has escaped. Ol' Zark's trying to score some points with French nationalists to shore up his job and his party.

 

[amicus]

I wondered about that in view of the latter portion of the article:

Sarkozy’s appearance before lawmakers, in the context of the pomp of Versailes, was severely criticized by the opposition Socialists and their left-wing allies.

Many lawmakers also criticized the cost of the event, which was estimated at about 400,000 euros ($556,000).

The Green Party and the Communists boycotted the event, while the Socialists refused to participate in a debate that took place after Sarkozy’s departure.

Ahhh...politics, ain't it wunnerful?!

The everlovin' Amicus

 

[TE999]

I wondered about that in view of the latter portion of the article:



Ahhh...politics, ain't it wunnerful?!

The everlovin' Amicus

Shows to go ya. Politics trumps everything when it comes to domestic policy or foreign policy. Witness the current debate about how many troops to send to Afghanistan.

 

[amicus]

On a related note...the poll to ban political discussions from the AH, has recently picked up a couple of supporting votes. It might well behoove those who are opposed to the censorship to exercise a little political freedom and campaign for more 'no' votes...

Amicus

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I'm with Sark. I think they're within their rights to have a national dress code.

On the other hand, they don't bill themselves as the Land of the Free. A clothing ban like that would be awfully hard to justify in America.

 

[TE999]

On a related note...the poll to ban political discussions from the AH, has recently picked up a couple of supporting votes. It might well behoove those who are opposed to the censorship to exercise a little political freedom and campaign for more 'no' votes...

Amicus

I haven't been following that poll...however sincere it is, it will never pass muster.

If a subject offends you, don't read about it. If the post is by someone you don't like or disagree with, don't click on it.

Logging on to make smart remarks or ridicule the poster does no good and makes you look petty and juvenile. A reasoned argument is welcome, but then again, there are enough studies, statistics, learned opinions, et al, to support either argument.

I doubt if anyone's mind has been changed by the various and sundry squabbles in the AH.

 

[amicus]

You make a curiously interestng point Mab, one that crossed my mind today as I watched video tapes of the Texas FLDS event and the women dressed in, I think they called them, "Prairie Dresses', covering everything from the neck down and hair tied in buns.

It would be an interesting discussion should someone with knowledge of the Koran, who might address the covering up of women and the continuing male dominance in Muslem society.

I have also heard that in nations where suicide bombers are active that bombs and weapons can be hid under the Burqa's and they are banned in certain places.

Amicus

 

[ishtat]

I am not certain but I believe that the wearing of religious symbols is banned in French schools. A few years back they banned the hijab and as a result had to consider the banning of crucifixes as well but I forget how that turned out.

France officially is a secular nation.

French policy under Sarko has become very anti Islam to shore up the conservative vote. The French along with the Germans have also become very anti the Turks joining the EU which has implications for US foreign policy as the Turks have possibly the most powerful army in NATO apart from the US and the French and the Germans in particular seem committed to keeping them out of Europe.(About 3.5 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany and about 4 million Moslems largely of north African extraction in France).

Hillary Clinton has spent a lot of time recently keeping the Turks sweet as they have been very loyal allies of the US for 60 years but recently Netanyahu also has gone out of his way to piss off the Turks. GWB also disregarded their interest in Kurdistan when he invaded Iraq. The thought of Turkey and Iran becoming friendly is chilling not only because they are nations of some 70 million people each but there are also a further 30 million Turkic and 30 million Persian speaking people in the neighboring 'stans, Iraq and Syria and

At the moment the Turkish PM is on an official visit to Iran and is saying nice things about them - which I interpret as a fairly obvious message to the west from Turkey saying "stop taking us for granted"

Incidentally the President of France is treated with far more pomp and ceremony than the Queen of England. He has a choice of eight palaces permanently at his disposal and staff and budget approximately 4 times that of the Uk monarch. All 5th Republic Presidents of France seem to be seduced by the trappings of office.

 

[amicus]

Thank you, Ishtat, that certainly expands the discussion of France into the wider area of the entire middle east and Euro's.

Since the thought crossed my mind, I will voice it, not knowing the exact relevance, but feeling it is. The last I heard of the Israeli threat to attack Iran's Nuclear facilities, was that it would happen before Christmas.

I would appreciate your take of the effect such an attack would have on other middle east nations, relations with Euro nations and the Muslim community at large and in general.

Amicus

 

[oggbashan]

It isn't a new policy. It is a reaffirmation of an existing policy.

Apart from a few extreme Muslim preachers, the policy was easily accepted by the majority of Muslims in France. The Burqa isn't a general Muslim requirement but an Afghan custom popularised by fundamentalists as a means of showing adherence to a strict code.

I can remember when there was an uproar about the traditional attire of Catholic nuns being modernised. Although some orders and some locations still wear the traditional full costume, many do not. It used to be a requirement that women should cover their hair when entering a Catholic church. Now? Men are asked to remove their hats and that's about it.

Muslims living in Western democracies can become invisible by dressing like everyone else. The burqa is a deliberate sign of difference.

Og

 

[Liar]

On the other hand, they don't bill themselves as the Land of the Free. A clothing ban like that would be awfully hard to justify in America.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité should be close enuff.

 

[Lady_Guenivere]

http://www.macleans.ca/culture/books/article.jsp?content=20061023_134898_134898

This article came out about three years ago...but it is incredibly thought provoking.