This only serves to give yet another reason for the radicals to support their claim that it is Islam vs. Western Society. Just wonderful.
how is this the right thing? Yes protecting women's rights is the right move, but as the articale have stated, some of these women are doing it willingly. So 'forcing' them to not do it, is that right? how is that protecting human rights.
Screw the radicals. This is about 1,900 French women who want to cover their face by choice. Why should they not allowed to do so? Because it's stupid? Superstitious? different? No one stops me from not taking a shower and that's stupid. No one stops me from carrying around a rabbit's foot and that's superstitious. No one stops me from choosing an abusive wife/husband and that's self-oppression. No one stops me from committing suicide. No one stops me from wearing a spider man mask and that covers my face. Essentially, the French government have come to a number of opinions: 1) that it should not be on display in secular society because it is a religious symbol. Are we going to start asking Jews to get nose jobs? (no offense to Jews, I have an enormous nose lol) 2) That it should not be in display because it is a symbol of oppression. Since when do governments decide things like this? I think the French flag is a symbol of oppression based on its history. Not everyone agrees with me. Should we ban it? or should we stop being oppressive? Nike shoes are a symbol of oppression. Think about it. Niqabi: "Hold on. You're saying I... am forbidden... from covering MYself... by MY choice.. in MY country.. I can't cover myself?" French Gov't: "Nope. I have bad dreams when I see it in public. You can wear it at home." Niqabi: "That's the only place I don't wear it." French Gov't: "Thing is... people will accept you much more easily this way." Niqabi: "It's not the actual sheet of clothing that stops me from integrating more. I am a minority and I am from a conservative background - IN MY HEAD, NOT ON MY FACE. Plus, your constant printing in people's heads that I'm an opressed slave of an abusive terrorist makes breaking the ice way more difficult for me." French Gov't: "Whatever. Despite the fact that you are not oppressed and the laws of this country provide you with sufficient protections for your freedom, I must ask you to stop doing what you want to do. Because... what was the first thing I said? yeah that."
If you stood up for freedom of speech in the other thread, then it's quite hypocritical to support this move by France. This is a far greater example of real intrusion on free speech.
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Very astute observation. The supposed champions of free speech from the May 20 thread are very absent from this, and much less vocal, even though this is a greater threat to free speech.
Yes, the hypocrisy and willful ignorance never ceases to amaze. Perhaps they just feel their rights are more valuable than that of Muslims?
If someone wants to draw a picture of Muhammad, wear a veil or wear a trash bag over one's body its their choice. A free society should allow all these activities despite how silly some are. People could see me wearing a suit and think i'm being oppressed.
For the people who support this real intrusion into freedom of choice and some of the people taking pleasure in the idea of drawing Muhammad and offending everyone, the point was NEVER about freedom of speech or freedom of expression. Like I said in the other topic, this is nothing but a red herring designed to distract from the real agenda of people like AroundTheWorld, and that is namely anti-Muslim bigotry and general Islamophobia. Once a rational person examines the facts, and clearly sees the contradictory statements made in support of or in defense of perceived intrusions on private choice, you suddenly realize that the other side has no principled position which they across the board and in a variety of cases. Once you realize the hypocrisy, then the only plausible conclusion is the fact that there is one commonality in all of these cases, which is the identity of the subjects: Muslims. Of course bigots would never admit their bigotry (think the "Black friend" defense), which is why I can genuinely say that I respect people like the neo-Nazis and the KKK a whole lot more than closet bigots, for at least they have the gals to stand up and freely express their beliefs and fight for what they believe in. Closet bigots, on the other hand, are far more dangerous as they lurk in the background and wield real power in society, and they use it to bring their belief system into existence/enforcement in the larger society. Maybe next time their agenda will be more transparent to some of you who were on the fence regarding their real intentions. And this is coming from someone who believes that the full body veil absolutely should be banned in some instances where security and transparency is paramount, which is the case in many Muslim countries themselves.
What you posted reinforces my point exactly. In Europe they are worried about the integration of Muslims.
I like the part of the law that deals with FORCING the women to wear it, that should be punishable as it is clearly oppressing in nature. However, if someone chooses to wear one, then why not let them? I do agree that any drivers license should show the entire face, and if approached by an officer and asked to remove it (like for a driving offense etc), they should comply. Let them choose whether to wear it or not. Empowering the women = good Taking away their choice to choose is contradictory. BTW- thanks to all the bigots for putting words into my mouth...much appreciated. Like this post: DD
I would bet quite a bit of money that the most bigoted and close-minded are the extremist Muslim groups.
