Secularism's Attempt to Veil Religion

Much as I would like to leap to the defense of individual choices of religious observance, such as burqa wearing, I can not. I am sorry, but there is no shortage of things done in the name of religion that have no place in a free and progressive society. No place at all. While some women may "choose" to wear the burqa, this choice, free though it may be, still springs from notions of some inherent human "sinfulness". This is a common theme in all the Abrahamic religions. The chador, hijab, and burga are just a few manifestations of the hangups that have plagued religious leaders (all of them men) for millenia.
What say we stop making women feel like they have something to be ashamed of?

Is the burka welcome in America? I would say not. Tolerated - yes, but seen by many as a vague (or even pointed) thumbing of the nose at our culture and a deliberate indication of the unwillingness of some immigrants to fit into our society. One wonders why they come here. As for the archbishop, the paranoia of religion people is wondrous to behold. The burka is not prescribed by religion - show me where in scripture you find that it is! This is a cultural issue and Sarkozy is within his rights to institute this - it is popular in France and let me say would be popular here too and would also be popular in the bishop's own country - which is where he should go if he wants to make silly statements.

Oh, if only YOU and all other men were compelled to wear this thing! Then, I'm sure it would be banned as inhuman...what's lawful and reasonable for one would seem entirely different if others were compelled to live with the consequences also...
What a big man from your protected ivory tower! Why not start wearing your own burka today in solidarity? Go ahead, we're waiting...

Are you living in the real world? Or a protected, wealthy environment where you go to nice cocktail parties, and your kids elite schools, and all you know are other well-educated, respectful, polite folks. Come down to earth a bit and visit our other world...I cannot believe you defend the burka! How would your precious cocktail parties flow, if all the women guests were wering them, your children's school's, your workplace...go ahead, tell me!
I suppose you willingly allow any heinous practice and its expression in our public places...Is there any practice you would ban? For Heaven's sake! We forbid every inhuman thing, from cock-fighting, dog-fighting, protect every species, protect children and ban drugs that may harm...yet clothe this practice in religion and everyone it all for it. Most of these commentators will not be running into hordes of women such as these on their streets as so feel quite comfortable with the occasional apparition...Thanks alot all you high-minded folks...You are safe knowing you won't have to really live with the consequences...

More demonizing 'secularism' as 'wanting to push religion off the map.'

The burqa is something designed to *prevent* Muslim women from being part of the society around them. A secular society has to do what it can to *allow people to be free.* Not to *allow people to isolate and handicap 'their' women in the name of religion.

I don't think the French 'solution' would fly in America. In America, of course, anti-secularists are often among those demanding *school uniforms* ...and sex-segregated ones at that: others want school uniforms as an *equalizer* in terms of perceived social status and all the other stuff.

The important thing here is to make sure that the public school is a place where kids are free to take the 'burqa' (real or metaphorical,) *off,* if they so desire. A government can't support turning schools *into* an environment that enforces religious observances.

Where kids can be made to feel *obligated,* even, to turn schools into such kinds of places.

If Muslim girls are made to wear the burqa in schools, ...can they also be prohibited from speaking to classmates? Hrm, how about being taught science with evolution? How about reading? How about phys ed?

Hrm. Touchy, that.

In America, we certainly are supposed to come down on the side of individual freedom in public institutions. (Even so, anti-secularist types are sure willing to write Pagan kids up for showing even a discreet little pent when encouraging crosses and permitting heavy-metal shirts.) Often the solution *is* to ban overt religious symbols and such.

There's 'reasonable accomodation,' and then there's being complacent in *inequity.*

In America, we do things differently. At least ideally. And not always so uniformly. France has a different way about it, and their own history and situation.

Anyway, maybe you can make kids wear something at home, but school ought to be another matter. If you want the schools in another country to enable parents to blame their girls for not hiding from the world, making the school an extension of other situations, then that's on you.