I've been really bothered by this for the last few days, mostly because I realize I'm ignorant and don't read enough about certain things before developing an opinion on them (terrible, I know), but also because there are some people in my life whose opinions are SO irresponsibility uneducated and just fuckin' foolish that I feel the need to address some resounding comments I've heard about a specific topic as of late.
Okay, so, the Burqa ban in France... first of all let me just say that I KNOW THIS IS OLD NEWS, I also did not know this until recently because I just found out about it. So sue me for not watching the news on a regular basis, I'm a typical American. With that being said, before establishing my opinion on the matter, I thought there were a few basic underlying factors that I needed to work out before doing so, even if I have some sort of idea or notion as to their definitions already. 1) The definition of a burqa as opposed to a hijab/head scarf/etc., and who wears it and for what purpose. 2) The previous laws in France regarding the burqa, and the population who the law affects now. 3) Consider both arguments! No point is valid without a counterargument, and I believe this wholeheartedly in legitimately every single case I try to examine critically, although I obviously admit that bias is a difficult and nearly impossible thing to avoid.
To the best of my previous knowledge, a burqa is an all black head and body covering, only allowing the eyes and hands to show, that Muslim women are required to wear out of respect and something-else-or-other that I'm not sure of that is written in the Quran. As far as I knew, there was a religious split between women who thought this was appropriate and customary to their religion, and women who saw it as degrading and unnecessary. I don't understand the split or the religious connotations because, obviously, I am not a Muslim, neither am I a genius. That being said, I decided to actually figure out what the HELL a burqa is, who wears it, and why. Here's what I found:
Wikipedia (the most reliable source of information in the world, duh) says that it is worn by women of some Islamic traditions, and includes a loose-fitted body covering, head scarf, and face veil. The face veil with eye openings is actually a separate entity from the burqa, and is called an abaya. The term hjiab can refer to two things: one, the face veil worn by women, and two, the general modest dress that is practiced in the Muslim community. The burqa (or head/face/body covering, more accurately) varies from country to country and practice to practice. For example, in Afghanistan, the chadri covers the entire body and face, except for a small area for the eyes, which is even then covered by a type of netting. This typical covering was required under Taliban rule of the country, and in some areas of the country is still worn regularly as a form of personal safety. In Syria, they have banned the burqa in their schools, including both teachers to students. In Australia, a bill was set forth to ban the burqa, labeling it 'un-Australian,' which did not pass but did create a great deal of controversy among Australians.
As far as France's background with the burqa, I found these facts, in chronological order, starting most recently in the early 2000's. France actually banned wearing of the burqa in its public schools in 2004, labeling it a religious symbol similar to the Christian cross. In 2009, Sarkozy (France's current president) stated that burqas were not welcome in his country, and that they made women to act like prisoners who had been robbed of their identity. Early last year, commissioners barred burqa wearers from access to any public transportation or services, and later that year in July introduced a bill banning the burqa entirely. April 11, 2011 was the date that set into effect the law banning any wearing of the burqa in public, and have officially titled the bill something along the lines of 'forbidding concealing one's face in public.' Yet, the bill allows a few caveats to concealing one's face, including; helmets, masks for health reasons, fencing masks, skiing masks, or carnival attire. And get real, carnies & biker chicks are a whole hell of a lot scarier than Muslims.
France's previous president, Chirac, stands on the principle of preservation of complete freedom concerning this issue, which is in close agreement with that of the current president, Sarkozy (who is a dick). The traditional veiling of French-Muslim women is a recently new phenomenon, as far as I've found. Many French Muslims come from the surrounding Islamic centered areas, such as Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and represent a large and growing community in many French cities (especially Paris). My first inclination about these women wearing their traditional face coverings in areas outside of their home countries is simply that they are attempting to preserve their culture, and create a more conducive environment away from their home countries where they feel free and welcome to practice their religious tradition. This is also common practice in many areas of America. For example, consider the Cuban population in the state of Florida, and the huge effect they have had on the culture there from aspects such as their industry, to their culinary offerings, to their social gatherings. Also, the strong Irish influence in areas of Boston, Philadelphia, and areas of Canada. Even though much of this community has been in America for generations now, the traditions that their immigrant ancestors brought with them are still carried on today, and not only in small caveats of the communities and cities, but largely widespread into the cultural norms of the area. Examples: the Celtics, the strong Catholic influence of these areas, even to nearly unnoticeable aspects such as Irish pubs. Back to the topic at hand though, another reason that I believe can be conceivably argued as to why these women would choose to wear their traditional burqa covering in public is to have some sort of a voice and take a 'stand' more or less against the bigotry that they feel is directed at them by the French people. French parliament member Jacques Myard refers to the burqa as a 'shock to French culture,' stating that, "the face is a dignity of a person. The face is your passport, so when you refuse me to see you, I am a victim." Really? Because stripping somebody of their civil freedoms and rights isn't making them a victim of your biased conservative value system.
Much of the French argument comes from two schools of thought; the first being the feminist movement, and the second being the upholding of the French principle of laïcité (or secularism). The feminist stand is that the burqa symbolizes women's submission to men, and by permitting use of this symbol in public schools and places is allowance for other hurtful and dangerous Muslim practices against women. I will honestly say that, as a Eur-American citizen of a generally homogeneous culture, I understand this concept. I would feel absolutely violated if I had to wear a burqa covering my entire body and face, because it is against my personal beliefs as well as my cultural understanding of the way my society operates. However, I do not support this concept when it comes to taking away another person's religious, cultural, and societal freedoms that they were born with from whatever country they call home. A woman born in Iran is bound to have completely opposite traditions and viewpoints on many matters than a woman born in a Western European country. When it comes to a subject that hails from these Middle Eastern countries, how can somebody from outside of that area consider their opinion more important and deem it more 'holy' or virtuous than a woman from that area's, simply because they believe it is right? Isn't this a classic case of ethnocentrism (cultural bigotry, at best)? Why don't we fucking outlaw women being under 100 pounds in America, if we are on the track of wanting to uphold women's rights and the belief that being underweight is not healthy, and is simply a societal pressure. The feminist argument against the burqa is basically the same, considering the wearing of such garments a societal pressure rather than a personal choice.
The second school of thought on the banning of the burqa comes from the laïcité response, which is the secularism that France so prides itself on, an argument I tend to understand much simpler. The wearing of the veil signifies belonging to a religion, which is against the unity of the laïcité French public. The government's position in this line of reasoning is to ban the wearing of religious articles in its public schools. However, I highly doubt that a French student wearing a Catholic cross around her neck would be fined the same amount a student wearing a face veil would be. I also don't think a French-Jewish student with a big chai emblazoned across her shirt would face a penalty similar to the penalties for wearing a burqa. The reason I use these examples in particular is because France is home to the largest communities of Jewish and Muslim people in Western Europe.
The argument from the opposition to the ban in France is as follows: around 30% of the population of France is against the ban. Around 10% of France's population is Muslim. The main outcry at the ban has come from two groups, the first being a French feminist collective that sees the ban as a manifestation of colonial sentiments (basically, as I understand it, robbing the Muslim community of the only thing that separates them from the homogeneity of the French community - a type of colonial culturalization). The other group is, with obvious reasoning, Islamic feminists, who understand the ban as neocolonialism, and more of an ethnic battle than a religious one.
This brings me to my big question: what about civil rights? Is this ban not anti-religious in nature? Does it not strip Muslim women of their right to freely practice their religion? Does the simple wearing of a burqa really harm anybody? And who decides that the state has the right to ban a religious practice that is neither harmful nor attempting to proselytize to the general public. I am more offended by a Mormon person banging on my door at 9 in the morning on the weekend to invite me to meet Jesus than I am by a woman minding her own damn business and wearing a face veil in my classroom. If we could make proselytizing illegal you bet I'd vote yes. Also, while we're at it banning people's religious practices, can we at least ban something totally fucked up and make Westboro Baptist Church stop protesting military funerals? As far as arrests from the ban are concerned, the big story that hit the media most recently (this week, I believe) was the arrest of two French-Muslim women who were participating in a demonstration. They were not arrested for wearing the burqa, but rather for being a part of a 'illegal' demonstration against the burqa ban, which is actually even more ludicrous to me than if they were to be arrested for the wearing of the banned garment. Because to me, that seems like a direct violation of the right to free speech and public demonstration, strangling the French people's opposition to the ban and silencing their opinions through force. The following clip is quite biased journalism, but is interesting nonetheless.
I can honestly say that the opinion of Muslim women regarding American women are culturally portrayed is spot on, and they do not want their religion to be seen as anything similar to that. In this opinion, Western culture is seen as condeming women to sexual licentiosuness and pornography. And I simply can't understand why they wouldn't want in on that! (sarcasm). This self discussion is really going nowhere, as I didn't intend it to a few hours ago when I begun it, except in hopes of not only educating myself, but also whoever is willing to take the time to read my spewings. Yes, this issue makes me angry. Yes, I am willing and open to hearing both sides of the debate. Yes, after reviewing the facts I am secure in my previous feelings (as stated earlier I was worried may be a biased and uneducated at best) that this ban is absolutely wrong. I am baffled as to why and how people can justify supporting something like this after being presented with the factual evidence from not only Muslim women, but women like me, men, Westerners, and others outside of the Mulsim faith that support the freedom and choice of any Muslim woman to wear a burqa as a religious symbol. Like a said before, if you can dress up in a nice suit and bother me when I'm hungover on a Sunday afternoon, then she should at the same time be able to wear her face covering as a symbol of her religious expression and freedom.
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