Comments on: Beyond the Veil

By: Bonnie Jean Burris

Bonnie Jean Burris — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:31:37 +0000

Perhaps we all see through a veil of our own design. Some of these comments appear to indicate blindness no doubt inflicted 9/11/01. I have a Muslim friend from Malaysia who wears a scarf and, while I have never asked if she does so by choice, she is a beautiful, vivacious woman in her early forties, computer literate and cell phone addicted. A childhood friend of my mother (I was named for her) spent several years in Saudi Arabia in the 1950-1960s and as a child I was in awe of the exotic stories she told. She loved living there and the people she met. Her husband worked as an engineer for an oil company and I wonder if western presence there for the sole purpose of removing their natural resource changed the relationship and allowed the fanatics to gain influence.
There is also a tone in some of the comments suggesting an attitude toward Arabs as mentally deficient and it might be helpful to remember the library in Alexandria, the pyramids and long history of contributions to math, science, art and literature.

By: mary2

mary2 — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:07:31 +0000

Funny thing is that Quebec, Canada, where the law is being passed to forbid the headmask (niqab) wearers from receiving or offering public services, benefits, etc. in public places, there is a SECULAR SOCIETY that prevents ostentatious religious funding for schools, etc. Heavily Catholic earlier, the Quebecers were fed up with Religious Fanatics in their province, and have gone Secular all the way! They’re the most progressive, socially, of all provinces in Canada together with Ontario. The problem with the U.S. is that a bunch of religious overbearing zealots have turned to politics to continue their messgae of hatred….

By: mary2

mary2 — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:04:22 +0000

Great article! In QUEBEC,Canada, a new law is being passed to prohibit women in covered headgear/faces to apply for any public services and for those in government to be covering their face. The rest of Canada has not, but overwhelmingly, that country supports Quebec’s initiative. Canada provides overwhelming support for women’s services, domestic abuse victim shelters and new immigrant education for women.
But still this is an issue that deals with PUBLIC SAFETY and niqab it’s argued, should not be tolerated any more than some one wearnign a headface mask to rob a bank. IDENTITY and Public Safety are the real issues.
But, of course, the article is right, rather than confront the real problem, the surface is only touched by such laws….

By: CarlaforHillary

CarlaforHillary — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:21:11 +0000

I’m not really in agreement with this article, I don’t care what reason burkas are banned – It is subjective any way you look at the issue – just as long as they are banned. What does it matter the reason? Feminists here do seem to have their rights mixed up with respect to the burka.

“They have a right to wear them, but not the right to take them off?” Well, then it isn’t really a right then is it?

Burkas are not a sign of religous freedom, they are a sign of religous oppression. Any woman that says she “wants” to wear a burka is under pressure or has been indoctrinated into that way of thinking.

By: Visitor

Visitor — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:25:24 +0000

Suggesting men wear burqas advances the argument not one whit and in fact trivializes it. Men wearing burqas will never happen. Let’s focus on reality.

One commenter hit the nail on the head when he/she pointed out that if this ban goes into effect, the women will be shunned by their families. Just because a European government makes a declaration to advance the cause of women doesn’t mean the whole family will magically get with the program. No. Many of these women would be shunned by their families and communities. Then where would they go?

We all agree that burqas are offensive to the eye and a symbol of repression. But going after symbols is a coward’s way out.

The point is that these governments have come up with a band-aid solution that makes people feel like they’ve “done something” when in fact nothing has been accomplished. Too often the women so many of you express concern for are horribly abused by their fathers, brothers and in-laws (and in the case of female genital mutilation, their mothers and female relatives). European leaders would be using their time and energies more productively if they focused on helping women escape the brutality they endure at home, or stopping forced marriages before they take place. But for that women need to know what their rights are. Funding education and law enforcement programs that focus on these communities would be far more productive than issuing bans.

By: lorac

lorac — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 07:54:57 +0000

Except it’s the children who, instead of staying home and working to fix their own country, come here and demand with frequent marches, that they be given amnesty and they also want the southwest given back to them (even though they took them from the Indians)…. They usually march with the Mexican flag…..

By: Michelle from the Resistance

Michelle from the Resistance — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:32:43 +0000

I’m sorry, the guy is addictive, with that whole “making sense” shtick and British sarcasm. I’m a big fan of Pat Condell and I’m not even an atheist, can you imagine that?

By: Michelle from the Resistance

Michelle from the Resistance — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:22:47 +0000

I’m glad I can help.

By: Michelle from the Resistance

Michelle from the Resistance — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:22:02 +0000

I’m sorry for not answering sooner, I’m stuck in a different time zone (Middle F…ing East). So if it’s not too late:
Michelle from the Resistance is a character from an old BBC sitcom called Allo Allo:

(Just for reference: It takes place in France during WWII, a fantastic and totally un-pc show)

By: lorac

lorac — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:36:09 +0000

So all of the policies that you objected to when Bush did them, now that Obama is continuing them, you’re standing up to Obama? Nope. You’re eating it because now it’s your guy doing it. Talk about hypocritical…..

By: lorac

lorac — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:33:21 +0000

Why don’t you just say why you can’t pick an identifiable screen name like everyone else?

By: lorac

lorac — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:27:38 +0000

ROFL Ferd

By: EllenD

EllenD — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:21:36 +0000

Here’s the problem as I have always seen it. Repressive societies and individuals use the goodness of our free society against us. It is seen as a sign of our weakness.

A recent poll of Muslims in Europe showed that French Muslims thought of themselves as Muslims first and French second. With non-Muslims their country came first and religion second.

I say save your culture, France, and anyone who doesn’t like it can leave on the next ship out.

By: lorac

lorac — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:53:59 +0000

You’re missing the point. It’s irrelevant what Ferd’s real name is. The point is that he has ONE name. There are multiple guests and you always have to try to figure out who is who.

Just answer – why don’t you pick a name?

Oh – maybe it’s too hard for sexist people who wouldn’t vote for Hillary…..

By: lorac

lorac — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:39:53 +0000

I would add: Ban the burqa, and ban the 3rd wave “feminists”!!!