Political Morsels and Other Droppings

I had read that President Sarkozy stated yesterday that he wants to do away with burqas in France saying that it turns women into “prisoners behind a screen.” 

He went onto say, “The burqa is not a religious sign, it’s a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement – I want to say it solemnly. It will not be welcome in the territory of the French Republic.”

I’m not too surprised since France sort of forces assimilation to those who immigrate to the country.  However, I disagree with forcing someone to wear or not wear clothing that they feel is part of their religious practice.  I have encountered women wearing burqas at the grocery store and haven’t really thought twice about it. Granted, it must suck walking around in something that covers everything, except the eyes in the middle of a hot and muggy Maryland summer. However, I have no business judging someone’s clothing when I would prefer that she not judge me for what I wear.  

The pharmacist who I deal with the most often with my prescriptions wears a headscarf.  One of my favorite deli people (at a different grocery store) also wears a headscarf.  Depending on when I go to my gym in the evening, I run into another woman who also wears a headscarf (and wears clothing that fully covers her arms and legs.).  I also run into a few other various and sundry women with headscarves at restaurants and other public places on a daily basis.  In fact, there are even a few Muslim families who live in my development.  Every single Muslim woman I have knowingly spoken with (as some do not cover their heads) has been polite, articulate, and have seemed pretty darn happy to me.  It’s hard to say the same about many other people I have run into.  Granted, they don’t have the friendliest stance towards the gay community, but the Roman Catholics and the Mormons aren’t opening their arms either… officially, that is. On an individual level, all sorts of folks are tolerant. 

I think that in every culture there are a percentage of men who do mistreat their female counterparts and/or look down upon them.  It even happens here in the United States in Christian households. Shocking, isn’t it? The Islamic world is one that is of great mystery to most of the Western world.  We are so quick to transfer those images of Afghanistan, and (currently) Iran into our minds of what the entire Islamic world must be like, when that isn’t the case.  It isn’t a religion that preaches violence.  Just like Christianity and Judaism are peaceful religions.  Granted, those who attacked us on 9/11 were Islamic Extremists. However, Oklahoma City bombing was due to an American who was a Roman Catholic, not a foreign terrorist.

So, I think the big issue that people like President Sarkozy have with the idea of burqas is that messes it with the comfort level.  When things appear different from the norm it can make people very uncomfortable.  I think that’s more the case than an issue of women’s rights.  It’s an issue of religious intolerance.  What’s next, no yamakas because men should be able to show off their heads?  I think not.

Filed under: political morsel Tagged: | Burqa, France, Islam, Muslim, President Sarkozy, Religious Tollerance