Really, I know it's 'old news', but it's been on my mind since I talked about it with a friend at Uni last week.
She is for the ban, I, against.
Yes I GET IT that the burqa and niqab hides the face/body of a woman.
Yes I GET IT that some women don't actually have a choice and are forced to wear it by their family/communities.
Yes I GET IT that it has been seen as a symbol of oppression by many and a sign of 'backwardness' by some.
BUT I just don't think that's the point here!
What's really at issue is the law - not the practice of wearing burqas/niqabs.
We're talking about a law that TARGETS a specific religious group, and a specific practice of that group.
We're talking about a law that not just bans all 'ostentatious religious symbols', but SINGLES out a particular one.
We're talking about a law that just doesn't seem EQUAL in any sense of the word!
We're NOT talking about whether it's desirable or not for women to continue wearing the burqa/niqab!
Look. I know it IS a related issue, but when considering whether or not to support the ban, reasons like - the ban is good because we need to 'liberate' these women from these oppressive practices - are simply not to the point. Yes, maybe that's true. Yes, maybe some things need to be changed. But nothing's really changed if you've simply replaced one form of oppression by another!
...
Alright, you want to ban the burqa/niqab? Fine. Then take it one step further. Why not ban ALL religious symbols in public? Ban the wearing of the Christian Cross. Ban the wearing of the Jewish Kippah.
But why stop there?
Look at the buildings all around you. Carvings of crosses and cherubs, stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes... the ARCHITECTURE is replete with religious symbols! They're in public, aren't they? That's an affront to a secular society, isn't it? Then why not....?
...
First, women are 'forced' to wear the veil. Now, women are 'forced' NOT to wear the veil. I REALLY DON'T SEE A DIFFERENCE! Why are women being DICTATED to about what they should or should not wear? The substance of the oppression has changed, but the oppression itself remains - just under another guise. And you risk creating greater problems of exclusion and enmity.
Awesome guys, pat in the back.
