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Monday, June 22, 2009

Sarkozy Says No To Burqa Wearing in France
Posted by Melina | 1:21 PM


In a show of real balls, French President Nikolas Sarkozy told the French Parliament that the wearing of burqas represents an unacceptable form of "enslavement."
The New York Times reports today that Sarkozy is drawing a line when it comes to something that he finds unacceptable in French society.

The issue of the burqa is not a religious issue, it is a question of freedom and of women’s dignity,” Mr. Sarkozy said in a sober address in which he frequently looked at his notes. “The burqa is not a religious sign, it is a sign of the subjugation, of the submission of women.”

“I want to say solemnly that it will not be welcome on our territory,” he said to enthusiastic applause.


Sarkozy's unusual appearance before Parliament was the result of changes brought about by his party, allowing the President to speak directly to Parliment, and his speech was mainly concerning the economic crisis. The issue of the spread of burqa wearing is a hot button issue in France, and there has been much debate about how to deal with it. The French Muslim Council expressed relief that the tone of the President's speech was respectful of Islam, but firm on the point that burqa wearing is not welcomed in France. The Muslim Council urges a less conservative form of Muslim practice and does not encourage the wearing of the burqa.

This issue is important as a woman's rights issue, of course, but its also a huge social statement by a pretty liberal society that might just as easily try to take the politically correct way out, as America tends to do. The fact is that not only does the hard line conservative Islam create a difficult life for women, but it creates an unintegrated society in which there is a subclass of people who are unable to live full, safe lives. The burqa also creates a huge responsibility for the men in the society because along with it comes all the rules for how a woman moves around, often requiring men to accompany them and watch over them, creating another layer of responsibility for already overburdened families.

Say what you will about the French, but in a world where the line between the extremists who would go and blow themselves up over an issue like this, and the political correctness of trying to allow for religious freedom, grows ever finer, Sarkozy kicked some ass and made a strong statement about what is expected of those who wish to live in France. This is not a free speech/personal choice/religious issue, but an issue of ingrained abuse of women that is making a comeback in certain areas, and which is disruptive to the entire society. The women may say that they want to wear these garments, but this is beyond what any one person wants; its what is demanded by a free and fair society that is taking into account all of it's citizens.





RIP Coco

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4 Comments:
Blogger Bob said...
Thanks, Melina. I always tell the same story about the burqua. K Mart parking lot, brutally hot July afternoon in Central Jersey, to set the scene. Luxury car, a Lexus or something pulls in. Out steps the driver, a Middle Eastern-looking man. Mustache, no beard. He's wearing sandals, bermuda shorts, tropical shirt, sunglasses. Out steps the passenger, a woman in full black burqua with eye slit. She walks a few behind him to the K Mart entrance. I had to fight an impulse to shout terrible insults at him & yell at her, "He has no legal right to make you wear that." I could easily imagine that she spoke little or no English, was a stranger in a strange land. K Mart she understood.

Of course, America has baby factories like the Satmar Hasidic enclave of Kiryas Joel NY, from which there is no escape for women (or men) except into total exile & separation from family, a decision women have to make very young & without a good education. There are American Hindus devoted to gurus who claim not to have even smelled a woman since they left their mother's breast. & they are, surprisingly, affluent South Indians with highly educated professional women who sit in a separate room & listen to the guru through loudspeakers.

It seems to help if there's some goddess worship or tradition of strong clan females, which allows for an Indira Gandhi or Benazir Bhutto, who encouraged a cult following, but were assassinated.
6/22/09, 5:36 PM  
Anonymous mandt said...
Down with the Burquaa Curtain! Mr. Sarkozy "Tear down that rag!" Oh, please, Sarkozy of all people....
6/22/09, 8:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Next thing you know Sarko's going to expect everyone in France to speak French and have arrived legally!

Oh wait... France already does expect that. It's only in America that expectations of legal immigration, a national language and sartorial conformity from etnic minorities is anathema.
6/23/09, 11:06 AM  
Blogger jeff house said...
"Sarkozy kicked some ass and made a strong statement about what is expected of those who wish to live in France. This is not a free speech/personal choice/religious issue...."

Choice of clothing is SYMBOLIC speech. If I wear a Confederate flag t-shirt or a slinky gown, I am speaking symbolically to the observer.

Millions of Muslims born in France must have equal rights of citizenship with other French citizens.

The President of France doesn't decide who gets to live in France, nor what they must wear.

He is just sounding off for the yahoos.

Ask yourself: what if Obama said that yarmulkas couldn't be worn in the US? Or that no one could wear a turban? The racist content would be easy to spot, as is the case with the burkha prohibition.
6/26/09, 3:57 PM  
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