Matt-Chicago wrote:Man did really nobody get my point?
I said longer than the white man in AMERICA - which believe it or not was founded well after the 5th century. That was only in response to people who have attitudes about Muslims somehow being OUTSIDERS in France. I was pointing out the absurdity of the "go back where you came from" style arguments.
Saying "the Muslims"... what is that supposed to mean? Do you honestly think there is just some big group of people who all agree with things like burqas and stonings? Do you really think that a Muslim in France who's family comes from Africa centuries ago is somehow responsible for the injustices of the Taliban or the religious police of Saudi Arabia? If you really do hold that view, I hope you never have to look in the mirror at your own heritage, race, religion, etc or be held responsible for views you don't hold or actions you don't take.
I haven't even said what I thought of the law, only pointed out how prejudice seems to cloud the debate.
As far as terrorists, does covering your face really give you that much of an advantage? What about a big fake beard/mustache, maybe with some sun glasses? Should that be banned too? If I have the flu, can I wear a respiratory mask? Does a certain percentage of my real face/hair have to be showing? What should that be legislated as?
France has had a vote on if concealment of the face should be allowed and the majority of people have indicated there should be no concealment. In a democratic society this has been done correctly.
If you have a law of one country and then another group wants a separate law just for them then that would be a very dangerous way to govern a country plus those people are then segregating themselves from the main body of that country by that very act. If a country allows freedom to worship, build temples and wear different attire can they then can they not also state they do not think certain elements of a religion has no place in their own country? If not then you have an Islamic mini state (as an example) within another country and before you know it that state begins to grow, request more rights and the minority becomes the majority and the heritage of one country
could be eroded and so could democracy itself.
You also need to look at the French-style integration model, based on acceptance of their society’s values and how concealment of the face does not fit to the constitutional model in France. The French think that concealment violates human dignity and equality which is not in the best interest of the French people.
There is religious tolerance across the world but if you attempt to compare religious tolerance in France with Saudi Arabi then you cannot. France allows worship, building of mosques etc but is that the case in the proportion of Islamic state across the world. If France has indicated one element of that religion is not conducive to the population then they are in their rights to do this.
When you look at how an Islamic state governs the people do you really see other religions or groups of people being allowed their own laws and freedom to worship and spread the word of that religion? The Islamic majority indicate ‘
you live here and you abide by our rules’ however in some of these countries they go even further and put financial or personal penalties (including death) upon anyone violating their sovereign/religious laws.
France is stating they don’t want concealment as it is not want the people want, it divides and or segregates a percentage of the population, it is not in the best interest of women and that country has got their way, so far. There is still the human rights element and European law to wade through as I have no doubt that there will be pressure from these groups to lift the concealment ban.
SWINE FLU wrote:Just because Muslim countries do not let us follow Christianity, does not mean that we have to ban Muslim's veils, WD.
Equally so SwineFlue does it mean France need to allow Muslims to wear veils if not in the best interest of the population?
I think that Jamwin, burzerker, MinasThirith, WD-40 and Yanoda have reiterated a number of these points made in this thread also in their threads and others also are in agreement with why France has passed such a law.
Regards,
Kren