The burka argument

The main two arguments against it are "it's not part of our customs and culture" and "it's oppressive to women". Arguing on the premise that it is a choice, how do we expand on "it's not part of our culture"? Wearing multicoloured top hats with sunflowers and flashing lights on them isn't part of any culture I know of, but would we ban someone from wearing one of those too? I live in a very Muslim area, but don't actually see too many women wearing these. One that covers the hair, neck etc. and exposes the face I can deal with, but seeing people walk around looking like klan members really bugs me for some reason other than its sexist/oppressive connotations (towards both sexes).



Funny how the Muslim woman in the burka says that she wears it to fight against systematic sexism and its effects on women (crazy diets, plastic surgery etc.). So our solution to an image-based society is to cover everyone up? I suppose if people are discriminated because of how their voices sound we should stop people from talking.

Why would wearing a burqa be offensive to anyone? At the same time I do not think the wearing of crucifixes of symbols of Christianity should be regarded as offensive either. Each are symbols of someones faith and culture, and providing it does not harm anyone, each and every one of us should be free to wear symbols of that culture.

Regarding the womens rights issues, such a cmpaign should I feel be led by Muslim, or former Muslim women.

I dislike burkas for the following reasons.
1) It hides the identity of the person.
2) It isn't of my culture, not a great reason I know but that is it. I haven't seen many people wear burkas though, muslims in the balkans don't follow these types of practices, just like the turks.

To ban it though doesn't make sense, if people want to wear a burka that's fine. It is undeniable though to say that women are not oppressed under shariah law though. As long as it is a personal choice to wear it I am fine with it, but to argue that it somehow supports women's rights is not something I agree with. It doesn't do anything either way.

To compare this to wearing a crucifix though does not follow either, at least keep this to religious clothing.. Maybe compare it to how jews are allowed to wear their religious clothing while muslims are not allowed.

Balkan Beast wrote:To compare this to wearing a crucifix though does not follow either, at least keep this to religious clothing.. Maybe compare it to how jews are allowed to wear their religious clothing while muslims are not allowed.

Crucifixes have been banned as items of jewelery and as symbols at crematoriums. If talking of banning one item there are obviously other items that fall into the category of religious expression.

Modgardener wrote:Crucifixes have been banned as items of jewelery and as symbols at crematoriums. If talking of banning one item there are obviously other items that fall into the category of religious expression.

I wasn't aware of them being banned at crematoriums.
I know that crucifixes and other symbols have been banned in some schools, and other places though which I am against.

What's the point if it harms no one?

I think many politicians are disingenuous on this issue, in claiming that they want it banned, when assimilation, at large is no longer required. There are subcultures scattered throughout the country. Why should they then have to assimilate their manner of dress?

They are very torn between their own culture and Western culture because they can't keep to their own people. Muslim Asians coexisting with British culture are slowly losing their identity because their children often have little to no interest in it. Two cultures can't live on top of one another for too long without the minority either assimilating to the dominant culture or the subculture pushing to gain some degree of independence through establishing their own communities (as we can already see in parts of the UK). I'm not saying that Pakistani and other ethnic identities will be complete history a few generations from now though because immigrants moving into these areas and British people moving out of them tend to keep them alive and well. I'm not sure what will happen, but either way it creates a nice distraction that allows the government to get away with all sorts whilst we fight amongst ourselves and create unnecessary enemies.

Burkas should be banned just like masks, it's bad for public security, you can commit a crime and no one will identify you. In secular countries we don't even have to talk about religion bullshit, in a pragmatic way of thinking this is bad, the end.

If Muslim women want to wear a Burka in their own community's that's fine by me,but amongst the rest of us in the secular world then no.