Head Scarves Banned In Paris, Some Protest, What is your Position?

Published on September 8, 2004 By Deference In Politics

We've all heard of France's (poor) decision to ban head scarves in schools. This policy is a slap in the face to all who believe in a free society. Forget freedom fries, this is something much more important, I can't see any American (or even Frenchie) supporting this poorly devised policy that practically invites terrorism and protest. Oddly enough, there has been little protest beside the action these one hundred young women have offered. What does the JoeUser community think about this?

The link to the yahoo news article is here: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=14&u=/ap/20040908/ap_on_re_eu/france_head_scarves

Comments (Page 4)

Champas Socialist

on Sep 16, 2004

"Excuse me maam, but the French are telling NO ONE how to live!"

Ok I'm a bloke for a start, and telling someone how to live between the hours of 8 and 4 is telling someone how to live in my book.

"And you don't know that it's NOT detrimental to the other students now do you?"

Can you tell me one way in which it could possibly be detrimental to another student? Nudists generally cope with the fact that the rest of us wear clothes.

"And because this is in France you can't draw parallel's between your classroom and their's either. "

So I suppose I should also be okay with other teachers caning their students even though it is illegal (here). My parallel was drawn because we were originally asked our opinions and someone said that headscarves create a barrier to communication. I am arguing that what little difference this makes to communication does not outweigh the impingement on freedom.

"Do you honestly believe that the US will go to war with France over this???? "

No, I wasn't suggesting they would. I'm against war.

"The wearing of the full muslim headscarf is a VOLUNTARY decision, not an act of faith."

Look, I'm no Islam expert but I have met Moslems who have told me that it is part of their faith to wear a head scarf. They believe that it is to control a man's desire for them and for a woman's face to be seen is to incite desire. This is not so much a question of worship, but a question of belief.

"They are saying it is unacceptable to do so in schools."

And that is something I draw issue with. Look as to this being a moot point, no opinion expressed on joeuser is exactly likely to change the world. We wouldn't have a Current Events section if we worried about that. Americans come to my blog and express their opinions about Australian politics all the time and I welcome that.

Liberty to believe in what you believe in. Equality of Rights to follow your faith (it has already been covered how this law is harsher on Muslims than Christians). Fraternity of people respecting each other's choices and beliefs. Liberte Egalite Fraternite.

"Part of the problem lies with the Muslims themselves. Have you heard any of the non-extremeist muslims making any kind of noise about the kidnappings or beheadings? No you haven't. And the rest of the world is wondering why and getting pissed off!"

Well I don't know about your news, but yes I have. Several Muslim leaders have expressed condemnation of the WTC attacks etc. But look it's not exactly great news values to report "Muslim in street who you've never heard of before doesn't think killing is such a good thing". They'd have to go around interviewing everyone in the country to check that they don't agree with killing. It is in fact an assumption we make about people who live in democratic societies that they don't agree with these sorts of actions until they actually kill someone or express a view that killing is okay. I'd say the problem lies with someone very different to the Muslims themselves.

I am aware of the EU's ruling, and I'm cautious about condemning it, but I don't agree with everything our legal systems do. In fact there are a lot of things our legal systems do that I don't agree with: Giving only 3 year sentences to repeat padeophiles. Giving out fines only for people who kill black people (about four decades ago). Allowing the news to report paedophile cases before a conviction is recorded.
I don't believe that when you don't agree with international law you simply go in and start a war anyway, but I do believe you should make your opinions known loudly and strongly. I find it interesting that the French have only just suddenly noticed the headscarves in their classrooms and suddenly took a "secular" objection. I find it interesting that certain items of worship are fine but others aren't, as Deference pointed out very well. I think the French are going too far in trying to enforce secularism. Secularist teaching and curriculum is highly desirable, but forcing your students to be secular between the hours of 8 and 4 is in my book an affront to democratic freedom,

drmiler

on Sep 16, 2004

but I do believe you should make your opinions known loudly and strongly. I find it interesting that the French have only just suddenly noticed the headscarves in their classrooms and suddenly took a "secular" objection. I find it interesting that certain items of worship are fine but others aren't, as Deference pointed out very well. I think the French are going too far in trying to enforce secularism. Secularist teaching and curriculum is highly desirable, but forcing your students to be secular between the hours of 8 and 4 is in my book an affront to democratic freedom,

While you and I are BOTh entitled to our seperate opinion. I don't care how loudly we voice it, I think it "highly" unlikly to change a thing!

Solitair

on Sep 17, 2004

I think I'll just have to differ with you Champas and leave it like that.

Paul.

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