Fashion Fascism
So Jack Straw and Salman Rushdie do not like Moslem women wearing veils.
My opinion: tough.
They believe that the veil is a symbol of separation - something that
segregates Moslem women from the rest of society. They want women to
stop wearing the veil in order to better integrate into modern Britain.
I'm sure this call will be repeated in other countries as well. It has
already been done over in France.
Well, Jack, you can encourage women to throw off their veils all you
like. That doesn't mean that they're going to do so. Their right to wear
a veil is the same as my right to not wear a tie. Maybe in a business
environment my lack of a tie is a symbol of my non-integration with the
corporate culture, I don't know. What I do know is that you can't force
me to wear a tie in order to integrate.
In the 1960s, there was a big movement in the US and elsewhere for women
to burn their bras. The bra was seen as a symbol of male domination, and
burning it was a statement of liberation. Cool. I don't mind that. But
some women chose not to burn their bras. They saw the bra as a necessary
item of clothing, not as a symbol. Some Moslem women will also choose
not to discard the veil.
Secondly, the veil is not simply a fashion statement, like leg warmers.
It is an article of modesty. You might as well encourage women to wear
outfits that expose their breasts (I know of a large number of
testosterous males who would be very supportive of that idea, but not
very many women).
Lastly, have a think about this issue going the other way. Some of the
tribesmen in New Guinea wear penis sheaths. Should Europeans in New
Guinea start wearing penis sheaths in order to better integrate with the
tribes? Why not? Is it because somehow we are better than them?
More "civilised"? Who says what is "civilised" anyway?
You cannot legislate fashion. Even less can you legislate modesty.
Salman Rushdie says that (and I quote) "the veil sucks". You are free to
believe that if you wish. But millions of women do not believe that the
veil sucks, and your cry will go unanswered.
Email post from Arthwollipot
http://www.arthwollipot.com/
My opinion: tough.
They believe that the veil is a symbol of separation - something that
segregates Moslem women from the rest of society. They want women to
stop wearing the veil in order to better integrate into modern Britain.
I'm sure this call will be repeated in other countries as well. It has
already been done over in France.
Well, Jack, you can encourage women to throw off their veils all you
like. That doesn't mean that they're going to do so. Their right to wear
a veil is the same as my right to not wear a tie. Maybe in a business
environment my lack of a tie is a symbol of my non-integration with the
corporate culture, I don't know. What I do know is that you can't force
me to wear a tie in order to integrate.
In the 1960s, there was a big movement in the US and elsewhere for women
to burn their bras. The bra was seen as a symbol of male domination, and
burning it was a statement of liberation. Cool. I don't mind that. But
some women chose not to burn their bras. They saw the bra as a necessary
item of clothing, not as a symbol. Some Moslem women will also choose
not to discard the veil.
Secondly, the veil is not simply a fashion statement, like leg warmers.
It is an article of modesty. You might as well encourage women to wear
outfits that expose their breasts (I know of a large number of
testosterous males who would be very supportive of that idea, but not
very many women).
Lastly, have a think about this issue going the other way. Some of the
tribesmen in New Guinea wear penis sheaths. Should Europeans in New
Guinea start wearing penis sheaths in order to better integrate with the
tribes? Why not? Is it because somehow we are better than them?
More "civilised"? Who says what is "civilised" anyway?
You cannot legislate fashion. Even less can you legislate modesty.
Salman Rushdie says that (and I quote) "the veil sucks". You are free to
believe that if you wish. But millions of women do not believe that the
veil sucks, and your cry will go unanswered.
Email post from Arthwollipot
http://www.arthwollipot.com/