France is trying to pass a law that will criminalize Islamic veils worn by women. The news of this proposed law is ludicrous. The Islamic veil, called a burqa, is at the center of all this attention. The burqa is the long veil worn by Muslim women in public and covers everything but the eyes. The Quran suggests that both men and women dress conservatively, but it doesn't require the veil. They are mostly worn by conservative Muslims. I understand that covering the woman's body is one point of the burqa veil. How is making it illegal to wear an Islamic veil in public and fining and imprisoning people going to reach equality? That's just crazy. You can't tell me that making it illegal to wear a Muslim veil is not based on discrimination and fear.
French lawmakers claim this proposed ban on Islamic veils are in the woman's interest. How so? They will fine her if she wears it and fine or imprison the man if he makes her wear it. This French step to equality doesn't seem right. If it is really about punishing the man making the woman wear the burqa then there should never be a fine imposed on the woman. This shows yet another inherent misunderstanding of oppression. But, that's not the only problem with the proposed French law to criminalize veils. Islamic veils are a religious symbol. How many other religions must stop wearing veils because of this proposed French law? Is that taken into account? When Spain outlawed burqas they had to amend the law because some Christian group of thousands wore veils every year at Easter. Oops, let us not hurt the Christians!
Reading about this, I don't understand Americans proclaiming that if Muslims or any other people want to come to this country then they need to abide by our rules or go home. Are you serious? Yes, regardless of the country a person is in they need to abide by the law. It always bothers me that the shoe only fits here, in the United States. This burqa ban is happening in France, but comments on the internet are telling people to "go back to their country" even when the person being oppressed is actually a native. One Muslim woman interviewed about the proposed Islamic veil ban said she wears it by choice…and she was born in France. Where should she go? By the way Americans, the majority of us are descendants of someone who came here for a better opportunity. So many forget.
To those who think banning the burqa is a great idea, think about this: how would you feel if your country decided to ban the cross? You can no longer wear a necklace with a cross on it because it is offensive, threatening, and because, really, we are afraid. I think it comes down to fear of Muslims and discrimination. It is wrong. When I hear about something like this it makes me appreciate the U.S. and my ability to be agnostic and voice my opinion. While I am not for shoving religion down anyone's throat, I am also not for taking away their symbolism, especially when it does not harm anyone. A Muslim veil does not hurt me. The lack of equality does. If we took a hard look at Christianity, I bet we could come up with some things that signify the male domination in it, but there's no way it would come to a proposal of criminalizing wear. Well, then again, I think if it was something that a woman wore it just might get there.