Bullshit and Banning the Burqa
On September 14th France became the first European country to nationally ban all face covering veils, including the niqab traditionally worn by women practicing the Islamic faith. "...France now joins Iran and Saudi Arabia as countries that tell its police force to use their time to inspect women’s garments," (Dr. John R. Bowen, the Dunbar-Van Cleve Professor in Arts & Sciences).
Really. Really?! So, let me get this straight. France is now forcing women to expose their faces in public, when it goes against their cultural doctrine and faith. Can we say violation of religious freedom ten times fast?
Let me make myself very, very clear. I do not want to be a part of a religion whose conservative extremists believe that women are the root and/or seed of temptation in the world and therefore should be covered up and subjugated. Neither do I want to be a part of a religion whose conservative right-wingers believe anyone from the Middle East is a terrorist and an infidel.
I am American, and I believe in freedom.
Freedom.
This means I believe all people have the right to worship God however they see fit, as long as it does not violate the inherent rights of others. Yes, this means that I will defend your right to keep yourself covered if that is the way you feel closer to God. See how that works? I want my rights to religious freedom protected, so I am going to protect your rights to religious freedom.
Salvation is not salvation when it's coerced. You cannot liberate someone from their beliefs at gun point. If France believes they are freeing these women from a hellish regime, they're greatly misguided.
This has been an on-going controversy for some time. Many schools in France were beginning to ban the wearing of the burqa on school property. There were probably quite a few young women who felt liberated by this opportunity and are now experiencing life in a different light. There are others, I'm sure, who were ashamed to show their hair and faces because, to them, living modestly is a way of being faithful to God. Now, on a nation wide scale, all women must keep their faces exposed.
Intolerance, thy name is France.
Look Europe, I know you have a long history of religious bias, but you're giving the rest of the Western world a bad name. You should be ashamed of yourselves. The European Union is going to review this new law and hopefully force a repeal. If you are truly interested in liberating women (especially Muslim women) give them access to education and resources, give them options, and strengthen their resolve to be independent. Give them a choice. Otherwise you will be as bad as the conservative religious leaders and cultural patriarchs who insist on their inferiority.
Does a government need to step in when women are being stoned to death? Yes. Does a government need to interfere when girls are being castrated and their genitalia mutilated? A thousand times, yes. Does a government have an obligation to ensure that all its citizens have equal access to education? Of course. So where do we draw the line between people's rights and their religions? It comes down to coercion. A government should protect its citizens right to freedom, and a life without coercion.
There are plenty of educated, successful, independent Muslim women in the world who keep their hair, and sometimes their faces, covered out of respect and modesty. Forcing them to stop isn't liberation; it's a violation. Pope Pius XI once said to his delegation to Libya, "Do not think you are going among infidels. Muslims attain too Salvation. The ways of Providence are infinite."
Outside of gross human right's violations, what right do we have to judge the way people strive for salvation? Who are we to judge an individual's relationship to God?
As an American I feel pride and gratitude that my nation has a separation between church and state, and that we practice freedom of religious worship. The more you travel, the more you see the truth of other countries- the more you understand how good American life is. No one can decapitate you for praying the "wrong" way. No one can tell you the name of your God, or force you to believe in God at all. No one can tell you what to wear or how to wear it. This freedom should be celebrated. It should be appreciated. We should do all in our power to defend the spirit of this freedom- because if we defend it now, if we defend it for other people, if the day comes when our rights are violated, someone else will be there to defend us.
Really. Really?! So, let me get this straight. France is now forcing women to expose their faces in public, when it goes against their cultural doctrine and faith. Can we say violation of religious freedom ten times fast?
Let me make myself very, very clear. I do not want to be a part of a religion whose conservative extremists believe that women are the root and/or seed of temptation in the world and therefore should be covered up and subjugated. Neither do I want to be a part of a religion whose conservative right-wingers believe anyone from the Middle East is a terrorist and an infidel.
I am American, and I believe in freedom.
Freedom.
This means I believe all people have the right to worship God however they see fit, as long as it does not violate the inherent rights of others. Yes, this means that I will defend your right to keep yourself covered if that is the way you feel closer to God. See how that works? I want my rights to religious freedom protected, so I am going to protect your rights to religious freedom.
Salvation is not salvation when it's coerced. You cannot liberate someone from their beliefs at gun point. If France believes they are freeing these women from a hellish regime, they're greatly misguided.
This has been an on-going controversy for some time. Many schools in France were beginning to ban the wearing of the burqa on school property. There were probably quite a few young women who felt liberated by this opportunity and are now experiencing life in a different light. There are others, I'm sure, who were ashamed to show their hair and faces because, to them, living modestly is a way of being faithful to God. Now, on a nation wide scale, all women must keep their faces exposed.
Intolerance, thy name is France.
Look Europe, I know you have a long history of religious bias, but you're giving the rest of the Western world a bad name. You should be ashamed of yourselves. The European Union is going to review this new law and hopefully force a repeal. If you are truly interested in liberating women (especially Muslim women) give them access to education and resources, give them options, and strengthen their resolve to be independent. Give them a choice. Otherwise you will be as bad as the conservative religious leaders and cultural patriarchs who insist on their inferiority.
Does a government need to step in when women are being stoned to death? Yes. Does a government need to interfere when girls are being castrated and their genitalia mutilated? A thousand times, yes. Does a government have an obligation to ensure that all its citizens have equal access to education? Of course. So where do we draw the line between people's rights and their religions? It comes down to coercion. A government should protect its citizens right to freedom, and a life without coercion.
There are plenty of educated, successful, independent Muslim women in the world who keep their hair, and sometimes their faces, covered out of respect and modesty. Forcing them to stop isn't liberation; it's a violation. Pope Pius XI once said to his delegation to Libya, "Do not think you are going among infidels. Muslims attain too Salvation. The ways of Providence are infinite."
Outside of gross human right's violations, what right do we have to judge the way people strive for salvation? Who are we to judge an individual's relationship to God?
As an American I feel pride and gratitude that my nation has a separation between church and state, and that we practice freedom of religious worship. The more you travel, the more you see the truth of other countries- the more you understand how good American life is. No one can decapitate you for praying the "wrong" way. No one can tell you the name of your God, or force you to believe in God at all. No one can tell you what to wear or how to wear it. This freedom should be celebrated. It should be appreciated. We should do all in our power to defend the spirit of this freedom- because if we defend it now, if we defend it for other people, if the day comes when our rights are violated, someone else will be there to defend us.
Amen!
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