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Edwynn -> RE: France bans face covering veil (burqa) (4/11/2011 12:20:10 PM)
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France has long been a secular state and because of all the troubles historically attributable to religious conflict has made several laws to formally establish itself as such, the most fundamental one being enacted in 1905. The ban on wearing of yarmulkes, burqas, or large crosses in public schools in 2004 was enacted as an application of this law. This latest law is just extending application of the 1905 law further, and in line with the 2004 law.
Italy has had such a law in place since 1975, being fortunate enough to have done it before the question became such a media soccer ball. From the various things I've read on public religious display before and now just recently, the vast majority of Europeans are in favor of this. The majority of European Muslims also seem to be mostly in favor, or, if not actually wishing a ban nevertheless understand the sensibilities and concerns of European countries regarding ostentatious religious display. To attempt to claim ex post facto that the face covering is strictly a matter of personal modesty is dishonest. The quote I hear most often from the women who attire thusly is "it is a sign of submission to God."
Unlike in the US where a small but inordinately shrill minority claim that "this is a Christian Nation!" and unfortunately has law making supporters of allowing the cross and/or ten commandments in public schools or public buildings, very few European citizens want any part of overt religious sensibilities at all concerning either government or ostentatious public display.
It's Europe, not the US. Applying US sensibilities to another country or region of the world with a different history and different modern sensibilities than ours would only legitimize numerous claims of US hubris. Claiming to know another peoples' motivations or prescribing how they should go about their business; how's that been working out the last 8 years or so?
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