Posted on 12/11/2006 6:16:20 AM PST by IrishMike
It was, I feel certain, the first time that an article in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph ever triggered a national debate. In the article, written in October, its author, Jack Straw, the leader of the House of Commons and a former foreign secretary, disclosed that he asked any visitor who came to his office wearing a full Muslim veil to uncover her face when she spoke to him. Naturally, he only made this request if a female member of his staff was present. He’s a gentleman, you know.
As national debates go, it was, at least on one side, very British, a spectacle of restraint, half-truths, politeness, and denial. Many participants couldn’t bring themselves to say what they meant. Many others couldn’t possibly have meant what they said. Given that the whole controversy (nominally at least) began over the Islamic veil, this was, in a way, appropriate. Designed to cover up, to conceal, and to hide, the veil can, in reality, be profoundly, and disturbingly, revealing, not only of the nature of the women who wear it, but of the society in which they live.
If this wretched garment, in at least its more stringent forms, has more to do with misogyny than piety, so the hostility it provokes owes less to outraged feminism than to the mounting unease felt by many Europeans at the presence of the increasingly assertive and increasingly extremist Islam rising within their midst. It doesn’t hurt, of course, that there is something about the very appearance of the veil (and I am here referring to the burka ) that is alien, dehumanizing, and, in the context of Europe’s current troubles, thoroughly ominous. Little more than walking shrouds, these women seem like the harbingers both of future theocracy and the slaughter that comes in its wake.
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
The article feels rather "Dune"-esque. The beginning is a very delicate moment.
I know why they wear the veil. I studied that. But, I think they enjoy , at least some of them in wearing it to insult the USA and also Jewish people and of course us Christians. I could care less what they wear, but if England continues on this route look out , they got it once and I would hate to see them get it again from the same people who plot hate. What is wrong with a nice hair do anyway.
Muslim communities belong in Muslim countries.
Until last week it seemed that the story would rest there, but on Friday Tony Blair made a speech that, for the first time, indicated that his government might be prepared to take more than baby steps away from its earlier multiculturalist orthodoxy.
Melanie Phillips' book, "Londonistan," is excellent---and terrifying. If England is this far down the toilet, we are all in trouble.
Very good article.
The gullible, and disturbingly numorous folks who swallow the carefully targeted artificial constructions of Melanie Phillips and Mark Steyn whole should be made to read this.
UK will be a Muslim country.
Islam _has no_ "role" to play in a "broadly secular democracy". They are incompatible concepts.
The "God/Caesar" comparison is telling.
In The West, we render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
In Islam, Allah _IS_ "Caesar", and one renders EVERYthing unto him. Hence the Quran which instructs the individual how to conduct life in the most piccayune manor, and Sharia which mandates a civil (as distinguished from moral) code of behavior.
Islam and democracy are incompatible, again. How many "Islamic democracies" would tolerate the presence of anti-Islamic candidates on the ballot?
For that matter, how many Islamic "democracies" tolerate anti-Islamics, period?
- John
They're working on it.
When will it be a Muslim country? It's been pointed out here before that less than 1.6 million out of a population of 60 million. That's less than 3%. In a population of 300 million here in the US, the Muslim population was close to 6 million in 2001, or approxiamately 2%. I imagine that number has grown since as well. By your standard the US will be a Muslim country.
Muslim communities belong in Muslim countries
This xenophobic nonsense is ridiculous and makes conservatives look bad. What if someone said Europeans belong in European countries or Jews belong in Jewish countries. Where do you stop?
there is nothing modest about such an in your face action as wering the veil and then demanding everyone acomdate you.
During very hot weather in Texas,I cover the horses head with a veil.It protects them from the intense light that could damage their eyes.It also works to keep the flies at bay!Sweating in an outfit like that most surely creates an odor flies swarm to.
Do you live with headhunting cannibals? XENOPHOBIC HYPOCRIT !!! Until you share cell space with Charlie Manson how dare you question other peoples right to self preservation.
This xenophobic nonsense is ridiculous and makes conservatives look bad. What if someone said Europeans belong in European countries or Jews belong in Jewish countries. Where do you stop?
_________________________
Right now, if you were to line of 10 Christians, 10 Brits, 10 Homosexuals, 10 African-Americans, 10 --insert group/race here-- there is a really good chance that 0 out of 10 wants you dead.
Now line up 10 Muslims: at **LEAST** one of them wants you and your family dead.
THAT'S why we need to draw the line.
There is a slight difference between self preservation and making ignorant comments such as Muslim communities belong in Muslim countries. 99.9% of all Muslims haven't done a damn thing to you, nor I doubt will they.
Bump for later read.
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