[FITZ]

I guess France isn't at war --- when we were at war with the Nazis, I doubt we allowed swastikas to be worn on the streets by adults or by children at school. The head gear shouldn't be the big issue though --- immigration from hostile countries would be the bigger issue. Same goes for us --- it shouldn't be about limiting freedom for our enemies after they get here but about not letting them come in the first place.

[Mamzelle]

I'm afraid I disagree about this one. The hijab works as a kind of "marker", like grafitti does for gangsters. Law enforcement concentrates on covering/cleaning grafitti when it is sprayed--and it is surprising how controlling the symbols also helps control the gangsterism. When the number of veils in a community reaches a critical mass, the Muslims are emboldened. The more veils, the more power. Eventually, like in Belgium, the unveiled women are harassed by Muslim men for being unveiled "whores"--and these are not Muslim women.

We could run a betting pool on how soon Chiraq will surrender, but I would like to see the veil banned in public schools in the US, too. Any in your high school? There are two in mine...

[Physicist]

I guess France isn't at war --- when we were at war with the Nazis, I doubt we allowed swastikas to be worn on the streets by adults or by children at school.

Considering that we put American citizens of Japanese ancestry in concentration camps, I would guess that's true. That doesn't make it right for swastikas to be outlawed. It should be the responsibility of the Nazi's neighbors to, uh, discourage that behavior.

The head gear shouldn't be the big issue though --- immigration from hostile countries would be the bigger issue. Same goes for us --- it shouldn't be about limiting freedom for our enemies after they get here but about not letting them come in the first place.

The issue that comes before even that is identifying who is the enemy and who is not. Perhaps if they would wear some sort of identifying symbol or article of clothing, it might be easier. Oh, I know! How about a headscarf?