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...
Actually I agree with you --- if we ban Nazi swastikas, then the same should go for the symbols of Islamic radicalism. There are Muslim women here --- from Iran --- who will agree the chador and burka are only symbols of the radicals --- they are required when they return to Iran for a visit to dress in brown rags and cover their faces because that country is controlled by radical Islamics ---but here with freedom they dress in modest western clothes and aren't afraid to show their faces.