Take off your veils, says Straw

The Daily Telegraph ^ | October 6, 2006 | Nigel Bunyan and Graeme Wilson

[MadIvan]

Representatives of the Muslim community are bleating like stuck pigs this morning over this. I'm not a big fan of Jack Straw, but he has moments of mental clarity - when he attacked Dominique de Villepin at the UN prior to the Iraq War, and now.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Didn't he know that tomorrow is friday?

ARAB OUTRAGE!!!! YAAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[msnimje]

You know you are not too purdy if he says, "PUT IT BACK ON!"

[GoLightly]

This country is supposed to celebrate diversity. That is the wonderful thing about this country: that it accepts, that it is tolerant. Women who wear the veil are making the statement that they are separate from society and that is why they wear it.

Is it just me or does this statement contradict itself? If one is separating oneself from society, in what way are you contributing to its "diversity"? In what way are you demonstrating tolerance towards the other members of that society?

[MadIvan]

"Diversity" is supposed to be a two way street according to Straw. OK, Britain is diverse by welcoming you, Muslim woman, and letting you live here. Now you show your acceptance of British culture by getting rid of the veil.

Regards, Ivan

[GoLightly]

I guess the alternative would be for them to keep the bags on while we ridicule them for it... hmmm, y'all got that hate speech garbage? Guess pestering them with constant questions about wearing bags might have to do.

[endthematrix]

"You know you are not too purdy if he says, "PUT IT BACK ON!" "

LOL!

[TheWorldsWorstLurker]

Sheik Ibrahim Nogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: ... "That is calling for assimilation. That is saying that one culture or one way of life is superior to another.

A Muslim said that? With a straight face?

The mind boggles.

[D-fendr]

"That is calling for assimilation. That is saying that one culture or one way of life is superior to another.

Yes, which exactly the point the Pope was making. "Multiculturalism" has become Europe's name for disarming themselves in a war of cultures begun by muslims.

[dennisw]

I don't wear sunglasses when I visit my Congressman or talk to my doctor.

[dennisw]

UK Muslims don't want assimilation. They want parasitism and they get it when you see how many are breeding large families paid 100% by welfare

[Caipirabob]

Why stop with the veil? We want assimilation, let's get the party started...

[TheWorldsWorstLurker]

Here, I think you are wrong. They do want assimilation, only they want to be the ones doing the assimilation.

They do not want to be follow the rules of the country in which they have chosen to live and they expect us to turn around and accomodate them while they slowly erode the freedoms that made the UK so attractive in the first place.

I cannot speak for the rest of Europe, but a series of under-reported incidents in the UK such as this Patrols stepped up after violence imply that people here are beginning to get fed up.

If I know my countrymen, this is just the beginning.

[tkathy]

Problem is the women do not "choose" they are coerced, and threatened with rape or death in some parts of the world.

[King of Florida]

"That is calling for assimilation. That is saying that one culture or one way of life is superior to another.

No, you stupid goat effer. Assimiliation is only saying that when you become a citizen of another country, you need to make an effort to act like one.

[mewzilla]

Here, I think you are wrong. They do want assimilation, only they want to be the ones doing the assimilation.

Islamists remind me of the Borg.

[Barset]

"Does Mr. Straw mean that people should give up certain cultural and religious customs and practices

[ --- like honor killings, stoning women to death, forced marriages of 13 year old girls, denying women an education, kidnapping and confining of women who become 'too Western,' killing of homosexuals, etc., decaptitating journalists and politicians in broad daylight in a public street, rtc., etc., etc.]

simply because a vast majority [of a civilized country] do not share them?"

Fixed.

"He said he welcomed debate but MUSLIMS WOULD WANT OWNERSHIP OF THE OUTCOME OF THAT DEBATE."

Unfixable.

... except, perhaps with a swift kick in the bum back to your third world, seventh century hell-hole.

Too late.

[fivecatsandadog]

"On the other, he is denying that free choice to a woman who chooses to wear the veil."

"Muslim women who want to wear a veil should be able to wear a veil."

Hmmmm.... FREE CHOICE??? Women who WANT to wear a veil? I guess, considering the muslim alternative (beheading, stoning, etc.) wearing a veil would be safer. But I noticed an interesting point in this article, and that is all the quoted muslims and imams are speaking FOR the woman.
If it's true that the veiled women who were in Straw's office removed the veil when asked, without hesitation, then that says it all.
Straw was probably a little out of line, considering his request was more about HIS comfort zone rather than hers, but it still speaks volumes.
We probably won't hear from any muslim women on this.

[MadIvan]

Actually the newsreaders on Sky this morning said they'd gotten a good many e-mails from Muslim women saying they supported Straw.

Regards, Ivan