France's burka ban

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/6gqmpsn

Well done the French for having the guts to introduce the 'burka ban', but it seems with a little trepidation.

/// Earlier, French police said they will be enforcing the country’s new burka ban "extremely cautiously" because of fears of provoking violence. ///

Belgium introduced a full ban last year, and a ban also looks likely in Holland, Spain and Switzerland.

Could Britain ever have the guts to do likewise?

[anotheoldgit]

4846

/// I see the usual gang has started with the insults.///

/// Discussions can get passionate but users should moderate their language and refrain from personal attacks and profanity. We encourage lively debate but name calling, harassment or abuse will not be tolerated. ///

Well said 4846, it is a pity that the ED could not have said similar .

[4846]

Strange how other members can insult a good person like yourself and get away without so much as a warning.

[trt]

We will NEVER have the guts to do likewise aog!

[andy-hughes]

Although the thread is getting rather personal - let's try and bring it back to the original Question -

I do not think that the introduction of laws in a democracy takes 'guts' at all - merely due democratic process, which is the case in thos European countries that have introduced this ban.

Could Britain have the guts to do likewise? Again, it is simply a matter of due process.

Perhaps the Question has moved on - is it right in a civilised society to stop a section of the community from dressing as it wishes, simply because the rest of us find it slightly unsettling.

If we extend that reasoning, then we must also ban beards, piercings, facial tattoos, footballl shirts, shaven heads (that's me stuffed then!) ... the list goes on, and this should be seen as the thin end of a nasty wedge.

AOG has stated firmly on this thread, and many others, that he sees the wearing of a burka as a sign of creeping dominance by the Muslim community. I personally do not share his view - but lets keep the personal invective down and stick to the points.

[pa___ul3]

AOG, surely, if it's Muslims taking over Britain you're worried about, surely keeping the Burka would be favourable? 'Know your enemy' and all that jazz!

You like to suggest that people who don't like the rules of the country should move on to somewhere else right? Well we are a multi-racial and multi-cultural country that accepts and tolerates different religions and cultures... so if you don't like that, should we maybe say au revoir!?

[anotheoldgit]

Thanks for bringing the thread back on line Andy, but please let me address something what you said.

/// is it right in a civilised society to stop a section of the community from dressing as it wishes, simply because the rest of us find it slightly unsettling.///

Whether it is right or wrong, that is up to the individual person's own preferences, what might seem acceptable to one doesn't mean it has got to be acceptable to another.

Obviously in a civilised society one must accept a certain standard of dress, as it has been said before, one is not allowed to walk down the street, naked or in very revealing dress, and that is law.

/// Could Britain have the guts to do likewise? Again, it is simply a matter of due process.///

When I used the word 'guts' I merely meant the 'initiative', Governments would love to introduce certain measures or laws, but fear to do so, in case of the consequences that may arise from them doing so.

[Gromit]

// I personally find the wearing of the Burka on British streets offensive, simply because I do not wish to see this country taken over by Islam along with all the trappings that goes with this religion. //

3 million muslims in this country out of a population of 60 million. Islam is not going to take over the country. The numbers do not add up. (AOG, This is where you can now post your head in the sand and sleepwalking into a muslim state comments).

[andy-hughes]

AOG - the difference is 'unacceptable' or 'unsettling' - a massive difference i am sure you will agree.

As others have pointed out, I find fat sweaty tattooed men walking around in the sunshine to be 'unsettling', but i would not for one moment like to think they would be prevented by law from doing so because of my view, which may reflect the majority opinion.

Part of a multi-cultural tolerant democracy, is that we must all put up with aspects that we do not like, and inless they cause major dostress and offence, than that is the way we live, and mist continue to to do in the name of hard-won freedom.

I will put up with sweaty fat men, if you put up with a few ladies whose cultural modesty allows them to cover their faces.

Do we have a deal?

[trt]

Gromit,

There maybe only 3 million muslims in this country out of a population of 60 million but they certainly make enough headlines with their protest and insults at our soldiers fighting the Alla brigade.

[jackthehat]

The newspaper Editors choose which stories to put on the front pages.......
Perhaps they ought to starve these small groups of agitators of the oxygen of publicity ?

[pa___ul3]

trt, how many of that 3 million were protesting and insulting!?

[The-HouseHusband]

So pray tell me my dear Anotheroldgit, what would be thy class of society that I be part of??

Am I one of your beloved upper class or am I from the Benefits brigade, maybe I am middle lower working class or even the I dont give a Sh*t about class society as it is out dated and is of no use in modern society.

Sorry for the profanity it just slipped out and I had managed to type all this without realising I had even done so!!!

MY MY what an uncouth gentleman am I.

[anotheoldgit]

/// I will put up with sweaty fat men, if you put up with a few ladies whose cultural modesty allows them to cover their faces.///

/// Do we have a deal? ///

Afraid not Andy, I too dislike fat sweaty tattooed men.

[andy-hughes]

Fair enough!!!

[pa___ul3]

I think every post AOG adds reminds me of the Pink Floyd song 'In the Flesh'! get 'em up against the wall!

[Sqad]

THH

I haven't had chance to comment on your reply as I have been otherwise engaged.
I agree that the French decision to ban the burka was made by parliamentarians,but that is the way the democratic system works in Europe and will continue to do so until a better system of government is developed. I assume that you are saying that if each individuals are asked, then the result may well have been different and you may well be right.....who knows unless one had a referendum or knocked on each door in France and recorded the answer...................possible but not practical.

My other point was that of course you had a right to your opinion and I would support that right whatever my view, however my complaint or surprise was the choice of your terminology as calling AOG a "sh.t stirrer.

That is all.

[tamborine]

They're great for bad hair days & when I've run out of razors