<\/p>\n
Yesterday’s open I am for the <\/p>\n Anti-Burqa<\/b><\/p>\n Countries are This observation means that while people are equals in a free society, cultures are not.<\/i> Cultures that support and practice slavery or the systematic denial of moral and status equality are simply inferior in those regards<\/b><\/i> to cultures that reject these attitudes. They may have other strengths, but politically, in their ability to cooperate with others, they are toxic. If they get strong enough they are the equivalent of invaders, not immigrants. We benefit greatly from the cultural and religious additions immigrants bring to our shores, but we should not confuse these benefits with efforts by some to reject what it is that makes us who we are – as well as being able to offer a place to live for people with different religions, values, and ways of life. <\/p>\n The burqa arose Some of these If burqas are Outlawing public In my mind we can revisit whether or not to outlaw burqas when conservative Muslim nations make it OK for women to go outside without them. Until then, they should be verboten in public. What is g<\/span>ood for the goose is good for the gander.<\/p>\n Pro-Mosque<\/b><\/p>\n My argument in We have <\/span>Muslims are not guilty of 9-11. <\/span>Does anyone remember the thousands of Iranians who held candles in solidarity with us<\/a> and the victims
\nthread was unusually rich in people’s contributions – I enjoyed all of
\nthem. <\/span>All. <\/span>(Ron -I only excise spam and
\nvituperative stuff that does not rise to the level of a coherent argument. <\/span>You are safe!) One thread carried on an
\ninteresting discussion on the controversy surrounding a proposed mosque close
\nto Ground Zero in New York. <\/span>At the
\nsame time, particularly in Europe and Quebec, there is a raging controversy over whether
\nor not to ban wearing the burqa in public. <\/span>The burqa is a all enveloping covering worn by conservative
\nfemale Muslims that leaves their eyes and hands exposed, but nothing else. <\/span>It is not a head scarve.<\/p>\n
\nmosque and against the burqa.
\n<\/span>Since I am usually lumped with liberals, let me explain my seemingly
\nanti-liberal position first. <\/span>I
\nstarted out in favor of Muslim women wearing the burqa in public. <\/span>I am no longer.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\ncultures as well as individuals.
\n<\/span>Each makes the other what it is, and neither exists absent the
\nother. <\/span>Not all cultures can easily
\nbecome democratic and relatively tolerant of diversity, and as the ‘Christian’ right is demonstrating, some cultures can lose
\ntheir ability to function democratically.
\n<\/span>Fundamental to stable democracy anywhere is general acceptance of
\npeople’s equality in legal and moral status. <\/span>Take that away and democratic institutions exist on thin
\nice. The people within a culture have to discover this truth on their own – it does not seem able to be imposed and trying to do so simply ennobles the defenders of the old bad ways in the eyes of some. <\/p>\n
\nand is perpetuated within cultures that have so far proven themselves absolutely incapable
\nof democratic institutions. <\/span>In
\naddition, it expresses a view of women’s status that denies them public
\nequality<\/a>. Women but not men are arrested by Saudi thugs for the crime of <\/span>sitting in public<\/a> with members of the other gender who are not family. In<\/span> Saudi Arabia and other barbarous places American women have to at least cover their hair lest some religious fanatic be
\noffended. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nfanatics, seeking to benefit from institutions their own beliefs would destroy and wealth their own societies have not created,
\nimmigrate to Western countries.
\n<\/span>At the same time they seek to perpetuate customs toxic to our institutions
\nand values, as in the sickening number of so-called “honor killings”<\/a> that happen
\namong conservative Muslim immigrant families when their kids dare to become culturally native to the place
\nwhere they live. <\/span>This makes these families, or the leading male members at any rate, not immigrants but invaders. Hostile invaders. It tells you what they would do to us if only they had the power.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nallowed, it is easy for tight knit immigrant communities to police their
\nmembers and keep straying women in line before they learn what life is like on
\nthe ‘outside.’ <\/span>And the longer
\nthese communities perpetuate these attitudes, the more danger they pose for
\ntheir host countries and the cultures that gave rise to the conditions that
\nattracted them. And the more innocent kids will be murdered in the name of ‘honor’.<\/p>\n
\nwearing of burqas means that Muslim women who are not ultra conservative can
\nhave access to the rest of the world in which they live without fear of easy
\npolicing by the spiritually depraved elements in their own communities. <\/span>It encourages Islam and the world of
\nequal status among women and men finding some common ground, as has a good
\nMuslim woman friend of mine. <\/span>If a
\nwoman wants to perpetuate a custom dangerous to the country in which she lives,
\nshe is free to do so in her own home, and can stay there, like an obedient
\nmember of her culture. Or she can return to where her values are in keeping with the dominant political attitudes.<\/p>\n
\nfavor of building the mosque is simpler. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nreligious freedom in this country, despite the best efforts of the ‘christian’
\nright. <\/span>There would not be a
\nsimilar outcry raised if the proposed building were a church. <\/span>Remember, over 5 million Americans are Muslims<\/a>.<\/i> <\/span>If the pope sponsored Catholic attacks on abortion centers would we want to abolish cathedral building? <\/span>I think not. <\/span>The Catholic Church is far more centrally organized than Islam, Sunni or Shiite. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nafter 9-11? I do. The site I linked to provides plenty of other documentation that the criminals
\nof 9-11 were in no way acting in the name of most Muslims, just as ‘christian’
\nterrorists do not act in the name of most Christians.<\/p>\n