... and then I'll shut up.
France is not the only country apparently moving towards punishing or disadvantaging women ... presumed to be Moslem ... who cover their faces in public.
As an old-style Voltairean libertarian, my first instinct was to be horrified that penal codes should be invoked against women whose own culture inclines them to a degree of modesty uncommon in secularised post-Christian Europe. But now I have hit upon a compromise.
Let such a regulation be enforced in tandem with a rule restraining immodesty in other females; a decree, perhaps, that skirts and shorts should be a minimum of two inches below the knee. This would be enforced by Mr Plod* who, on a randomly selected day each week, would leave his truncheon in the copshop and sally forth armed only with a tape measure.
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*mutatis mutandis, Mr God the Garda, M Jean the Gendarme, etc. etc..
I agree. The burqa resembles the veils traditionally worn by Carmelite nuns in the presence of seculars. In fact, the traditional habits of nuns in general have much in common with Muslim ladies' wear. Let's have more visible nuns, and less of the "passive sex" (a term I use in imitation of "passive smoking") on the advertising hoardings.
ReplyDeleteThe tape measure reminded my mother of her school days with the nuns.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard this news I made the observation that the traditional culture of France (Christianity) happily includes veiled women, at least in the categories of nuns, brides and new mothers. All three groups are sadly in numerical decline.
ReplyDeleteTally ho . . . down with French republican repression. Where is Edmund Burke when we need him?
ReplyDelete"...armed only with a tape measure."
ReplyDeleteAnd should the garment be a tad too long, he can intone like the staff at Grace Brothers:. "Don't worry. It will ride up with wear..."
This was a silly posting Fr. You can do better.
ReplyDeleteFather, have you read that informative little book
ReplyDelete'Advantages of the Burqa in modern Britain'
author: Robin Banks