French Oppression

French parliament is considering a ban on burkas after President Nicolas Sarkozy told lawmakers that burkas were not welcome in France. The argument is that burkas suppress women, that they are used as an instrument to restrict their rights. In 2004, the French parliament passed legislation that banned Muslim girls from wearing headscarves in state schools. This law also banned other “conspicuous” religious symbols including Sikh turbans, large Christian crucifixes and Jewish skull caps. I suppose we can at least credit the French with being equal in their discrimination. While this issue clearly has religious and political motives, this also is the beginning of fashion restrictions and laws about conformity. Being an American, I scoff at the thought that anyone has the right to tell me what to wear, whether I wear it for religious or secular reasons. I choose to wear skirts and dresses on occasion. This does not say that I am oppressed or that the men in my family force me to wear clothing that hides my legs. I also don’t wear shorts cut up to my butt. This is a matter of modesty, not repression. Should I choose to cover my hair, or my entire being is, in a free world, no one’s business but my own. I’m not sure France is familiar with concept of irony. Though they pass laws restricting someone’s freedom to wear what they will, so that they are not restricted in what the wear. Will they pass laws banning skirts? How about hats? They could just issue a country uniform, makes laws about what religions they can practice. Of course they would have to give up the illusion that they are a free country. I have often been told that France is not a welcoming country, that the natives are rude. I’m beginning to see it.