I do feel for Europe, as much as it irritates me sometimes. And I'm even paranoid enough to think this isn't an entirely unplanned situation. This is an immigrant community that hasn't bothered even trying, and it's coming up against an all-or-nothing mentality that's bound to cause problems. There's part of me that's frustrated enough with European sanctimoniousness toward us that I want to say, "They made their bed with years of these immigration policies, now they can lie in it." But I do believe the policies were well-meant, and their very genuine sense of guilt after WWII has been exploited and abused. Now, they feel exploited and abused (as we did on September 11), and the backlash is really starting to pick up steam.
Of course, nothing could suit the radical Islamists better--"Look," they can say, "you see how we are being persecuted! The Umma should go to war against all the west now!" It's a flat out race to Armageddon for the seriously loose screws.
For the girls who want to get rid of the scarves, then you know what? I'd go to the mat for them with their families. But they're not going to get anywhere in reforming their culture if they count on an outside source to enforce a rule while they pretend to disagree with it. That it's incredibly difficult for them is a given, but non-Muslims can't reform Muslim society. That has to come from within, and as long as Muslim women depend on other people to speak for them, that's not going to happen.
Now, there are Jewish women who cover their hair as well, some with hijab-like scarves, some with wigs, etc. I disagree with the practice, but every woman I know who follows it chose to do so. (This is my general grip with the popular term for convert, "Jew-by-choice"; it's 2004 in the U.S.A.--any practicing Jew is so by choice.) Of course, under the French ban, those women would be forbidden from wearing head coverings as well.
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branchandroot
Re: I agree
Date: 2004-01-28 09:54 pm (UTC)Of course, nothing could suit the radical Islamists better--"Look," they can say, "you see how we are being persecuted! The Umma should go to war against all the west now!" It's a flat out race to Armageddon for the seriously loose screws.
For the girls who want to get rid of the scarves, then you know what? I'd go to the mat for them with their families. But they're not going to get anywhere in reforming their culture if they count on an outside source to enforce a rule while they pretend to disagree with it. That it's incredibly difficult for them is a given, but non-Muslims can't reform Muslim society. That has to come from within, and as long as Muslim women depend on other people to speak for them, that's not going to happen.
Now, there are Jewish women who cover their hair as well, some with hijab-like scarves, some with wigs, etc. I disagree with the practice, but every woman I know who follows it chose to do so. (This is my general grip with the popular term for convert, "Jew-by-choice"; it's 2004 in the U.S.A.--any practicing Jew is so by choice.) Of course, under the French ban, those women would be forbidden from wearing head coverings as well.