Ostracism and Feminism

Submitted by sara (United States), Sep 4, 2009 at 17:42

Jshepp,

Again, thanks for your valid points. As much as I can see myself agreeing in theory with everything you state, I then wonder what is stopping me from accepting your position. I realize that it is yet again the point I brought up in my first reply, the concept of theory vs. reality, hypotheticals vs. real stories.

It is the same concept that would make me agree with you if you simply stated "War is bad, War kills people". Of course that is a terrible thing, and wars, in and of themselves, are terrible things. But they are fought for valid reasons and create real results and change that would otherwise not happen and in this way they guide and shape the course of history as we evolve as a civlization.

So again, I must look within the context beyond the theoretical concept that discrimination on the basis of clothing is bad, or that limiting freedom of expression is bad. It is just not that simple. Again, recall my point that there are rules that govern our (western) society. We must abide by basic rules in order to function and have law enforcement work for our protection.

It is against the law to walk naked in public (for whatever good reason), this is calld public indency. If a person belongs to a religion or culture whereby walking in the nude is a tradition, they would not be able to exercise that tradition in our culture.

So also with Niqabs, which as we agree, do cause divisiveness and seclusion. When you cannot see the face of a person you cannot relate to them. You can respect the culture behind the tradition, but it does not work to their benefit (especially of children) in their current cultural surroundings. As a Jew, you can relate to the fact that once it made sense to keep kosher and now there is absolutely no health reason,only tradition and as a ritualistic expression of religion. So it would be very sad if someone in a classroom were not able to be apart of their society and were kept apart and not integrated. this is a common issue with muslims in many western countries. they refuse to integrate and ostracize their offspring.

You say you think english should be official? Well there are many mexicans who do not learn english, thus depriving them of potential integration. are you saing they should have to speak english? If so, then shouldnt they have to wear garb as is our custom in our country? Is not speaking English a freedom of expression or a refusal to abide by the laws and rules of our society?

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