Burquinis AND Burquas should be banned

Submitted by Lorna Salzman (United States), Aug 23, 2016 at 12:40

Dear Mr. Pipes:

At first your argument sounds reasonable. However, that is because, for some reason, you do not recognize the burkini as a symbol or representation of something else....as the burqa is too. It represents radical Islam and all of its oppressive doctrines, especially the inferiority of women. It is a symbol exactly like the Nazi swastika and we all know what that stood for. If someone wore a swastika on a chain or T shirt, they would be lynched in a minute. Wearing the burquini or burqua announces the wearer's allegiance to the religious doctrine that it represents.

Of course this kind of defiant political statement is not the only one that Muslims issue. Issues of food, public spaces, etc. are prevalent as well. Muslims are deliberately causing these confrontations as a way of obtaining special privileges for themselves as well as trying to assert and impose the superiority of their religion and why they deserve special treatment.

Unfortunately they also exploit liberals and intimidate them. If liberals spoke up the Muslims would start backing down. In the end all of this is a complete rejection of anything resembling assimilation or even moderate integration. European countries are blamed for their alienation but the fact is that they themselves make it clear that they have no intention of assimilating or putting secular and civil society laws ahead of the qu ran.

The caliphate may not be imminent but what is already happening is the weakening of the foundations of secular civil society and the rule of law, and the separation of mosque and state. This is obvious and nothing will stop the Muslims unless strong measures are taken to insure that their religion is kept out of public life and that no concessions are offered Muslims for anything at any time.

Lorna Salzman

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