Quote Originally Posted by Sir Burr View Post
OK, here's another angle.

The burqa is a physical manifestation, whether it is worn willingly, or, not, of the oppression of women by men.
In a country that is democratic and gives equal rights to women the burqa is an affront to both men and women.
Let's not forget the purpose of the burqa. It is to protect men from being inflamed by the sight of a women, forcing him to dishonour her.
In other words, men in our western society cannot be trusted to not "dishonour" the lady in question.
I myself, see it as a big "fuck-you and your western values" symbol.
I reminded of the story of Vlad Tepes, Dracula, upon receiving emmisaries from Sultan Mehmed II. The emmisaries paid homage in accordance with their customs. They did not remove their hats. Dracula asked them: "why do you behave in this way? You introduce yourselves to me and then do me dishonor." They answered: "This is the custom with the rulers of our country." The Wallacian prince spoke back: " I, too, would like to strengthen your customs, so that you may adhere to them more so rigidly." It was then that he ordered his men to bring nails and hammers. They secured the hats to the emmisaries' heads as to their beliefs. And Dracula said to them: "Go and tell your master that he may be accustomed to suffer such indignity from his own people. We, however, are not so accustomed. Let him not send either to this country or elsewhere abroad, ambassadors exporting his new customs, for we shall not receive them."

There are some things which define our culture that we should not give ground on. Making women second class citizens, demonizing women and making them scapegoats should not be reintroduced to our culture under the guise of tolerance for a person's customs.