Sarkozy is a twat

I simply can't believe this.

I think I understand the idea behind not allowing burqa/other head coverings in banks/ passport photos etc. For security reasons, these days, it may be necessary; it is just unfortunate for those people who wear them for religious reasons. BUT at least they can put it back on outside the bank, right?

And I can even begin to understand the rationale behind not wanting the burqa in public places because it 'makes westerners feel uncomfortable'. Though I do not support the viewpoint that the solution to this is to banning burqas and the like in western public places, in the wake of 9/11 (still), like I said, I can begin to understand the rationale.

However, what really blew me away as I watched this story unfold on the Breakfast news this morning, was Sarkozy's reasoning behind his draft law:

'President Nicolas Sarkozy insisted yesterday that a ban on the burqa, and its Arab equivalent the niqab, was needed to protect the "dignity of women".'

This is a tricky one... because I was about to start ranting that the 'dignity of women' surely should be left to the woman herself i.e. she decides whether she wears a burqa or not. But in some cases, no doubt, this is not the case. The burqa has to be worn because of social pressures, and even if the woman herself might not like it, she feels her life could be ruined if she didn't wear it.

However, I know that there are women who do like wearing their burqa or niqab or hijab. I once listened to a radio interview of two young Muslim women who were attending university in NZ. One of them had been raised overseas and then moved her as a teenager, and one of them was born here. They were both however raised as Muslims by Muslim parents. They explained how wearing their hijabs was a source of pride for them, a part of their identity, and in polite words expressed how annoyed they were every time a NZ woman said "Don't you just want to, like, not wear it sometimes?" No, it was part of their identity and fashion, just like a headband or a scarf or a particular t-shirt that I might wear is part of mine.

But then I wonder, has anyone bothered to survey Muslim/ Arab women and ask whether they wear these garments out of choice or from social pressure or out of fear? And if you did that survey, would they answer truthfully?

And if a large percentage of these women in fact did not wear their burqas out of choice, is it Sarkozy's responsibility to attempt to give them back their 'dignity'?

I would think that most women would actually accept that their religion dictates what they wear, but I do not have any evidence for this. Nuns do. I wonder if Sarkozy is going to say that nuns shouldn't wear their habits? That their 'dignity' should be returned and that they are free to wear skinny jeans and heels if they so desire. So does the Pope. Pope Benedict XVI in skinny jeans and heels, anyone? What? He might like to do that, we will never know. But I digress.

And some of the more traditional readers might think, 'Good on you, Sarkozy! If they don't like it, they can f*** off back to their own country!'

That kind of view is probably counterproductive in today's society.

But I might just be being naive.After all, being a Millenial, I just want everybody to be happy.

In proof-reading this I have realised that maybe I can begin to understand Sarkozy's standpoint, though I don't agree with it.

I still think he is a slightly crazy, slightly sexist, patronising and worrying example of a world leader.