[quote name='rabbitt']The full face veil can't be a cultural thing if only the most 'devout' Muslim women 'choose' to wear it. And a note on their 'choice,' while we're at it. It can hardly be considered a choice by Muslim woman, among so much that is not up to them, when they are bullied by their male peers and imams, in some cases threatened with acid to the face. It's an ironic and dismissive insinuation to say that they have choice in their garb in a religion dominated by masochistic beliefs.
On that note, your last sentence comes off a bit more masochistic than I think you intended it to be, but is precisely in line with how Islam views the situation and the point I was trying to make. Notice that only half of the population is mandated to cover itself up under Islam. It would be facile at this point to say that their track record with women's rights is deplorable at best.
Anyone with a concealed face poses a threat to public safety. There are signs in front of banks and other institutions clearly stating that anyone wearing a mask or otherwise obstructing a full view of their face is in line to cause a public disturbance. It would only take minutes for me to be kicked out of any building if I came in wearing a mask.
Aside from (but in addition to) all of this, don't I at least have the right to see the face of everyone I come into contact with?[/QUOTE]
OK, I get it, I get it. You don't know crap about Islam but want to have an opinion on it. That's fine. Just don't paint yourself as an expert or like you've spent time researching it.
The acid throwing abaya crap that went on in Afghanistan was condemned by the international muslim community. Nobody sane condones that. Believe it or not, in Islam, women have choices just like men do. Men are required to cover from the naval to the knees, and it's optional, to cover even more (like the loose fitting robes and head coverings many wear). If a muslim woman wants to wear a bikini and walk down the street in the US, she can. Just as she can wear an abaya.
Are nuns oppressed? Priests aren't required to wear the same headcovering? No, nuns are highly regarded and shown great levels of respect for choosing that type of modesty. Why should the world tell muslim women they're oppressed for dressing the same way?
If a bank wants to put a face covering rule in, they can. That's their right, just as a place of business can say no firearms are allowed and legal gun owners, at risk of trespassing, have to obey, even though they are legally allowed to carry elsewhere. If we don't like a business' practices, we can elect to take our business elsewhere.
How many domestic attacks have taken place when a band of assumed muslim women turned out to be crazy male bank robbers who were on a crime spree? Should I be scared that an elephant will break into my house and bludgeon me to death in my sleep? It's never happened before, but it might. That's a national security risk.
And I said if it makes the woman feel more devout, than good for her. I did not say it's a measure of ones' faith. I've known some scum of the earth people that have dressed in full "Islamic" clothing. The clothes don't make you a good person or a bad person. Some of the best women I've met have either not covered at all, or covered only their hair and neck.
And I'll close with personal experience. I spent some time in Saudi a few years back. You know, Wahabi (you must get a hardon every time you hear this buzzword) Land. This is the country where all women are oppressed. The posterchild country for hating women and forcing them to cover. In Mecca, the Great Mosque, the holiest site in all of Islam, women walk around with faces exposed, faces covered, loose head scarves that show their hair, and tight ones that cover it all. The woman's choice is respected at the holiest site on the planet for muslims. If it's not respected elsewhere, that's on those individuals, not the faith.
So keep telling me about what it's like to be muslim, or a muslim woman. You've got tons of credibility so far.
yeah!
