I never thought I would be singing that tune—being that I love to rag on France (don’t get me started on the eating of ortolans!). But I am SO PLEASED the French have taken a stand against something that has rankled me for years: the dreaded burqa.
Almost nothing gets me more riled than seeing a woman wear one of these monstrosities. It’s not because they are totally UGLY, which obviously they are in addition to being the most disgusting piece of clothing ever invented.
But because burqas offend me to the core of my being. Burqas are the extremist Muslim religion’s equivalent of slavery shackles and chains. How can a woman possibly feel good about herself when she’s forced to wear something so awful?
Burqas are an international symbol of oppression of women. They single handedly suppress individuality and an entire gender. Their purpose is to render women invisible and reinforce the notion that they are second-class citizens.
Burqas are meant to repress women, to devalue their role in society. They insult women’s character by saying they are necessary for chastity reasons, as if women will run amok in wanton sexual promiscuity without them. They violate a woman’s freedom of expression—to choose what she wants to wear.
Burqas are meant to control women physically. They restrict movement. They impair hearing and vision. They are burdensome —hot, heavy, and uncomfortable.
They are a physical manifestation of an extremist religious doctrine that promotes domination and perceived moral superiority of men over women. This sounds like a lousy religion to me. So lousy in fact it sounds vile.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said:
“The veil is not welcome in France because it is contrary to our values and contrary to the ideals we have of a woman’s dignity.”
To that I say, Viva la France!
To Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, Director of the Islamic Center in Drancy, France who said that there is nothing in the Quran that directs women to cover their faces: Could you please pass the word?
To the French Parliament: If you pass the anti-burqa law, and hopefully it starts a worldwide fashion trend, I promise to buy a bottle of French champagne to support your economy. But not Veuve Cliquot. C’est très yucky.
To Carla Bruni: I bet you become apoplectic when you see a burqa. I’m with you, Sista Friend. BTW, love your “Presidential wife” outfits and your CD: Quelqu’un M’a Dit.
To any “man” that thinks a woman wearing a burqa is a good idea: You are misogynist who has no place in the civilized world.
To any woman who wants to wear a burqa: First I would say that your brain has been washed too many times with Clorox, which is a toxic substance. And second, let me take you shopping at Macy*s. Nice pants + a cute top + cool shoes = Freedom, Heaven, and Positive Self-Image.
Sea of burqas; sea of misery.
Sad.
Pitiful.
Scary.
Fashion and fashion faux pas
You can put a woman in a burqa but you can't suppress her spirit.
A burqa by any other color is still a burqa.
