I believe strongly in freedom of speech, freedom of the press and a free society, yet there is something oppressive about covering the face in modern society. Oppressive both to the wearer and the onlooker. It is in no way an expression of personal freedoms, it is an expression of seclusion, exclusion and a self imposed social apartheid.
Most societies today strive for integration and assimilation of the myriad cultures that now make up their citizenry. France being perhaps more insistent than others. This doesn’t mean eradicating individual cultures, but it does mean not importing archaic traditions which have no positive social value in the 21st Century.
Wearing a full face covering is not a religious tenet. It is a tribal custom that gained currency some 2,000 years ago, in the Middle East. Then it was an oppressive edict laid down as law by men for the subjugation of women.
That women today are defending the right of other women to remain in chains is bewildering. Our security services, in conjunction with banks, government offices, pubs and clubs, libraries and passport offices, have banned the wearing of headgear of any kind. Our face is our passport to the rest of society. If I can’t see your face I may as well be talking to a robot, a machine, certainly not someone who wishes to interact with me on a human level.
The sooner we dispense with pandering to niche groups that choose to live in a modern Western society, ie, France, Australia, yet choose to drag centuries’ old customs and servitudes with them, the sooner we can welcome all cultures to our countries, and move forward into a more enlightened future.
It is only by being free of the shackles of the past that we can move forward freely. The burqa/niqab is one of those shackles.
46 responses so far ↓
Rosie // February 25, 2010 at 3:27 am |
Not going to happen in a hurry Gig. At least not in Australia – we can’t say “No.” to anyone.
Unless of course they are a heterosexual, Caucasian, able-bodied, mentally and emotionally stable man. Then we have no trouble at all.
Oh, and for the record, I agree that it is ridiculous that the burqa is claimed as a ‘religious right’. It’s not – it’s a cultural thing. How can it be right that if I went to the certain Middle Eastern countries, and walked around in short shorts and a crop top, I could be arrested or assaulted, or even killed, because what I wore was inappropriate according to that country’s customs, but we are expected to accept the burqa, and make exceptions to our laws for it?
Come here, live by our rules. Don’t like that, don’t live here.
therealsydney // February 25, 2010 at 7:46 am |
Oh Gig’s I just saw the ruccus you caused over at MM yesterday – hi-larious !!
I agreed with your first comment 100% – unfortunately I couldn’t really follow the rest due to the censorship.
I did however love a couple of your jabs about ramping up clicks ..
“The Mia we knew and loved seems to have disappeared. Instead we are faced with a numbers blogger, interested in nothing more than clicks and eyeballs.
I miss the old days”
So true.
Doris // March 1, 2010 at 8:38 pm |
No, you’re totally anti censorship, aren’t you TRS? Which is why you just deleted my comment on YOUR blog (though possibly you haven’t got to my next ones yet).
HYPOCRITE MUCH????
gigdiary // March 1, 2010 at 9:31 pm |
Let’s start with what name you’d like to use, and also which blog is it that have a bugbear with? I’m happy for you to dislike my blog, but I fear that your dislike is aimed at RealSyd’s blog. In that case I can’t claim any credit. I really want you to hate my blog because of stuff I’ve written, not because of my having an aquaintance with a woman who posted on her blog about big tits.
Perhaps if you could express yourself more clearly, we’d be able to address your concerns.
Idiot.
Doris // March 2, 2010 at 12:53 pm |
No bug with you, Gig.
Sorry for using your blog to show up what a hypocrite TRS is, but she kept deleting my comments.
therealsydney // March 1, 2010 at 11:31 pm |
I don’t censor considered intelligent opinions.
I just censor nasty mindless factless bullshit – especially when it references my child.
Doris // March 2, 2010 at 12:57 pm |
Oh come ON TRS!
You deleted my comment about you copying Frockwatch from MM! Why not debate it instead of delete it?
The comment about your daughter came much later, and TRS, YOU reference her constantly so… as you always say… if you put it out there you have to be prepared to take what comes back at you. I was just refuting a point you made about C in one of your comments on MM and YOU KNOW IT.
You are STILL a hypocrite. But you’ll never see it. You just don’t have the insight.
So don’t worry Gig, I won’t haunt TRS here again. Not worth it.
Love from DORIS.
fender4eva // February 26, 2010 at 4:12 am |
Absolutely, TRS. We’ll have to exchange our considered views on yours, and Gig’s respective forums in the future. At least we know you guys won’t throw a wobbly if we disagree !
wollywally // February 28, 2010 at 5:48 am |
ha ha ha Fender4eva I agree with you about Gigdiary and TRS , Gigdiary, I feel the French have missed the train, it is little bit too late to tray to change with this tradition, it should have been done straight away when the first had the first immigrants it will be interesting to see how it will work out, hopefully peacefully and harmoniously, great post love ooxx
dramaqueen // February 28, 2010 at 6:16 am |
Hi gig,
I don’t know that i totally agree with you on this one. I think that as people move into a new county, and join in our education system, our communities and culture, then each successive generation will be further removed from the old ways of their old country.
Look at the history of the Greeks and Italians in Australia – they initially lived in defined communities and stuck to old customs, however, each generation has chosen the best of their heritage and let go of any traditions that were paternal or oppressive. I had Italian friends at high school who were not allowed to stay for sleep overs or wear bikinis. They went to church “religiously” and had to obey their parents.These women now have children of their own and have renounced the strict rules they themselves experienced when young (and most of them don’t go to church, just like most Australians these days)
You can see the same thing happening now with 2nd and 3rd generation Asian immigrants. I have got to know my children’s friends and they are from a wonderful mutli cultural melting pot but all modern Australian teenagers.
I have hope that the same evolution will happen with the young people of Muslim faith who have come here from all over the world. I believe it is more likely to happen if we welcome people and don’t generalise about their religion and customs. Doing so only serves to alienate people and leads to more problems.
I know many people think my opinion is that of an idealist, however, the history of immigration in this country does seem to support my argument.
Happy to join in the discussion
wollywally // February 28, 2010 at 9:06 am |
Dramaqueen I love your wise comment thank you, love ooxx
gigdiary // March 1, 2010 at 1:37 am |
Dramaqueen, I agree with you being idealistic. I am. I attended primary school in the 60s. There were migrant kids in every class, migrant meant not kids of Irish/English extraction. Greek kids, Italians, Dutch and Chinese kids were commonplace in the schoolyard, just that there was less of them than the English. And it was no big deal. Everybody got along, with all the usual fights kids have, one was called ‘wog’, one was called ‘chink’, if a kid was English there was always a derogatory term that was thought up for them. It’s just that with different races it was easier to say ‘wog’ than be clever when attacking another kid.
We all grew up, made our way in the community, and the community at large, and today we have a multi-cultural mix, a melting pot, of kids born of parents of the WW2 era. Today these kids are the parents, in some instances the grandparents, of today’s European generation.
Gogh Whitlam did a great thing in 1972 by abolishing the White Australia Act. He opened the doors of Australia to the world. In retrospect he is to be commended. It is what his successors have done with that policy that is today shaping our country in ways that we perhaps aren’t ready for.
Fraser, in 1977, acting under humane auspices, allowed for the mass immigration of refugees from the war in Lebanon. He was advised that, socially, this was a bad decision. He ignored informed opinion, instead relying on gut-felt humanitarianism.
Today’s issue with Muslims in Australia is a result of this. Over the years many have emigrated here to great effect, to great benefit to both themselves and Australia, but a considerable group have landed in a new country, a safe haven, yet maintained their original tribal and religious affiliations, with a religion that is, at best, antagonistic to Christianity.
Is it any wonder their offspring feel disenfranchised from Australian society?
Berated on one side by tribally minded parents, and the other by a school system geared to assimilation?
The Cronulla Riots were a fight waiting to happen. A consequence that Fraser was too short-sighted to see.
We have a definite issue here to address, it isn’t rascism, it isn’t Aussie against so-called immigrant, it’s allowing Australia to be free, free for all who call Australia home. There is no room here for dissidents who prefer Sharia Law, who want to bring down democracy. It is these people that we rail against, and it is also these people that we wish their own people would stand up to.
Yet the silence is deafening.
Weeze // March 1, 2010 at 1:37 pm |
I can see some advantages of the cover up, especially for those of us a bit “challenged” in the beauty dept.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/strangebuttrue/groom-goes-to-kiss-bride—and-discovers-she-is-bearded-20100211-nsrg.html
gigdiary // March 1, 2010 at 11:25 pm |
That would have been a bit of a shock, wouldn’t it? I mean, a beard, not to mention the crossed eyes. Shoulda just sent the poor girl out to Australia, plenty of desperates here looking for a wife. I mean, caring husbands looking for wonderful wives.
Jaime // March 1, 2010 at 4:55 pm |
Hey Gig, wanted to tell you how much I liked your comments in that ridiculous Burqa post on MM. I completely agree with you esp on the point that Steph (TRS) raised above. I won’t be posting on there to support you sorry, didn’t want to contribute to the almighty…. whatever it is.
She really has lowered the bar on what MM used to be.
Rosie // March 1, 2010 at 6:52 pm |
You are SO right. Mia has really lowered the bar on what MM used to be.
FAR better to head over to Gigdiary, with his posts advocating discriminating against immigrants because of their religious beliefs, or perhaps TRS’s lovely blog, all about her scintilating social life, and her big tits!
And the extra benefit is that BOTH sites allow you to bitch like little children about Mia!
You guys are so wonderfully intellectual, and SO wonderfully supportive.
Oh, and I’m quite sure this comment won’t be deleted. You’re all for freedom of speech too, right?
Yup.
gigdiary // March 1, 2010 at 8:28 pm |
Not once, Rosie, not ONCE, have I bitched about Mia on this site…
While you are a welcome blowin, my first naysayer, I think you are coming the raw prawn with that one. You’ll have to do better than that, and btw, your monicker is already taken. The original Rosie has been commenting here for at least a year.
Rosie2 // March 1, 2010 at 8:44 pm |
Sorry. Rosie is my NAME, not ‘monicker’. But I’ll be Rosie2 here if you like.
No, you haven’t bitched about Mia here. Just on her site. And four of the comments here are bitching about Mia, and you have endorsed them implicitly by your silence. In other words, you have created a site that supports bitchiness, when you proclaimed so vehemently to despise that on MM.
You should be ashamed.
gigdiary // March 1, 2010 at 9:02 pm |
Rosie2, this blog was up long before I criticised Mia’s new direction. If you care to read my extensive comments on Mamamia you will see how much a fan, a sycophant I was these last few years. I’m not sure where you’re coming from, but it surely can’t be from be any part of the MM community since 2007.
Find some other axe to grind.
therealsydney // March 1, 2010 at 11:47 pm |
I guess we should take our cues on intellect and respect from you then Rosie2?
Any concerns I have with MM I have directed to Mia, in fact we exchanged pleasant emails this morning – I have said nothing negative about Mia on my blog, nor will I.
And for the record : I believe that commenters on my blog have expressed disappointment more than bitchiness.
gigdiary // March 2, 2010 at 12:01 am |
It’s hard to imagine, RealSyd, where this one popped her little snout up from, and why she thought attacking you through my blog was the way to go. Given that you and I have always been amongst Mia’s most stalwart supporters, it’s hard to imagine what trough she’s lately had her snout in. I look forward to further visits.
Jaime // March 1, 2010 at 8:54 pm |
I don’t believe it’s comes to this…
I don’t know Mia personally, the very brief interractions I’ve had with her were polite and trivial.
I simply do not like the way that her website is turning, both with content and commenters that seem to jump on any and every cause without knowing all the facts, so I choose not to go there. I wish Mia nothing but success.
Her new commenters however….
Danya // March 1, 2010 at 10:58 pm |
Gig I am with you on this one. Our faces are what makes us. If you aren’t allowed to wear a bike helmet into a bank why the hell is it acceptable to wear a burqa?
AND I am not hear to bitch about Mia
Rowe // March 1, 2010 at 11:02 pm |
Love this post. I hate seeing women wearing all this stuff, covering themselves up while their men are free to wear what the hell they like (and are sideglancing at women who don’t look like they were born in a fabric shop).
gigdiary // March 1, 2010 at 11:47 pm |
A fabric shop, that is too good! Sort of like a shuffling triffid.
gigdiary // March 1, 2010 at 11:02 pm |
Because that is racist! You can tell the motor bike bloke to take off his head covering, but the burqa clad woman is affronted by this…
It’s a joke
Danya // March 2, 2010 at 10:09 am |
Believe me love I get the joke
Just shits me that it seems a lot of the universe just want to be offended and affronted by something. Maybe I should jump up and down and scream, “I’m an atheist and your obvious displays of faith are oppressing me!”
Angela // March 2, 2010 at 10:49 am |
heehee Love it Danya.
Gig, we need a ‘like’ button.
fender4eva // March 2, 2010 at 3:45 pm |
Fuck ! Every blog I’ve been to lately, has had a troll attack. Same shit, just different names. WHAT is going on ? Oh, that must be the free speech everyone’s talking about…….
wollywally // March 2, 2010 at 5:42 pm |
Full moon the werewolf’s and the counts Dragulas are having a field day putting everybody against everybody, time to get some garlic + crucifix+ and holywater if you understand me, Gigdiary no offense i can’t read this small small print, I am going to go politically correct here
I am feeling discriminate , unless you pass me a pair of binoculars, ha ha ha please please change the writing make it bold and big, thank you, peace and love, love to all ooxx
gigdiary // March 2, 2010 at 5:56 pm |
You’re right on both counts, the full moon and the size of the print. I liked this style because the replies are separated from the comments, visually. It is a bit small. I’ll change it, in the meantime can you use your magnifying glass? I recently bought a magnifying glass to read the ingredients on pill bottles and food cans.
The last time I saw a magnifying glass was when my grandmother used one. Welcome to old age. Anyway, I must go, I have so many letters to write to the people I have offended today.
BTW, MissBB also suggested the full moon as a reason for this mayhem….you guys may be onto something
Danya // March 2, 2010 at 8:55 pm |
Wollywally you probably have a universal access option in your system preference. It can make all your text bigger, even your cursor. I use a Mac and just have to tap Command then the plus symbol. I am visually disabled but I find if I can make thngs big enough I do ok
wollywally // March 2, 2010 at 10:36 pm |
THank you Danya very much, you are a big help, lots of love ooxx
wollywally // March 2, 2010 at 7:46 pm |
ha ha ha who have you offended this time naughty boy?! love ooxx
gigdiary // March 2, 2010 at 7:49 pm |
pretty much everyone but you…
wollywally // March 2, 2010 at 8:24 pm |
no kidding! it is definetly full moon! love ooxx
gigdiary // March 2, 2010 at 8:34 pm |
So, wollywally, in a full moon should I act, or keep my mouth shut? What is the appropriate behaviour here? I must remind you that keeping my mouth shut is not an option. Tread gently perhaps?
wollywally // March 2, 2010 at 9:18 pm |
Worm yourself first of all, during full moon thay get very active, a garlic necklece is always andy to keep away vampires and vampiresses and for the mouth the only things that can help is an apple in the mouth like a stuf little pig, if all of this fail, just be the charming self you are, and you will be forgiven, love ooxx
gigdiary // March 2, 2010 at 9:30 pm |
Excellent advice Wollywally, if I can pick and choose I’ll take the vampiresses and stay my natural charming self. I’ll forgo the apple in the mouth like a stuffed pig, I need all the help I can get.
Danya // March 2, 2010 at 8:56 pm |
I am offended you haven’t offended me
gigdiary // March 2, 2010 at 9:16 pm |
Oh Danya, believe me, I’m getting round to it, but you know, so many people, so little time…
and, annoyingly, some people actually agree with me…
wollywally // March 2, 2010 at 9:19 pm |
ha ha ha what the world is coming to, can’t believe it, you are persuasive! love ooxx
Rosie // March 3, 2010 at 10:49 am |
*ahem*
Lauren // March 2, 2010 at 9:28 pm |
I’m a little late to the explosion of comments on this one but Gig, you know my feelings about everything that has happened. I love your blog, and I should probably comment more (sometimes I am scared I will say something stupid and unintelligent).
I miss everything our little community used to be and we will just have to spread it out across a few different places now.
For relevance; there is nowhere in the Koran stating that women should wear the burqa. It is completely a cultural construct and when you transplant from one culture to another (i.e. Middle East to France) it is culturally acceptable to retain aspects of your previous culture (religion, cooking etc) but not others. The secular nature of French society is something they pride themselves on and if Muslims want to make the burqa a religious thing, they have to accept the repercussions that come along with that in a secular society.
gigdiary // March 2, 2010 at 9:46 pm |
And that is exactly the point Lauren. In countries such as France and Australia they are making the wearing of the burqa a religious statement, even worse, a statement of exclusion. There is no need for women to completely cover themselves from the male gaze. For heaven’s sake we have nude beaches and legal pornograpghy if that is a man’s intention. Which in most cases it isn’t. For Muslims to carry on about ‘uncovered meat’ is more offensive than any male gaze.
As you say, it’s not a religious tenet, but a cultural one. One that is being worn by women, many whom have never been to the Middle East.
Wake up Australia and feel the breeze. We have a great and free society that is in danger of being undermined by narrow, archaic and parochial views of what 21st Century society should be.
Rosie // March 3, 2010 at 10:47 am |
Jeebers! I read Rosie2′s comment, and thought for a second that I had had a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde moment, and completely blanked it out.
Then I re-read it, and realised that there is no way, no matter how far into Mr Hyde I go, would I say those things. Mean is not my thing.
I think I need a wee lie down, all this excitement is far too much for me………….