Man Of Straw

[poliphilo]

So here's Jack Straw- our weaselly former Home Secretary and Condi-groupie- doing his bit for community relations by saying Muslim women need to ditch the veil.

There's an intelligent debate to be had about this issue, but I don't want it initiated by someone indirectly responsible for killing Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq.

And how come it's always the women who get in the neck? Why doesn't Straw have a go at beards or turbans?

What's this fithy war of civilisations really about? It's about two sets of blokes fighting over who gets to control  the women.

Comments

[frsimon.livejournal.com]

I do not think there is anything to be had about the issue. People have the right to wear what they wish, unless doing so impinges on the rights of others. No compromise. I matintain this against Jack Straw, on the one hand, and people who would force women to veil, on the other.

Not only do I take this right to prohibit State coercion, I also take it to render illegitimate other effectively co-ercive intrusions into clothing rights, such as wall-to-wall purient media discussion of peoples' clothing choices. I understand this as a means of psychological coercion.

[frsimon.livejournal.com]

Sorry, the first sentence should read '...think there is any intelligent discussion to be...'

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Trinny and Susannah you mean? Yeah I hate them too.

There are reasons for and against wearing the veil- some of which I approve and some of which I disapprove, but basically it's none of my damn business.