Burqas Not Welcome in France

President Sarkozy of France addressed Parliament on June 22nd and spoke out boldly in favor of banning the burqa there. The black or blue, tent-like garment is frequently worn by Muslim women in Islamic countries to maintain modesty and prevent triggering sexual desire in men.

The burqa covers the wearer so completely that surely she is unrecognizable. With the most extreme forms of this attire only the woman's eyes and the bridge of her nose may be visible, as well as her hands and shoes. Such a covering can be hazardous when crossing a busy street because it restricts the field of vision. All individuality is forfeited, and the women so dressed put me in mind of the unfortunate "Elephant Man," the Englishman Joseph Merrick, who sometimes resorted to covering his face in public to avoid frightening or offending others during the latter 1800s.

I agree with Sarkozy that the burqa is not religious expression, it is the subjugation of women who should be liberated from this ugly imposition that can't help but erode their spirits and sense of worth.

Here are some of President Sarkozy's words --

It is a question of freedom and of women’s dignity.

We cannot accept in our country women imprisoned behind bars, cut off from social life, deprived of identity.

The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement -- I want to say it solemnly. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic.