54 minutes ago, giddyup said:

They have the right to protest because they live in a liberal country that allows them to do so, likewise Denmark has the right to ban it if they so choose. If they aren't happy with that decision then they are free to live in a country where the the hijab is accepted.

Or, since they live in a liberal country they are also free to organize their own political faction and attempt to change the law(s)... but isn't that what some fear most - Muslims desiring and acquiring enough political clout to change laws in western democracies?

 

Ahhh - the joys of unintended consequences!!! LOL!!!

57 minutes ago, giddyup said:

And I don't believe in allowing oppression to continue or validating it.

So how does punishing the oppressed achieve that?

15 minutes ago, nontabury said:

Interesting. Fairly similar to a person who has the same opinions on Muslim and Islam. Yet he’s been hounded by the extreme left.

 

 

No.

 

I am saying that Islam is the victim of right-wing fundamentalism.

 

Christianity, Hinduism, and (to a lesser extent) Buddhism are all feeling the pressure of right-wing fundamentalism.

 

To borrow a catch-phrase:

Right-wing fundamentalism is the enemy of everything.

1 hour ago, mikebike said:

So having said that a brown paper bag would have worked just as well do you feel like revisiting your criticism of stevenl's point that the security personal were having a snooze? 

No, I said if a paper bag had been acceptable it would have worked as well. However, whether security were snoozing or not, the burka was still used to manage his escape, suggesting that it's possible for it to be used in other crimes.

58 minutes ago, mikebike said:

So how does punishing the oppressed achieve that?

 By removing their visible shackles.

3 hours ago, My Thai Life said:

@ Simple1. I have not expressed any hatred towards muslims.

 

If I may say so, you are missing the point. Yes, there are liberal muslims. Anyone who reads news from any mainstream source (my major MSM sources are The Guardian and the BBC) knows that these liberal muslims are under threat in their own countries. Many of them are murdered, or live under cover. Others seek refuge in liberal countries like ours.

 

Islam is the enemy of liberalism.

I have worked in pretty much every Middle Eastern, North African and Sub Continent muslim country since 1980. To varying degrees. Some i lived and worked in for many years. Some for a few weeks only. 

 

The OP was about the Burkha. I totally disagree with the wearing of this oppressive garment in a Western European country because of the symbolism it denotes. A Hajab is worn in most of the generally decent muslim countries anyway. There is also the security point as well. 

 

In the Western European countries women have fought a long hard struggle for the vote, equal pay, equal rights, to be treated fairly, not beaten up by their husbands, etc, etc. The Burkha is the symbol of oppression. So use a Hajab instead and probably no decent person would object.

 

I have a good many friends who are muslim, I have worked with and shared rooms with many muslims over the years. I have no objection to their faith at all. In discussions in the later years i always quote this comment.

 

As the great parliamentarian Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

 

The only way to sort out this current mess is for the good muslims to triumph over the evil and bad fundamentalist ones. No Western politician, person or army can solve it. It has to be done from within the religion itself and with the aim of moving the religion then to a more liberalistic and understanding one that fits into the 21st century not the 7th century. Many countries are doing this already. Many sorry to say are not. 

 

 

4 minutes ago, giddyup said:

 By removing their visible shackles.

I suggest you're projecting, read the OP.  In anycase how does banning the burqa in public places stop abuse  - it doesn't.

There are certain costs when an immigrant culture comes into contact with a mainstream culture. One group must incur the cost of integrating. And it should not be the host country.  

43 minutes ago, simple1 said:

I suggest you're projecting, read the OP.  In anycase how does banning the burqa in public places stop abuse  - it doesn't.

It's a step in the right direction, the same as banning other medieval practices that are alien and unacceptable to western values. It also lets them become a part of mainstream society instead of remaining isolated. I'm not sure what business (other than muslim) would employ a burka wearing woman that had to deal with customers.   Certainly don't see any in the major department stores in Thailand, or my home country. It's our culture, why should we be ashamed or criticised  for protecting it. After all, it's this very culture that attracts muslims in the thousands searching for a better way of life.

Down road of nana there many Kazakhstan girl, they all have hijab, 500 bht and chicken from 7/11, they wil do many things with  hijab on. same as the girl in nana but cheaper. 

52 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

I have worked in pretty much every Middle Eastern, North African and Sub Continent muslim country since 1980. To varying degrees. Some i lived and worked in for many years. Some for a few weeks only. 

 

The OP was about the Burkha. I totally disagree with the wearing of this oppressive garment in a Western European country because of the symbolism it denotes. A Hajab is worn in most of the generally decent muslim countries anyway. There is also the security point as well. 

 

In the Western European countries women have fought a long hard struggle for the vote, equal pay, equal rights, to be treated fairly, not beaten up by their husbands, etc, etc. The Burkha is the symbol of oppression. So use a Hajab instead and probably no decent person would object.

 

I have a good many friends who are muslim, I have worked with and shared rooms with many muslims over the years. I have no objection to their faith at all. In discussions in the later years i always quote this comment.

 

As the great parliamentarian Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

 

The only way to sort out this current mess is for the good muslims to triumph over the evil and bad fundamentalist ones. No Western politician, person or army can solve it. It has to be done from within the religion itself and with the aim of moving the religion then to a more liberalistic and understanding one that fits into the 21st century not the 7th century. Many countries are doing this already. Many sorry to say are not. 

 

 

Post of the thread!!!!

You will never change Islam with legalities. High numbers of fatalities sometimes work but sometimes not. This religion is unique in all the world.

On 8/1/2018 at 7:00 PM, Hayduke said:

 

There is no Islamic requirement for women to cover their face. However they are, according to religious teachings, expected to cover their head. Covering the face is tribalism and not religion. As such, secular governments are under no ‘freedom of religion’ obligation to allow it.

 

 

I agree.

 

It is a basic survival instinct to distrust people who cover themselves and their faces. Very much of our hard- wired human interaction is based on facial expressions and body language. The human face has so many muscles to display expression and our brains use these cues to communicate thoughts and emotion that is more real, deeper, and more spontaneous than speech. Without this primary input our lizard brain spontaneously fears and distrusts strangers.

 

This has nothing to do with religion.

If you want to be part of a society you must openly display yourself to others in order to interact with them in the most fundamental of human ways. Neither a smile nor a grimace can be seen through a veil. Humans fear what they can't understand or identify.

 

Masks have been used throughout human history to disguise action and intent.

From time immemorial covering something up means you are hiding something. If you are hiding something then you are distrusted.

 

Perhaps this not politically correct but it is intrinsically human, and will not change anytime soon.

 

Ok, so much for science and evolution. Those issues aside, if you dress like a bank robber it is natural for others to distrust you.

 

If infidels visit or live in Muslim countries they are simply jailed, deported, or worse for violating social norms. Why should Muslims living in other countries, citizens or not, expect to be treated differently?

 

Muslim history/belief is all about infiltrating, destabilizing, and eventually out-populating and reforming the societies of every country on the planet one step at a time.. This has been occurring for thousands of years., and according to Islam's infallible and eternally unchangeable holy book, will continue for all time.

 

Why would it not be feared now?

 

Finally, although I don't personally consider islam a religion, as hayduke pointed out, wearing a face covering is not addressed or required by their holy book.

 

It is disengenuos to argue that veils are an expression of religion. Wearing of veils is simply a personal clothing foible that separates you from your peers both literally and figuratively. Don't be surprised if it is if you find yourself isolated.

 

So many insisting Muslims must assimilate 100% into European culture. While many expats are fluent in Thai, most are not,  even after 30 years.
How many of us have dropped their faith to embrace Buddhism? How many now believe in animism and ghosts and spirits?
How many have decided to drive like Thais, pick our noses and zits in public? Immigrants can't be expected to adopt 100% the culture of the host country. People will always hang onto some beliefs.
Nothing wrong with that.
 

Very true and how many will expect their ‘home’ laws and customs be adopt here in Thailand?
I am sorry, but your comparison with farangs in Thailand society bears no resemblance to your comparison of Muslims wishing to change Europe (for example) to fit with their ideals.


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13 minutes ago, DILLIGAD said:

Very true and how many will expect their ‘home’ laws and customs be adopt here in Thailand?
I am sorry, but your comparison with farangs in Thailand society bears no resemblance to your comparison of Muslims wishing to change Europe (for example) to fit with their ideals.


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Many farang in Thailand wish the country would change to reflect Western values. We see it everyday on TVF.

These Danish Muslims were simply expressing their disapproval of a law that limits basic freedom of religion.

They're not trying to change Denmark into a buqa wearing society, they just want the right to choose their own dress. 

"As a Muslim, I strongly support the right to ban the veil"

" Europe is increasingly reaping the harvest of multicultural policies that have served to divide rather than unite. Not just with the growth of Islamism, either, but by engendering hostility to immigration and refugees — often towards my fellow Muslims. The Islamists thrive on this, the idea of Muslims being a society-within-a-society."

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/03/the-right-to-ban-the-veil-is-good-news-for-everybody-including-muslims/

24 minutes ago, duanebigsby said:

So many insisting Muslims must assimilate 100% into European culture. While many expats are fluent in Thai, most are not,  even after 30 years.

How many of us have dropped their faith to embrace Buddhism? How many now believe in animism and ghosts and spirits?

How many have decided to drive like Thais, pick our noses and zits in public? Immigrants can't be expected to adopt 100% the culture of the host country. People will always hang onto some beliefs.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

Agreeing partially.

But looking like a ninja or a bank robber is hardly a belief, it's simply a very poor choice of clothing when interacting with people who are neither.

 

Don't believe me? Put on a mask and/or a burqua and walk into a bank; I'd like to be there for that. Why should some people be allowed to openly defy identification, even as a human?

 

To be honest, a gorilla in a burqua and veil would look like a human but certainly should not be mistaken for one without risking serious consequences.

 

Not wearing concealing clothing is hardly considered a detriment such as the other examples you named.

 

Few people would advocate Muslims abandoning their belief system, but asking them to be identifiable as human is hardly a stretch. For the record however, abandoning Islam is a death sentence according to their holy book. Apostasy, along with so many other heinous offenses is punishable by death or dismemberment.

 

Everybody is entitled to their own beliefs, regardless of how silly, fictitious, and unfounded they are. I know a Pastefarian guy who worships The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

 

My belief system states that all other belief systems are pathological conditions and I regularly wear a dead pig face over my head. But  I don't expect other people to embrace me for my belief, and I would never do it publicly.. Correctly so, most folks would assume me to be a complete Loony Tune and would shun me.

 

This I fully understand. Is it really that hard to grasp?

Should have a garbage bin in every airport . If they don't want to put their masks in it they can get back on the plane.

Troll post removed. 

 

7 hours ago, RocketDog said:

Agreeing partially.

But looking like a ninja or a bank robber is hardly a belief, it's simply a very poor choice of clothing when interacting with people who are neither.

 

Don't believe me? Put on a mask and/or a burqua and walk into a bank; I'd like to be there for that. Why should some people be allowed to openly defy identification, even as a human?

 

To be honest, a gorilla in a burqua and veil would look like a human but certainly should not be mistaken for one without risking serious consequences.

 

Not wearing concealing clothing is hardly considered a detriment such as the other examples you named.

 

Few people would advocate Muslims abandoning their belief system, but asking them to be identifiable as human is hardly a stretch. For the record however, abandoning Islam is a death sentence according to their holy book. Apostasy, along with so many other heinous offenses is punishable by death or dismemberment.

 

Everybody is entitled to their own beliefs, regardless of how silly, fictitious, and unfounded they are. I know a Pastefarian guy who worships The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

 

My belief system states that all other belief systems are pathological conditions and I regularly wear a dead pig face over my head. But  I don't expect other people to embrace me for my belief, and I would never do it publicly.. Correctly so, most folks would assume me to be a complete Loony Tune and would shun me.

 

This I fully understand. Is it really that hard to grasp?

Why do people keep on harping about about walking in to a bank, or airport for that matter, which is a completeky different kettle of fish, and not what this ban is about.

The nerve of these Muslim women.  Moving from their oppressive countries, where they're told what they can and can not wear, to the "free" West and expecting to be able to wear what they like.

On 8/2/2018 at 6:46 AM, Bluespunk said:

Just as I believe no one should be forced to wear a veil, I believe no one should be forced not to wear one either.

 

“Staying silent is like a slow growing cancer to the soul and a trait of a true coward. There is nothing intelligent about not standing up for yourself. You may not win every battle. However, everyone will at least know what you stood for—YOU.”

 

Shannon L. Alder

Hey I want to wear a veil, too. Especially when I go into banks and hang around ATM machines.

I would love to see what would happen if i walked down any main street or high street on a freezing cold morning wearing this.

 

• Balaclava.
• Stockmans Coat.
• Shotgun case over my shoulder. 
• Hat.

 

• The firearm is registered in my name.
• Just going to pick up a coffee and a sandwich.
• Everything is legitimate and the gun is licensed and i am off going wildfowl shooting.
• Do you think there would be a few phone calls to the police?
• I am sure there would be a few phone calls.

People perceive correctly or incorrectly the same way in these times of terrorism the wearing of a Burkha. I know i do. My guard goes up immediately. I think it is human nature and to do with fear.

 

 

Congratulations Denmark in making a very sensible decision. The law is clear, no veils in public !

Showing your face in public is foremost an integral part of integrating into western life. Those which fail to except our values then have the right to leave and live in countries which tolerate that behavior. 

3 hours ago, zydeco said:

Hey I want to wear a veil, too. Especially when I go into banks and hang around ATM machines.

Then do so.

 

Remember banks have security check procedures though. 

6 hours ago, the guest said:

Congratulations Denmark in making a very sensible decision. The law is clear, no veils in public !

Showing your face in public is foremost an integral part of integrating into western life. Those which fail to except our values then have the right to leave and live in countries which tolerate that behavior. 

Muslims are only happy to live in non Muslim countries 

Send them back to live in the sand if they don't want to conform to society norms and put an end to this nonsense 

 

Denmark is my favorite place. I have arranged a Danish passport due to Brexit and I lived there for several years in the '80s.

 

Just returned from an extensive and extended vacation I spent several days in both Stockholm and Copenhagen. Both countries have social justice in spades and are such civilized places. Both showed great humanity in allowing in asylum seekers as you would expect. It has been grossly abused by muslims as you would also expect

 

Denmark is making a better fist of it partly through a new law. One must demonstrate at least conversational Danish within 3 months in order to remain. I speak Danish but not well; the pronunciation is difficult.

 

Anyway, burkas or whatever the ghastly gear is called was far less noticeable in Denmark that across the Oresund.

 

Good luck to the Danes.

 

(there are always local tree hugging nutters and I suggest the Danes ship them out for 3 months to understand Muslim "life")

6 minutes ago, duanebigsby said:

You are allowed to wear a balaclava in public. They aren't banned.

If a police officer asks you to show your face you must comply.

Half of Northern winter countries are hidden by ski masks half the year.

They are in malls, banks and even post offices in the UK and for good reason

 

(in not talking about frozen ski resorts BTW) 

 

I don't think the authorities will be impressed if we all start wearing these in public :

3 minutes ago, Ks45672 said:

They are in malls, banks and even post offices in the UK and for good reason

 

(in not talking about frozen ski resorts BTW) 

 

I don't think the authorities will be impressed if we all start wearing these in public :

These women weren't in banks, malls, or post offices. They were protesting the ban to walk around in public. There are only 250-300 women in Denmark who even wear the thing, not worth a blanket ban.

16 hours ago, stevenl said:

Why do people keep on harping about about walking in to a bank, or airport for that matter, which is a completeky different kettle of fish, and not what this ban is about.

I don't know about others. I talk about it because it is relevant.

 

Perhaps I don't have all the facts.

 

If the current law specifically bans face coverings when entering banks and other high security areas then that particular point is invalid and I withdraw it.

 

But that was not really my main point.

Again, it is simply human nature to distrust people when you can't see what they are hiding or even be sure they are human.

I welcome your rebuttal on this primary thesis.

 

Actually I think you are sensitive to the bank thing because it is indeed a  most relevant point and you can think of no logical way to refute it.