dialamah

Well so would I. I would also like to avoid implementing laws that put women and girls at higher risk of being confined to their homes, which I believe would be the result of a burka ban for some Muslim women and girls.

Read carefully: Muslim.women who wear a burka cannot go in public without the burka. This is oppressive, bad enough if they choose it, worse if husband or family choose it for her. The "free" country she lives in bans the burka in public. She cannot go out in public with the burka on because it is illegal. She cannot go out in public without the burka because either her conscience forbids it, or worse - her husband or family will not allow it and she feels she must respect or obey her husband or family. I said nothing about kidnapping or illegal confinement. But I suppose any consideration or discussion of dysfunctional family behavior is irrelevant in the goal to save the women from oppression by adding to it.

Have you missed the stories of women and children effectively imprisoned in homes, sometimes for decades, authorities and neighbors oblivious? Sometimes its a stranger kidnapping girls or women, sometimes its the husband or boyfriend, sometimes a parent or both parents. How many more do you suppose we never hear about?

Totally agree, but that is not the law in Canada. And it isn't just Muslims who practice it, so an attempt to ban it would likely get significant pushback. However education and and public awareness have reduced the number of babies who have to endure it.

If a woman who is required by her family to wear a burka in public but Canada implements a law banning the burka in public, how is she to get to counselling or "westernized" Muslims? I agree that Imams are key to changing attitudes.

Circumcision is both common and legal in Canada.

How would anyone know?

Sure, let's ban this symbol of oppression; for the women who wear it by choice, they can decide not to wear it, no problem. Or if they decide.to stay home, well I might think that's dumb ... but their choice. But what are you going to do about the women whose family says ... No burka, no leaving the house? One of the most effective methods an abuser has to control his victim is to isolate her. Isolating her keeps her from seeking help and this would be even more effective for a woman who is not familiar with Canadian culture. With a burka ban, the woman most in need of exposure to Canadian culture, its freedoms and its resources are denied that if they can't leave their house. People who think banning the burka is helping oppressed women fail to realize they are simply adding another layer of oppression. Banning the burka will just make the most oppressed women invisible and quite literally trapped at home. But I suppose banning a "symbol" of oppression is easy and when all the burkas disappear, along with the women who wear them, people can tell themselves they've accomplished something.

Only if one assumes that every woman dressed like that doesn't want to be. Although I guess handing her a hand fan in 90 degree weather might be practical regardless of whether its her choice or duress.

What are you replying to?

Why is it so common for rightists to declare they know the minds of everyone? But believe what you want, I don't care. PS: I looked halfway through this post to see who I'd quoted, wasn't sure who it was.

I don"t like those either and feel uncomfortable seeing a woman dressed like that. But that is my problem, not hers. Her problem is different and varies. If its her choice to dress like that, facing the disapproval and sometimes physical hostility of the wider public. If she is coerced into wearing it through family pressure, its facing their disapproval and sometimes physical hostility if refuses. I would say her problems are bigger than mine.

Sometimes when I read/like things, I don't even know who the author is. So, bzzzt, you are wrong about me again.

@betsy...I have reread your posts and I accept your apology.

Don't feel bad, I'm sure you say things people like sometimes too.

Why should I have to? Why should you criticize my behavior when I'm attacked when you know nothing about it?

An honest person would include the statement I was actually responding to.

Are you trying to claim you are concerned about gun violence in Chicago? Are you concerned about the rest of the country, where more than 11,000 people have already died this year in gun-related deaths? Or what about the 22,000 suicides, at least some of whom might still be alive if they didn't have instant access to a gun and had to rely on something a little less lethal - any concern about them? Maybe the 550 kids, or the 1500+ teens who've died this year? Were you even aware of these numbers?

Only a fake Christian would object to a non-believer posting a link to an admirable Christian in a topic about celebrating faith.

Nope, I was busy being shocked and horrified at the death toll, not hoping the deaths of almost 50 people and 500 more wounded would give me some leg up on a stupid political forum.

Muslims, Jews and Christians all worship the same God. Muslims recognize Jesus as a prophet of God.

And so my post fits right in then.

Perhaps the big one will happen before you retire and you can time it to snag some cheap property and move in when infrastructure and services are restored.