No voting in camoflauge - Voters in Quebec Must Show Face

[jbg]

In a rare blow to the default position of dhimmitude and political correctness overspreading Canada and Europe, Quebec official have made a rare bow to common sense - people that wish to vote must show their faces. Too bad we can't bar kirpans and other weapons from school. Link to article here, excerpts below:

===============================================================

Andy Riga, with files from Irwin Block, Hubert Bauch and

Elizabeth Thompson, CanWest News Service; Montreal Gazette

Published: Saturday, March 24, 2007

MONTREAL - Quebec's chief electoral officer took the extraordinary step of unilaterally changing Quebec's election law Friday in order to force everyone who votes Monday to show their face.

And a Muslim group said the entire controversy - which relates to Muslim women who wear full face veils known as niqabs - has been fabricated by news outlets that are "fuelling hate" toward Muslims and leaving some members of the community fearing for their safety.

*snip*

To ensure his own protection, Blanchet (Quebec's chief electoral officer) said he now travels with two bodyguards.

He said he found it "troubling" that threats caused him to change the electoral law.

*snip*

Elmenyawi (a Quebec Muslim official) said election officials never consulted Muslim leaders about the issue.

Had they, they would have been told that niqab-wearing women will show their face for identification purposes, preferably to other women. He estimates 10 to 15 women wearing niqabs would shown up to vote and they would have shown their faces, if asked.

*snip*

[Borg]

Very humourous indeed - first one way one day - then one way the next.

Whatever will be will be.

Borg

[guyser]

Man that smells and bad.

Just what was he thinking ? It does on the surface seem to be taunting . But it is Quebec , and they do things differently there.

[seabee]

I think this smells bad, but for DGE (Directeur Général des Élections) only. Let us review chronologically.

In the middle of last week, not even a week before the election, he issues a directive to say that islamist women would not have to show their face to identify themselves. This, to start with, was totally useless, as he had received no demand for such a measure. Also, the law already has provisions relating to people who refuse to show their face, whether it be for medical, esthetic,religious or any other reason. Then, the total number of women in the entire province who would do this is less than 20.

In Québec, there two non-negociable principles: gender equality, and separation of church and state. The way the media reported the directive was interpreted as a violation of both these principles. His office was flooded with hundres of letters and emails of protest. So were the media. And a few web sites opened and encouraged people to go to vote wearing masks, à la Darth Vader or à la Ben Laden. This would have incredibly slowed down the voting process. All politicians had to take a stand, and none supported the DGE, including Charest.

Then, he reversed his position entirely, saying that all these women would have to show their faces. This is in violation of the election law as I explained above. He should simply have explained how the law allows for people who don't show their faces to vote if they take other, more elaborate steps to identify themselves.

Furthermore, a commission has been created by the government, with unanimous support from all parties, to study the problems related to the question of reasonable accomodations; the DGE could have waited for its report.

The DGE needlessly created this whole mess, and in trying to repair it, only made it worse. He is probably already looking for another job.

[jbg]

I don't know why anyone would remotely think that voting or for that matter appearing in any crowded venue with face covered for non-weather related reasons is acceptable.

[guyser]

I don't know why anyone would remotely think that voting or for that matter appearing in any crowded venue with face covered for non-weather related reasons is acceptable.

Religion....or chicken **** protestors. Only one of those is acceptable.

[Argus]

Man that smells and bad.

Just what was he thinking ? It does on the surface seem to be taunting . But it is Quebec , and they do things differently there.

What does that mean? That you have different standards for Quebecers?

[guyser]

Man that smells and bad.

Just what was he thinking ? It does on the surface seem to be taunting . But it is Quebec , and they do things differently there.

What does that mean? That you have different standards for Quebecers?

People and provinces do things differently across this country. Quebec more so.

Some wrong some right. Try moving to PEI for instance.

[Leafless]

I don't know why anyone would remotely think that voting or for that matter appearing in any crowded venue with face covered for non-weather related reasons is acceptable.

I think there should be limits to what is acceptable pertaining to 'freedom of religion'.

I agree with the decision of the 'DGE' (Director General of Elections), as Islamic religious beliefs could interfere with the security of the general public, especially in a public polling station, when dressed in an outfit consisting of loose fitting veils covered from head to toe, which could be concealing anything including, obviously, ones true identity.

Add to this various threats from the general public and you could have a very disruptive problem.

Muslims should understand this type of problem in a modern Western country and adjust certain aspects of their religion to accommodate general public fears and suspicion, especially in a time of racial, or imported customs or religious beliefs, relating to Muslim unrest.

[jbg]

People and provinces do things differently across this country. Quebec more so. Some wrong some right. Try moving to PEI for instance.

I wonder if, for example, during the January 23, 2006 elections for tne Nunavut riding, if voting in Frobisher Bay (oops, Iqalit) (link) the voters often have their faces covered?

[guyser]

People and provinces do things differently across this country. Quebec more so. Some wrong some right. Try moving to PEI for instance.

I wonder if, for example, during the January 23, 2006 elections for tne Nunavut riding, if voting in Frobisher Bay (oops, Iqalit) (link) the voters often have their faces covered?

At -32C as the high....?....I doubt it, they probably went in T shirts and shorts ? They are tough up there. But likely not as I dont recall any pics of Inuit covering their faces.

[jbg]

At -32C as the high....?....I doubt it, they probably went in T shirts and shorts ? They are tough up there. But likely not as I dont recall any pics of Inuit covering their faces.

-32C was the mean. The high was -30C

[August1991]

I agree with the decision of the 'DGE' (Director General of Elections), as Islamic religious beliefs could interfere with the security of the general public, especially in a public polling station, when dressed in an outfit consisting of loose fitting veils covered from head to toe, which could be concealing anything including, obviously, ones true identity.

I don't think the DGE was really concerned about Muslims. The nanoscopic percentage of Muslim women concerned have stated that they would as usual show their faces, preferably to a woman.

[One way to understand this for a Westerner is to think about going to the mall in a bathing suit. You could, and they may even let you in, but most people would feel uncomfortable.]

The DGE did this because he worried that the news reports would lead to too many voters showing up in Richard Nixon (or Rene Levesque) masks - partly as a joke and partly to make a point.

As to Quebec, remember Trudeau's pirouette behind the Queen? The DGE wanted to avoid too many pirouettes.

[blueblood]

Man that smells and bad.

Just what was he thinking ? It does on the surface seem to be taunting . But it is Quebec , and they do things differently there.

They do things different in Western Canada too, should Western Canada start applying reasonable accomodation, the voting public would most likely go for it.

[Higgly]

In a rare blow to the default position of dhimmitude and political correctness overspreading Canada and Europe

Yes, as we all know, there are laws in Canada and indeed across all of Europe, which forbid Jews and Christians from building houses taller than those of any Arabs. LOL.

The outcome of the Quebec action will be that religiously observant Moslem women will not vote and will be disenfranchised. Too bad Quebec could not find an inventive way to solve a real-world problem. This is unnecessarily heavy handed and discriminatory.

[Charles Anthony]

The outcome of the Quebec action will be that religiously observant Moslem women will not vote and will be disenfranchised.

With respect, you do not understand the rule of the hijab.

A women can unveil herself before an other (Muslim or non-Muslim) woman. They do it all of the time.

Thus, a woman scrutineer need only be present.

When I used to vote, nobody except one or two people saw my photo-ID.

[jbg]

The outcome of the Quebec action will be that religiously observant Moslem women will not vote and will be disenfranchised.

With respect, you do not understand the rule of the hijab.

A women can unveil herself before an other (Muslim or non-Muslim) woman. They do it all of the time.

Thus, a woman scrutineer need only be present.

I've seen pictures of street scenes in many Arab cities. The women generally do not walk around with their faces covered. I believe this adaptation is one designed to show hostility to the countries to which they've immigrated. If they hate us so much they have no stake in our society and should disenfranchise themselves.

[Charles Anthony]

I believe this adaptation is one designed to show hostility to the countries to which they've immigrated. If they hate us so much they

I would only give your view any weight if it turned out that ALL Muslim women covered their faces with a veil. As it turns out -- and I will boldly say "As you should know better" -- that is not the case. Only some Muslim women cover their face and the many just cover their heads.

[Higgly]

With respect, you do not understand the rule of the hijab.

A women can unveil herself before an other (Muslim or non-Muslim) woman. They do it all of the time.

Thus, a woman scrutineer need only be present.

When I used to vote, nobody except one or two people saw my photo-ID.

Yes you are right - I did not know that. My understanding was that they could only reveal themselves to family members.

[geoffrey]

When I used to vote, nobody except one or two people saw my photo-ID.

You had to show Photo ID?