Opposition to Quebec veiled-voter ruling is broad

[Leafless]

Quebec's federal and provincial political leaders of all stripes have united in opposition to an Elections Canada decision to allow Muslim women to vote while wearing a burka or niqab, which covers their face.

Looks like political correctness does not fly in Quebec relating to veil covered faces.

So why are other provinces in Canada sitting on their hands on this one?

Maybe we should all wear mask, when we go to vote or better still all the time.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...hub=CTVNewsAt11

[August1991]

This is an issue in the upcoming Quebec byelections too. The Quebec Director of Elections has ruled that everyone must show their face. If he hadn't, people would have shown up in Youppi suits and Batman masks.

I sometimes feel that the strength of civil liberties rests on the fronde's willingness to thumb its nose at authority.

Edited September 9, 2007 by August1991

[jbg]

My religion demands that I vote in a ski-mask.

[geoffrey]

My religion demands that I vote in a ski-mask.

And go to the bank in one too, while carrying a gun.

[margrace]

I heard an interview with a woman wearing a full Burka, she said God commanded her to wear it. Maybe she should read her religions history, it wasn't until 1200 or so I understand that men started that lie. As I said before women need to smarten up and think for themselves.

[mikedavid00]

I heard an interview with a woman wearing a full Burka, she said God commanded her to wear it. Maybe she should read her religions history, it wasn't until 1200 or so I understand that men started that lie. As I said before women need to smarten up and think for themselves.

The Burka is tribal dress stemming from the Saudi's. The other countries coppied that.

If you see a woman in a Burka she is a human slave. A slave like cattle. She is a female slave in our first world country.

She is like cattle. She is not able to work, live a life or do as she pleases.

She's a slave and women wearing burka's should be outlawed in Canada.

Or maybe something else should be outlawed in Canada...

[guyser]

She's a slave and women wearing burka's should be outlawed in Canada.

I agree.

But get rid of crosses around the neck , yarmulkes , turbans, bhindi's........I take it you didnt realize?

[jbg]

The Burka is tribal dress stemming from the Saudi's. The other countries coppied that.

If you see a woman in a Burka she is a human slave. A slave like cattle. She is a female slave in our first world country.

She is like cattle. She is not able to work, live a life or do as she pleases.

She's a slave and women wearing burka's should be outlawed in Canada.

Or maybe something else should be outlawed in Canada...

Canada is a free country. Forcing women to enslave themselves should be treated the same way all false imprisonment is.

[sunsettommy]

The Burka is tribal dress stemming from the Saudi's. The other countries coppied that.

If you see a woman in a Burka she is a human slave. A slave like cattle. She is a female slave in our first world country.

She is like cattle. She is not able to work, live a life or do as she pleases.

She's a slave and women wearing burka's should be outlawed in Canada.

Or maybe something else should be outlawed in Canada...

I have seen A Muslim women wearing Burka in my city in America.She was alone and shopping.

She appeared to be free.

[jefferiah]

I agree.

But get rid of crosses around the neck , yarmulkes , turbans, bhindi's........I take it you didnt realize?

Well there are women who wear the Burqa of free will. So you can't call it slavery. But nonetheless your comparison to crosses, yarmulkes, etc is out in space. Some of the burqas provide pretty good cover, with nothing exposed except a narrow slit for the eyes. So in essence you got a variation of the ninja suit. That could be a man under there. I am not saying this would be a common thing, but security demands that show your face in certain situations, right? Crosses, and yarmulkes don't create that much of a disguise. Unless you are one of those fictional people who can't recognize that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person because of the spectacles.

Reminds me of a corny old joke:

Q: What did Tarzan say when he saw the elephants coming over the hill?

A: "The elephants are coming over the hill."

Q: What did Tarzan say when he saw the elephants coming over the hill wearing sunglasses?

A: Nothing, he didn't recognize them.

Edited September 11, 2007 by jefferiah

[JB Globe]

The thing is, veiling one's face has nothing to do with Islam. The Niqab (what the garment is called) is a relatively recent invention that's used by an extreme minority of Muslim women around the world, and only in sizable numbers in certain countries. It's based in culture, not religion, and as such doesn't get the same legal status.

It's totally different from the Hijab, which has been around even longer than Islam, and was adopted from Islam's beginnings as a key element of faith.

I don't see it as a religious issue at all - it's a cultural one.

If it was something to do with the Hijab, than it would be religious.

[Renegade]

Looks like political correctness does not fly in Quebec relating to veil covered faces.

So why are other provinces in Canada sitting on their hands on this one?

Maybe we should all wear mask, when we go to vote or better still all the time.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...hub=CTVNewsAt11

This is a non-issue which has been made an issue by narrow minded politicians and individuals. This is not a relegious or cultural issue.

The question generically is should we allow the individuals to vote who cannot be identified by facial recognition. The answer is we alreay do, and have done so for many years. We have done so through maill-in ballots and proxy voting. Those votes don't count for any less than a personally-casted ballot. If a mail-in or proxy vote doesn't require facial recognition, and is still valid, why should it be an issue for personally-cast ballot?

[Renegade]

And go to the bank in one too, while carrying a gun.

You can I suppose, however the bank is not obliged to permit you entry.

[jbg]

The thing is, veiling one's face has nothing to do with Islam. The Niqab (what the garment is called) is a relatively recent invention that's used by an extreme minority of Muslim women around the world, and only in sizable numbers in certain countries. It's based in culture, not religion, and as such doesn't get the same legal status.

It's totally different from the Hijab, which has been around even longer than Islam, and was adopted from Islam's beginnings as a key element of faith.

I don't see it as a religious issue at all - it's a cultural one.

If it was something to do with the Hijab, than it would be religious.

We agree on this one. The burqua is more a statement by Muslims about the West; they want no part of us. And if that's the case they have an option available in all free countries; emigration.

[geoffrey]

You can I suppose, however the bank is not obliged to permit you entry.

Fair. Is it ok for the bank for forbid a wearer of a burka entry as well?

How about in voting? Can I vote with my face covered as long as I promise I'm not cheating?

[Leafless]

This is a non-issue which has been made an issue by narrow minded politicians and individuals. This is not a relegious or cultural issue.

The question generically is should we allow the individuals to vote who cannot be identified by facial recognition. The answer is we alreay do, and have done so for many years. We have done so through maill-in ballots and proxy voting. Those votes don't count for any less than a personally-casted ballot. If a mail-in or proxy vote doesn't require facial recognition, and is still valid, why should it be an issue for personally-cast ballot?

This issue extends further than voting.

It is to be remembered these people who wear burka's do so all the time.

Our society is a modern society and is not geared to accommodate masked strangers.

Imagine if we were all masked, you would not be able to tell the difference between a panhandler and the PM, out in the street, in the media or wherever.

Facial recognition is a must in our society and if we were all masked or veiled serious multiple problems would soon be apparent.