I agree, Flann. Freedom of expression is about the closest thing to sacrosanct that I can think of, and it applies to everyone, of all cultures. Just as we must maintain separation of church and state, we must also protect freedom of expression and freedom of religion. They are intertwined.Flann 5 wrote:geo wrote:I don't see how outlawing articles of clothing is going to do anything except limit personal freedoms. There are many different reasons that Muslims wear the hijab, niqab and burka. Many Muslin women choose to wear these.
These attacks are horrific and I'm not saying they are in any way justified.
Many Muslims in Europe are feeling marginalized including by these kinds of laws. All I'm saying is that it just feeds in to the perceptions of the more extreme groups.
Are they going to stop? No,but it's unwise of governments to introduce heavy handed laws targeting a particular group for no good reason.
I just saw Spielberg's movie, Bridge of Spies, about an American lawyer who must constantly justify his belief that a Russian spy deserves the strongest possible legal defense. Because how we treat others defines us as a nation. It's one of the more salient themes of the movie.