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+--- Thread: Netherlands Moves to Ban The Burqa (/showthread.php?tid=6879)
Netherlands Moves to Ban The Burqa - Ruggedtouch - 11-17-2006
The Dutch government in my opinion is embracing a sensible doctrine of removing one of the many barriers that Moslems erect between themselves and integration into their host societies. It seems that Moslems desire the benefits of modern, liberal Western democracies but despise the very institutions and cultural norms that provide them the opportunities that simply don’t exist in their nations of heritage or origin. Associated Press writer Mike Corder calls it a general European hardening toward Muslim minorities
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Quote:THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The Dutch government announced plans Friday for legislation banning full-length veils in public places and other clothing that covers the face — putting the Netherlands at the forefront of a general European hardening toward Muslim minorities.
The Netherlands, once considered one of Europe's most welcoming nations for immigrants and asylum seekers, is deeply divided over moves by the government to stem the tide of new arrivals and compel immigrants to assimilate into Dutch society.
"The Cabinet finds it undesirable that face-covering clothing — including the burqa — is worn in public places for reasons of public order, security and protection of citizens," Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk said.
Basing the order on security concerns apparently was intended to respond to warnings that outlawing clothing like the all-enveloping burqa, worn by some Muslim women, could violate the constitutional guarantee against religious discrimination.
The very fact that this issue is open for discussion is a demonstration of the benefits of liberal democracy. The West needs to come to grips with two things: we need to protect and defend the very values and standards that have allowed us to innovate absolutely stunning achievements in the arts, sciences, technology and social arena and protect those values (after deciding that they are worthy ones) or bend and scrape to the arrogant and bellicose demands of those who darken our shores with policies that promote hate and gender apartheid while prohibiting innovation and progress. It can't be both.