We’re there now. A current French discussion about banning the burqa — understood here to mean the head-to-toe garment that leaves Muslim women peering out at the world through a narrow slit — is really a politicized retreat from a potentially meaningful debate about Muslims assuming a more distinctly French identity in exchange for the assurance of a greater role in French life.
How the possible discussion of real issues dissolved into a charade with a low-risk choreography as ancient as the minuet is suggestive of how difficult (and debilitating) the subject is for Europe’s leaders.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Vinocur on Identity Debate
In The New York Times, John Vinocur unloads on the French "identity debate":
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2 comments:
I seldom agree with John Vinocur, especially when he is writing about France, but this time I think he's basically right.
Canal Plus invited 3 women of North African origin, Najat Belkacem (PS), Linda Asmati (UMP), and Sihem Habchi(Ni Putes ni soumises) to discuss the National Identity Debate and its issues.
What each had to say was pretty interesting.
The "musulmans qui déferlent" comment by Gaudin was brought up. It boggles the mind that *some* people should be prevented from rejoicing publicly for the team they support.
"Le débat sur le site web, c'est qui exclure pour savoir qui est français"
"Combien de femmes en burqa pour combien de contrôles au faciès? Il faut penser aux vraies priorités dans les quartiers".
"On peut pas dire la burqa c'est mal mais j'agis pas. Je suis pour une loi parce qu'il y a propagation, je refuse qu'on femme circule dans une prison ambulante. C'est laisser une population s'isoler."
I liked a key word: a debate about Identité Républicaine - not a debate about Identité Nationale.
http://player.canalplus.fr/#/202432
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