Yeah, let's get rid of the burqa and, while we're at it, let's get rid of all religions as well.

This is the year 2010. What the hell are we doing still tolerating religious myths and superstitions (and the charlatans who promote them), ones that were part of primitive societies that existed thousands of years ago?

It's time we grew up, threw out the Santa Klaus syndrome, and became realists.

There's no god, no life after death. Get used to it!

CJ Morgan - I suggest there is little "harm" in seeing a naked person walk down the street or into the shopping centre or your business premises ... whatever.

There may be considerable "offence" taken. Does this count in your view? It seems sometimes that you consider the offence taken by one demographic over some "harmless" issue to be legitimate but dismiss the same indignation when expressed by a different group over matters of like importance - or lack of.

Stating a FACT: It is illegal to go naked in public here in Australia. It is also beyond argument that we do NOT have the freedom here in Australia to wear or not wear EXACTLY what we want. Concealing one's identity is generally considered a no-no for any other Australian citizen. You won't be welcome in the Bank, Service Station, Convenience store, Chemist etc with your full face bike helmut or balaclava you've been wearing for weather protection. The folk at the airport will likewise firmly insist you remove same.

As previously pointed out - the burqa is CULTURAL not religious but the religion card is played to justify its imposition on female members of some immigrant groups.

It is not inappropriate for Australia as a Nation with it's own set of laws, social mores and CULTURE to set limits on what is acceptable public attire. I and at least 90% of people I have spoken to on the subject believe concealing one's identity in public is unacceptable on grounds of security and cultural sensitivity. OURS!

CJ - if you were to relocate to another Country with a vastly different culture to yours would you expect to have to adjust some of your ways, at least in the public arena, to adhere to local custom or would you expect to be able to behave exactly as you do here?

I agree that government cannot dictate what people wear. Interesting to note that many posters here in favour of banning the burqa are among the first to scream "nanny state" when the government proposes more equitable distribution of wealth such as the tax on profits on the massive mining monopolies. But I digress.

I can't help but think of the limitations that wearing burqa places upon women, not only do they not get their daily dose of vitamin D, but also the limitations on choice of careers. For example, acting would be out of the question. Simply cannot imagine a Bell Shakespeare Production of Romeo and Juliet with the angst ridden Romeo uttering:

"Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

To a Juliet covered from head to foot - what a sight indeed!

Or an episode of "Sex and the City" with the Gals dressed in the very latest from Tent City.

Religion is ridiculous. And don't just blame Muslims - look at nuns - Christianity holds no moral superiority on its treatment of women.

“I have a beard, which can make lip reading difficult.” Agreed CJ – particularly if the bearded one is a mumbler and Eyejaw’s post also reminds me of the bearded ones who’ve become frustrated because the deaf recipients of their mutterings could not understand a word they were saying.

In fact, the least favourite bearded mumblers of my mother’s were those who would resort to grabbing hold of her to yell in her ear, causing much pain. However, this problem can be resolved although it depends on the IQ of the bearded one. The deaf have many obstacles in life to overcome, without any thoroughly useless additions to make their lives even more distressing.

You have opted to possess a ‘holier than thou’ condescending criticism of your fellow Australians who disagree with you (the majority) but then Australians (new and old) are generally not sycophants to newcomers who flaunt unnecessary and disturbing customs which do not benefit the common good and this debate has nothing to do with religion.

Religions, regardless of one’s personal view of their legitimacy are provided special sanctions under law, however, the Quran and the traditions of Muhammad simply call on Muslims to dress modestly therefore burqas are not religiously prescribed and have no legal protection, as explained by my Afghan neighbour. Consequently, the burqa can be dumped in the same slop bucket as the balaclava though perhaps both could be resurrected annually for Halloween?

One of the most prominent Islamic women in Australia, the president of the Muslim Women's National Network of Australia, Aziza Abdel-Halim, endorsed the call for the burqa to be banned in public. That’s good enough for me and good enough for the majority of Australians, according to recent surveys.

So far, nobody has come up with a reasonable argument why the burqua should be banned. All they can come up with is personal dislikes.
I think that the burqua looks absolutely ridiculous and is restrictive but wouldn't want to be responsible for stopping anyone to wear it if it's their choice to do so.

If we ban burquas, which very few Muslim women who live in Australia may choose to use as an expression of their faith or as an expression of their cultural identity, then we should ban torture devices such as crucifixes around the neck, too, as well as turbans, sari, choli, salwar-kameez, Salwars, etc.
If we ban the burqua, then any other outfit or piece of jewellery that expresses people's cultures or religions should be banned.

Also, if we do want to ban the burqua, then we should start by informing new immigrants or tourists, that if they choose to come to Australia, then they are prohibited from wearing the burqua.
They would be then free to choose whether to come here or not.

The Muslim women who already emigrated to Australia were told that we are a multicultural society and that their culture/religion would be respected and that they would be given the freedom to express themselves in this manner.
It's a done deal.

Geez - some of you just don't get it! OR you use bogus 'religious reasons' as a launch for attack on all religious belief or accuse those who object to the burqa of being "Islamophobic"

The BURQA is a CULTURAL GARMENT designed to conceal every inch of a woman from view of anyone bar her 'owner', husband / father, and family members and approved associates within private enclosures.

The "Nanny State" already dictates what may or may not be worn in public.

I know a number of Australian Moslem women - many wear the hijab scarf and cover everything else bar hands and occasional sandaled feet. Though probably hot and uncomfortable, their face and therefore IDENTITY is open. They can study, work, intermingle with the wider community and therefore be part of Australia.

A woman in a BURQA however is virtually unable to work. Her garment literally excludes her from association or any real interaction with people beyond the narrow confines dictated by her keepers.

Despite my feelings about these consequences for a small but significent number of Australian women it's not my main argument.

The LAW requires every other Australian to be identifiable in public. Short of medical reasons and some worksites, this means an UNCOVERED face.
Furthermore Australian culture is inclusive and open. For most of us, trying to engage in any form of communication with a faceless 'sack' is extremely difficult at best and extremely confronting and offensive at worse.

Think Aussie girl in tee-shirt, shorts and sandals strolling through downtown Kabul or Riyadh? Modest by our standards but would the locals take kindly? Nooo! Harrassment / assault / arrest / imprisonment would be likely outcomes. What would be the reaction of average Australians including the 'apologists' in our midst? How about, "Well she would surely have been aware that her attire was not appropriate in that culture" ?

So WTF is wrong with Australians saying to burqa wearers and their 'controllers', we object to you hiding your face?
WTF is WRONG if we insist it is culturally inappropriate and breaches security protocols?
One LOGICAL reason please!