"Only ban the burqa if it is not worn freely", is as ridiculous as "wife beating is OK if the wife does not complain."

How on earth are you going to tell? Few wearing the Burqa are going to freely admit that they do so not from a personal desire, but because it is expected of them.

I would say that if the Burqa was OK, then the Husband should wear similar garb.

Cornflower,

I agree - but in this country women have laws that protect them from that type of oppression.

It's up to them to assert their rights and that cultural hangover will eventually fade away.

The pressure for change may also move onto the males, particularly with the following generation wanting to assimilate.

How many remember those migrant widows from Eastern European countries that would dress in black for the remainder of their lives?

That was also a self-imposed cultural restriction but was gone within a generation.

Yep lets ban the Burqa and while we are at it I think we should impose a strict dress code on all women.
Perhaps we should invite that group of sensible and sensitive young men who were with Dianne Brimble in her last hours the job of designing such a dress code. We have every right to insist that women dress in a way that conforms to our expectations.

Has anyone noticed that our ABC continues to send lady correspondence to places where they are considered second class citizens, & thus likely to be less effective than males? Does the ABC still have any male employees they could send?

Of course our ABC has therefor have sent ladies to report on the Pakistan floods. Has anyone noticed that said lady correspondents are wearing some dreadfully ugly Muslim head gear while doing their reports? Does anyone else find this ridiculous, even bordering on offensive?

Does anyone else find it ridiculous that our PC brigade find it acceptable for Pakistan should impose its dress code on the ABCs reporter, but that we should not apply a dress code of our own here. Talk about cultural cringe.

I find it offensive that I am expected to accept a responsibility to respect the cultural oddities of immigrants to my country, but I have no right to expect that they do the same for my cultural oddities. After all it is my home, & they are applying to come here & take advantage of what I & others like me have built.

I found it most offensive that I could not find anyone who admitted to speaking English, when I needed some directions recently in a Sydney shopping centre. All immigrants should be required to have adequate English within 2 years of arrival, or have residency withdrawn.

I can see no reason why I should have a reduced enjoyment of my own country, simply because so many want to get away from their own country. After their culture has made their country of origin not worth living in, why should we let them bring any part of it here, to weave it's evil?

Well said HASBEEN, my feelings exactly. It makes my blood boil, when travelling, to obey the dress and/or other rules of various countries. Recently I was in a hospital waiting area and very nicely dressed when a couple with a child sat opposite me, she had on the full burqa. Not only was it confronting to me, my grand daughter jumped on my lap with fright.The husband was looking me up and down as if I was scum and the woman couldn't stop staring at me through the slit. How degrading. If these people choose to live in our beautiful country they should expect to live as Australians.

Not a good look, Hasbeen.

>>Does anyone else find it ridiculous that our PC brigade find it acceptable for Pakistan should impose its dress code on the ABCs reporter, but that we should not apply a dress code of our own here.<<

You're the sort of person who would walk into a church during a service in your singlet, thongs and baseball cap, and wander around talking loudly about the vile smelling incense, aren't you.

I find people like that offensive, and I'm an atheist.

But your logic is that old classic - they do it, so why don't we do it?

The simple answer is that I, along with many others, enjoy living in a country that is open and tolerant, as well as one that respects the customs and beliefs of others.

Which is one of the reasons that I choose not to live in Pakistan.

Plus the fact that I love cricket.