Cherful:"at what point does the freedom to wear the burqa override the freedom of people in society to feel safe in cafes, shops,banks etc"

At what point does our cofee-sipper gain the right to tell others what to wear - whether she "feels safe" or not.

There is far too much attention paid to people's "right to feel safe". Life is inherently unsafe - every single one of us is doomed to die a death more or less horrible.

Why should the desire of some to live wrapped in cotton wool override the desire of someone else to wear a piece of clothing?

I'm sure that if I were to suggest that short shorts should be banned because they may conflict with my desire not to be sexually aroused by passers-by whilst having cofee with my children you'd say this is my problem, not that of the shorts-wearer and you'd be right.

I say that your issue is your problem and I'm also right.

"We all know there is another agenda at work here,
don't we? We're just too polite to mention it."

In a nutshell, Pericles.

I think the burka is indeed a symbol,
not only of oppressively patriarchal fundamentalist
Islam, but even more so for those bigoted non-Muslims
for whom it presents an excellent focus for their thinly
disguised hate towards those who are culturally different
from themselves.

We don't need to introduce any special laws to discourage
the wearing of the burka. It can be treated by regulation
in much the same way as the wearing of motorcycle helmets
or balaclavas. Where there is a valid concern about security
and/or facial identification, then these can be dealt with
by the business or agency concerned.

There is no need to abandon our commitment to individual
freedoms by passing stupid and discriminatory laws that
restrict what women are allowed to wear in public.

<<Why should the desire of some to live wrapped in cotton wool
override the desire of someone else to wear a piece of clothing?>>

Why should the desire of a pedestrian to be seen by a motorist
override the desire of that motorist to restrict their own vision with a sack over their head?

"A WAKEFIELD window cleaner has been cautioned by police after they caught him driving down the street wearing an Osama Bin Laden mask."

"A police spokesman could not confirm whether the warning was issued because his view may have been restricted or because of the nature of the mask"

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Window-cleaner-gets-a-caution.6649519.jp

What's to stop Osama Bin Laden driving down the street in a burqa?

If he was stopped by police would he be able to sue them for violating his religious beliefs?

Is a burqa a mask?

If a burqa is not a mask when a Muslimah is wearing one
does it become a mask when an infidel is wearing one?

If wearing a mask is illegal because it obscures driving vision should vision-obscuring "religious" headgear
be exempted because the right to drive in a tent overrides the right of another road user to be seen?

Is a burqa <<a piece of clothing>> or a religio-politico statement?

Proxy:"Why should the desire of a pedestrian to be seen by a motorist
override the desire of that motorist to restrict their own vision with a sack over their head?"

False analogy. The pedestrian has good reason to believe that driving a car while blindfolded is not merely dangerous, it's dangerously stupid. A bit like allowing churches to run child care facilities.

On the other hand, the hypothetical latte sippers have nothing but their own imagination to base their "fear" on. A bit like religious zealots of all stripes.

Proxy:"What's to stop Osama Bin Laden driving down the street in a burqa?"

Nothing. What's to stop you (or Osama) riding down the street wearing a motorcycle helmet?

<<What's to stop...Osama...riding down the street wearing a motorcycle helmet?>>

Osama would be subject to revealing his identity if he was wearing a helmet whereas
he would be less likely to be subject to revealing his identity in a burqa.

Related good news:

Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda has the support of less than a quarter of the population of modern, moderate Indonesia.
That's right, only 53,000,000 Indonesians have a favourable view of Al Qaeda.
http://pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/

So next time you see an anonymous humanoid in a burqa, relax.
It's probably a modern, moderate Muslim.
(Is that a trioxymoron?)

@CHERFUL - I agree with most of what you said, although, to think that women in Australia aren't capable of making up their own minds re wearing a burqa is an insult too. To think that if our religious attitudes are over the top, they must be forced on us by men, negates any recognition, that many women choose to wear a burqa -their choice. As I've said before, drunk men assault other men and women, but nobody suggests that we ban alcohol. It's the same logic as some bright spark exercised years ago re rape of women - ordered women off the streets after dark?
The greatest danger to women's health and safety around the world is violence by men; that is why 16 days from 25 Nov-10 Dec.have been set aside by the UN to alert people to the horror of these stats, and to the elimination of violence towards women. Rape is used more now than ever as another 'weapon' of war.
The West has its own forms of oppression against women. We shouldn't walk around on the high moral ground and tut-tut the nasty fundamentalists from the Middle East.
I was bashed by a nun at school,as were several of my classmates. One brother was sexually abused by a Brother, and a sister by a priest.Good little catholics all! It still goes on!
We need some perspective and logic in the discussion! I feel no threat by a woman wearing a burqa, in fact, I've given them a hug of solidarity - I can't say the same for being out after dark, even driving my car. As for walking, never alone unless well lit - don't feel comfortable at all!Australian men need to look at their own sexist and oppressive attitudes towards women!