Ah Liz, would that there were alternatives:

* 'them'

* 'us'

* a vacuum,

but it is not to be. It's a dirty world.

So yours is a vote for the Taliban, then ?

Put yourself in the position of a woman in Afghanistan: REALLY, who would you rather live under ? Would you survive under the Taliban ?

Oh dear, I guess the world is full of useful idiots.

Joe

"Taliban militants beheaded a teacher in a central Afghan town while his wife and eight children watched, officials said Wednesday, describing the latest in a string of attacks targeting educators at schools where girls study."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-01-04-afghan-teacher_x.htm

Let's hear it for Liz45 and her support of the Taliban which somehow is connected to her feeling that the burqa is symbolic of liberation.

More good news on the burqa banning front:

"Switzerland: Federal committee recommends burqa ban in schools, offices"
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/12/switzerland-federal-committee.html

"Netherlands: 73% support a burqa ban"
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/12/netherlands-73-support-burqa-ban.html

and more related news which evidences a welcome trend:

"CR: 75% of Czechs oppose building mosques"
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/12/cr-75-of-czechs-oppose-building-mosques.html

The Europeans are finally waking up.

What will it take to awaken Australians from their slumber?

Liz45

Malalai Joya has been quoted a number of times as saying that she wears the burqa because she is forced to and it is 'a shroud for the living'.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3668254/Malalai-Joya-courage-under-fire.html

@JanF - Well, why are you having this discussion then? Go and water your plants, or?

@Cornflower - What have you read about Afghanistan?

If you look at the destruction, violence, greed, killings, poisoning of atmosphere; detainment without trial etc, you don't have to go further than the West? By any standards, the US has and is repsonsible for more deaths, torture, rapes etc than the Middle East.

Just because I don't believe in banning the burqa or getting rid of Islam etc, doesn't mean that I support violence and discrimination. I just don't think we're in the position to take the high moral ground on justice and equality. Take a look at the documentary, 'Unconstitutional-the war on civil liberties in the US'. Go to www.freedomumentaries.org or www.rawa.org

Incidently, Malalai Joya does not agree with banning the burqa either. As she correctly says, that's only a manifestation of the oppression; banning it doesn't change ATTITUDES!

Have you read her book? Any books about women in the Middle East?

Yet another reason women should not be free to wear the burqa:
http://sheikyermami.com/2010/12/13/liberating-shrouds/