Timkins,
If you cared to read my comments carefully you would realise I was quoting what Australian Muslim woman of the year had to say about what her head covering meant. Your idea that the head covering was worn for vanity is nonsense. Ancient women in tribal religious communities were forbidden to exhibit vanity. I ask do six year old Muslim girls suffer from grey hair? How would you know, if they were wearing their hijab? Come up with a more realistic guess!

Rather than guessing, read ancient texts on why wemon were forced to subject themselves to their fathers, brothers, and husbands authority. The sign of this was loose fiting clothes that completely covered every part of their skin which included their heads. In Jewish prayers the men thank God they were not born a woman or a dog. Islam is also an Abrahamic religion and Abraham's grandson Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah instead of the love of his heart Rachael because they was completely covered. These ancient tribal people completely covered their wives and marriageable daughters. These cultural practices were written in the ancient texts of the Bible.

Quote, "It is rather incredulous, that there is a clash of cultures over a head scarf, but in reality, that head scarf was most likely used in earlier times to cover up grey hair."

For those who think is OK for any group to disregard State school uniforms think about future generations.This is the thin edge of the wedge.There are some State schools in NSW that only serve halal food and all who want to eat,have no choice.

The hijab to many, has become a political symbol of suppression.It was banned in France because it was symbolic of Muslim disregard of French laws and customs.The French have huge simmering social conflicts with their Muslim population.The Muslim philosophy is their's is the only way,and all must accommadate them.While we only hear from the Educated moderates who can articulate their position well,there are many who dispise our way of life and want to impose their tenets on all.

The radicals in Indonesia want to destroy their economy since a prosperous nation has little reason to seek refuge in religion.This form of religion is all about the power of mortal men and the concept of god is the conduit to achieve this.

Do you want future generations to be ruled by religions bereft of true democratic ideals,scientific logic,and social tolerance or are we too stupid and weak to see the dangers?

Arjay, the majority of the muslim population in Indonesia do not subsribe to such fundamental ideals. Indonesia is 80% Muslim, yet the parties who promote the "Islam is the only way and we must force others to see it our way" message fail miserably.

Fellow Human advises that 3,000 to 5,000 Anglo Australians have converted to Islam in just 2 years. There's another thing for you wonderfully liberal people who don't give a damn about what happens to your country and culture to think about. The aim of Islam is world domination. This will come about through violence or infiltration.

Abu Bakir Bashir says: "If there is a state,the infidel country must be visited and spied upon. My argument is that if we don't come to them, they will persecute Islam."

We have about 300,000 Muslims in Australia now. More will come. More people will convert, and self-hating, trendy-left Australians will go under, taking those of us who do value our own culture and heritage with them.

Philo,
I don’t think the Bible or the Koran are very historically accurate, nor do I think they are meant to be taken too literally.

In regard to the Hijab and French schools. Religious symbols are not allowed in French state schools, so it was debated whether or not wearing the Hijib in schools was functional, or symbolic of a religion.

There were historians contacted who had studied the history of clothes. Over the years, people have worn many different clothes, that have not been greatly functional or even convenient, but in earlier times men would often wear something to cover up baldness, and women would wear something to cover up grey hair (eg caps, hats, wigs, scarves etc). It was found that even in Muslim societies where the Hijib was not imposed, women began to voluntarily wear it as they got older, and the main reason (although not openly talked about), was to cover up greying hair. Greying hair in men is normally not a great problem for them, although quite a few can have a problem with becoming bald.

Western societies have also imposed some unusual and often non-functional types of dress. Many women have worn the corset and the high heel shoe, often causing them considerable health problems. Apparently both were introduced into French society by the rather notorious Catherine de Medicis in the 1550’s. Some of her other talents included poisoning and political assassination, and she once ordered the slaughtering of over 50,000 Huguenots on St. Bartholomew's Day in 1572.

Many men are also required to wear rather hot and uncomfortable neck ties and business suits, and it has been estimated that this is producing unnecessary greenhouse gasses, because more coal has to be burnt to create more electricity to drive office air conditioner systems which have to be turned down lower than necessary, so as to keep cool the businessmen wearing the hot and uncomfortable neck ties and business suits

So overall the Hijab is only one of many non-functional types of clothing being worn.

And how will we defeat this Islamic armageddon, Leigh? Are you suggesting two armed and belligerent camps in the world facing and hating each other? Haven't we just spent 50 years doing that with the Eastern block?
We expell all of them and they expell all of us, I suppose. Sounds like just the way to have a war, if you ask me.
Surely our best chance is to encourage moderate Muslims (the majority I imagine) to reject extremist philosophy? We need to remain engaged with most Muslims and not allow ourselves to confirm the worst things the fundamentalists say about us.
Will we do that better by being tolerant and inclusive and civilised ourselves? Or by becoming (un) Christian versions of the very thing we most despise? Allowing women to choose their own clothes is fundamental to Western philosophy, giving up on that one simply makes us oppressors too.