Dear Blair,

I understand that people have the right to do anything they like that doesn't contravene the law. In general, wearing a tent or a Darth Vader suit doesn't contravene any law of which I'm aware.

By the way, since when did Australia acquire a "dress code"? Is there a compulsory national uniform that I don't know about?

runner: << If all women would control their sexuality they would not then murder so many of their unborn. It is simply their lack of control that leads to this horrific situation. >>

I think runner would make a very good Taliban member.

"I understand that people have the right to do anything they like that doesn't contravene the law."
Dear CJ
I asked where does this right come from?
You have not answered this simple question.
Regards
Blair

CJ,
people have the right to take any action they choose as long as that action is not detrimental to others.If we can't identify whom we are dealing with, we are placed at a disadvantage,to our detriment,that has nothing to do with "dress codes".

Hi Blair.

<< I asked where does this right come from?
You have not answered this simple question. >>

Now you're being disingenuous - as you know, it's not a simple question at all. Indeed, it's one that's vexed political philosophers for ceturies, if not millennia.

I think that being free to wear what one wishes is a 'natural right' that one is born with, and is characteristic of a free society. Such rights (or liberties, if you will) should only be curtailed by the State if it can be shown that the exercise of them endangers other people in some way, or restricts the exercise of their own rights.

Nobody here has demonstrated that a woman wearing a burqua is a danger to anybody - rather, we've had what is mostly a litany of paranoid and/or intolerant comments that impute negative motives or exaggerated offence at what is, after all, simply a choice made by a very small minority as to what kind of clothing they wish to wear.

I'm perfectly entitled to wear a Darth Vader costume or a gorilla suit in public, but a bank would be just as entitled to refuse me entry or to open an account for me if I was to refuse to identify myself. Ditto with air travel etc.

mac: << people have the right to take any action they choose as long as that action is not detrimental to others.If we can't identify whom we are dealing with, we are placed at a disadvantage,to our detriment >>

That's just not true. Every day we deal with people we can't identify - from telesales drones to anonymous commenters on Internet forums. As far as I'm aware, I'm only required by law to identify myself to a police officer - although I note that I'm the only person participating in this discussion under my real name.

What have you all got to hide?

CJ,
False analogy,
I require people on the phone to identify themselves,if they don't I don't deal with them, The difference is,a woman wearing a burqa cannot be identified(because basically, she has no public persona) where it is essential and the rest of society is expected to accommodate.You're not forced to deal with me or anyone else here,that's the difference.What's in a name anyway? I haven't noticed any of your personal details posted here. Be careful of ad hominem arguments and assuming the high moral ground without any justification.

yours sarkily,

Harry J Baggerdagger.

Dear CJ
I have never been accused of being "playfully insincere" before..a first.
You state that "Such rights (or liberties, if you will) should only be curtailed by the State if it can be shown that the exercise of them endangers other people in some way, or restricts the exercise of their own rights'. But the State curtails many individual liberties eg public displays of obscene pictures,public nudity by adults, uttering of obscene language in public etc. None of these acts endanger people in any way yet the State prohibits them. Why? Because enough people find such public acts offensive.
If enough people in Australia find hiding one's face under a burqa or niqab offensive, then as the activities mentioned above are prohibited then so should wearing a burqa or niqab in public.
"I note that I'm the only person participating in this discussion under my real name."
My name is Blair Bartholomew and I use name blairbar. I know your surname is Morgan but that is all.
Regards
Blair