Banning the Burqini...

[JagLover]

I agree with banning the Burkha but not the Burkini.

The problem with the Burkha is that it covers the face and so stops effective communication and therefore integration.

If women want to dress modestly on a beach, let them.

[SilverSpur]

BlackLabel said:

Several years on this issue is back in the news as more than a dozen French towns have now banned the burkini.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/19/nice...

And they are not holding back in enforcing the ban.

"Photographs have emerged of armed French police confronting a woman on a beach and making her remove a burkini as part of a controversial ban on the swimwear"

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/24/fren...

Telling people what they can and can't wear in public seems OTT to me. Unless something is security risk (eg a full face covering), a hygiene/public health issue or a public decency issue then should women really be told what they can and can't wear on a beach?

I think this is a terrible mistake by French officials. In a 'free' country you should be allowed to do dress how you want. This is playin into the hands of the fanatics.

If you don't want people of different cultures in your country, then make a stand and eject them. However, if you decide you want these people in your country then you can't pick on individuals in this way. France has a massive immigrant population and of they want to breed fanatics this kind of policy is exactly the way to do it. The husband of that woman in the photos would probably be incensed at her treatment.

I've seen plenty of Spanish women on beaches in Spain covered head to toe in dark clothing for purposes of modesty and sun protection and this isn't treated like a crime.

[essayer]

If France wants to educate women to not wear religious dress, I'm guessing that armed police on a beach isn't going to be the most effective method.

[Oceanic]

Not sure why anyone is banning burqini's until the unacceptable practice of men wearing Speedos is dealt with.

[SilverSpur]

This is the woman before the police turned up. Does anyone feel threatened by her? Doesn't look like it to me.
To me she's covering her modesty and protecting her skin. She isn't murdering anyone,

And yet three armed police feel the need to harass her? What is this, nazi Germany?

[Wobbegong]

Are surf suits allowed?

[anonymous-user]

Wobbegong said:

Are surf suits allowed?

Only when they are on a sexy bod!

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 24th August 12:30

[Smiler.]

SilverSpur said:

This is the woman before the police turned up. Does anyone feel threatened by her? Doesn't look like it to me.
To me she's covering her modesty and protecting her skin. She isn't murdering anyone,

And yet three armed police feel the need to harass her? What is this, nazi Germany?

I'm no fan of the bin-bag clad types but this is a complete overreaction. I feel more than a bit sorry for her & her experience.

It is the rough end of culture clash where change is seemingly foisted upon the locals who then have no voice to air concerns because "racist".

Sorry state of affairs.

[del mar]

The Law is the Law....

If you don't respect it you get into trouble

[clonmult]

del mar said:

The Law is the Law....

If you don't respect it you get into trouble

In this case the law is quite obviously ridiculous.

[Wobbegong]

SilverSpur said:

This is the woman before the police turned up. Does anyone feel threatened by her? Doesn't look like it to me.
To me she's covering her modesty and protecting her skin. She isn't murdering anyone,

And yet three armed police feel the need to harass her? What is this, nazi Germany?

Ridiculous isn't it

There is nothing threatening or offensive about the way she is dressed, it is no different to many people who stay in their clothes on the beach.

If she was dressed as a ninja I can possibly see the issue, but there is nothing wrong with what she is wearing.

[Digga]

Wobbegong said:

SilverSpur said:

This is the woman before the police turned up. Does anyone feel threatened by her? Doesn't look like it to me.
To me she's covering her modesty and protecting her skin. She isn't murdering anyone,

And yet three armed police feel the need to harass her? What is this, nazi Germany?

Ridiculous isn't it

There is nothing threatening or offensive about the way she is dressed, it is no different to many people who stay in their clothes on the beach.

If she was dressed as a ninja I can possibly see the issue, but there is nothing wrong with what she is wearing.

Indeed. Hardly seems incongruous TBH and it is certainly not spoiling anyone else's enjoyment of the beach. If she was head to toe, face covered, in a black burka then clearly, that would present a very different situation, but she's not. Seems rather ill-advisedly harsh.

[Mothersruin]

clonmult said:

del mar said:

The Law is the Law....

If you don't respect it you get into trouble

In this case the law is quite obviously ridiculous.

I'm all for individual freedoms.

I'm also all for being able to draw a cartoon.

[mwstewart]

Mothersruin said:

I'm all for individual freedoms.

I'm also all for being able to draw a cartoon.

Touché.

[clonmult]

Digga said:

Wobbegong said:

SilverSpur said:

This is the woman before the police turned up. Does anyone feel threatened by her? Doesn't look like it to me.
To me she's covering her modesty and protecting her skin. She isn't murdering anyone,

And yet three armed police feel the need to harass her? What is this, nazi Germany?

Ridiculous isn't it

There is nothing threatening or offensive about the way she is dressed, it is no different to many people who stay in their clothes on the beach.

If she was dressed as a ninja I can possibly see the issue, but there is nothing wrong with what she is wearing.

Indeed. Hardly seems incongruous TBH and it is certainly not spoiling anyone else's enjoyment of the beach. If she was head to toe, face covered, in a black burka then clearly, that would present a very different situation, but she's not. Seems rather ill-advisedly harsh.

When my kids were younger, rather than cover them in sun cream we would put them in a full body suit and often put a cap on (with something to cover the neck). There is little practical difference between these burquinis and what some parents will put on their kids.

What she's wearing is actually more practical from a skin care perspective than what most others are doing on that beach.

[anonymous-user]

Had to laugh when a group of ladies pitched up at the hotel pool in Egypt, 5 women shed their dressing gowns to reveal these burkini things, great, whatever, each to their own covering their modesty until they got wet and left little to the imagination, there was more camel toe on display than what I saw at the Bedouin camp the previous evening.

[anonymous-user]

clonmult said:

del mar said:

The Law is the Law....

If you don't respect it you get into trouble

In this case the law is quite obviously ridiculous.

I am all for a secular society but this is ridiculous and an embarrassment to the French.

[Jasandjules]

Without reading the French law, what exactly is wrong with the way the lady is dressed? Once I've been on a beach a few times, I will wear long shorts, t-shirt, hat etc to avoid over exposure to the sun. How is that any different to her?

[SilverSpur]

Mothersruin said:

clonmult said:

del mar said:

The Law is the Law....

If you don't respect it you get into trouble

In this case the law is quite obviously ridiculous.

I'm all for individual freedoms.

I'm also all for being able to draw a cartoon.

And in all reasonable societies you are allowed to, and your right to do so is protected and defended.

That's exactly why this behaviour by the French is an embarrassment to their own standards of Freedom and Liberty. Its another tiny step to the right.

[Mothersruin]

SilverSpur said:

Mothersruin said:

clonmult said:

del mar said:

The Law is the Law....

If you don't respect it you get into trouble

In this case the law is quite obviously ridiculous.

I'm all for individual freedoms.

I'm also all for being able to draw a cartoon.

And in all reasonable societies you are allowed to, and your right to do so is protected and defended.

That's exactly why this behaviour by the French is an embarrassment to their own standards of Freedom and Liberty. Its another tiny step to the right.

I think the French have had enough because being accommodating has got them nowhere.

I can agree this would seem to be a very visual example and perhaps not exactly where they should be focusing, but I suppose it's to reassure, as best they can, other French people who are very scared of elements within their country that wish them harm.

But I'm old fashioned. Among other things, I think kids should be quiet, well behaved and respectful of their elders. I think jail should be a punishment and not a theme park for criminals. I also think when trust is broken, whoever is placed firmly on the naughty step until they can prove that it's not going to happen again, then they can join back in.

Sorry about that.

Eta - this whole, 'known to the authorities' thing has to be nipped in the bud. Anyone that remotely flags up, and their associates, should be put in a hole until they can prove otherwise.

Edited by Mothersruin on Wednesday 24th August 11:59