Coming to America: Burqa Ban?

So the conversation on Niqabs and Burqas seem to be popping up all around me. Weather at work, at home, or on the Internet there are mixed feelings about France's Burqa/ Niqab ban.

Me in my Veil

As most of you who know, I wear a head covering in the style of the Hijab. My face show, but I cover myself pretty much from head to toe for religious/spiritual reasons.

When I started to do this I got some mixed reviews. Some thought it was wonderful and beautiful and admired me for doing something out of the norm, simply because I believed it was something my God wanted me to do.

Others, well.....Not so much.....Some people felt that my choice to cover myself was oppr
essive, thought I was ashamed of my body (Whether it was because I was ashamed of my body or because they thought my faith told me that a woman's body is "shameful") or just trying to seem Holier than thou.


The funny thing is, these were usually the same people who stood behind Muslim women who are always riled up whenever a news story talks about a woman told to she needed to change when her shorts were up her butt crack or told to go to a bathroom when she's breast feeding!

They'll say things like "A WOMAN'S BODY SHOULDN'T OFFEND YOU!" or "A WOMAN CAN CHOOSE HOW SHE WANTS TO DRESS!"

I agree with that statement. My personal belief is that a woman should have the right to wear whatever she wants. Wether it be a Burqa or a Bikini.

A Muslim Woman in a Burqa

I was having a conversation with some coworkers a couple of days ago and the Burqa ban popped up.

One of my coworkers, someone I  would consider a strong modern feminist, said that she said she always felt uneasy whenever she saw a woman wear a burqa/niqab. But when I told her I can't stand when I see some dude wit his pants hanging down his knees and I see his Sponge Bob boxers, she quickly said:

"That shouldn't offend you!"

I don't get it. Why in our society, are we so much more comfortable to seeing so much uncovered than we do covered.


Apparently there are some people who want the Burqa/ Niqab ban worldwide, including, the land of the free, America.

Here's some of the reasons why I think the Burqa/Niqab makes some of us uneasy:

A muslim woman in a Niqab

1. Women are forced to wear it!
Yes, it's true. In SOME countries, women are force to wear it. Whether it be from their government, their father's, or their husband's, some women have no choice but when ever they leave the house, they must cover their face. That IS disgraceful.

But in western society, the Burqa/ Niqab is something that the individual woman chooses. Most try to be talked out of doing it by their families (Including fathers, husbands, and clerics) and friends. But they feel Allah placed it on their heart. In Islam, if you haven't figured out already, teaches about modesty and a woman protecting her beauty. A western Muslim woman who covers her entire self, face included, does that but also she doesn't want to be judge by just her appearance. She wants to be judged on the good things she does and by her intelligence (Isn't that the message ALL western women have been preaching for centuries?). So she covers and preserves her beauty for someone who is willing to stand by her side for the rest of her life and never for sake her (IE, her husband). Muslim women are not the only ones called to be modest, Christian and Jewish women are to also. And in fact, the Burqa/ niqab has been around a lot longer than Islam has been around. It said that it originally started in the Early Christian church.


2. It's a security issue.
Okay, I understand that when it comes to identification proposes, seeing the face is important. For the airport, DMV's, Banks, etc.
Burqas and even some niqabs obstruct the view wen driving and that can be dangerous.
BUT that doesn't mean we have to get rid of it all together.

In fact, most women who do wear the face veil do remove it for identification purposes and driving.
For more On that, check out this video here:

3. It makes me so uneasy when I see it....


And THAT'S the one that grinds my gears.......I don't know if anyone told you this, but just because you don't like something does not mean you have the constitutional right to Ban it!

It bothers me when I see a Teenage girl wearing a mini skirt with her cheeks falling out, but I do not feel the need to make a law banning short skirts. I don't like it when someone wears an upside down Cross, but I don't go up to them and say "TAKE IT OFF!" Or go to my local politician and make anything that disrespects my faith illegal.

I don't ...You know why? Because I do not have the right NOT to be offended.

And why are so many women for this Ban?

Feminists shout from the roof tops that men don't have the right to tell a woman how to dress, but when you sign a petition to ban the veil, or you go to your MALE senator, That is EXACTLY what you're doing! You are dictating what a woman can and cannot wear.

As  libertarian and as a woman, I am AGAINST the veil ban in France and in England, and I hope to God that it never comes here to the US.

DON'T TREAD ON ANYONE!

On The Fence: Hobby Lobby

So as you all know, The Supreme Court Ruled That Hobby Lobby had the right as a private business to not cover *certain* Birth Control devices in the Health Care Plan that they offer to their employees.


I say CERTAIN, because they still do offer Birth Control Coverage. about 14 out of 16. Only thing they aren't covering are certain Morning after Pills and from IUD device.


So what's the opinion of the Libertarian side?

Well, most, if not all Libertarians support Hobby Lobby in their choice. Men women, Religious or not, the party feels like they have that right.

Why? Well, the best worded argument can be found on The Libertarian Party's website:

http://www.lp.org/news/press-releases/libertarians-respond-to-hobby-lobby-ruling

So what do I think?  Well, to be honest I'm on the fence. I'm not all up in arms as everyone in the world is.


Let's look at some points that the supporters of Hobby Lobby and the People against it have been made.


1. Pro Hobby Lobby: They still have Birth Control.

Yes, coverage of the Pill still exists. So If you are an employee of Hobby Lobby and you need the Pill fro what ever reason, weather to be used as Birth Control, need assistance of having your system run regularly (Like I needed as a Teenager), have ovarian cyst, etc. Your company's Health Insurance still Will help pay a portion.

Let's say, hypothetically, they did not: There are a lot of generic brands that are inexpensive, and you can go to any Health Department or Women's clinic and get it for Free.

What about Plan B? The one Pill that is not covered?
If your birth control fails, you can go to any Wal-mart and pick it up without a prescription. Literally, it's right there in the aisle next to the condoms. It's anywhere from 20-40$ for one pill, but it's only to be used in a just in case your regular Birth control fails.

Anti Hobby Lobby: Their retirement plan benefits from pharmaceutical companies who make these morning after pills.

This is a Valid point. I don't know if Hobby Lobby didn't do their research on what exactly their retirement plan is, or what happened there, but I do agree, it's a valid point. I don't know why this is the case, but I highly doubt it's to do this so they can control women's bodies.

Anti Hobby Lobby: It's none of their business what goes on between me and my Doctor!

I kind of agree with that statement, but it also brings up another point. I don't mean to sound like a smart alack about this, but I genuinely wonder about this.

It's none of your employer's business what goes on in your private life.....but you want to Make sure the Government forced your employer to pay for it?

Again, not meant to sound like a smart ass, or  anti woman, or anything like that. That's what I can't help but think wen I hear this argument. Not to say I don't agree that Birth Control is used for SO many actual health issues women face either. I already listed those.
Maybe that's the issue! Maybe we need to re brand the Pill. Give it a new name since it does so much more than just prevent pregnancy. Maybe we should just call them what they actually are: HORMONE PILLS!

Pro Hobby Lobby:  There are other plans out there.

Some people who side with Hobby Lobby have stated that if an employee is not happy with the coverage that their employee's health care, there other plans out there. And they're right! In fact...if I'm not mistaken...Isn't their a website about that?

Anti Hobby Lobby:  They still cover for Viagra and vasectomies!
Yes and thy still cover Birth control, as I mentioned Before.

Pro Hobby Lobby: The Government does not have the right to infringe on any one's  religious or non religious beliefs.

That is true! As seen in the First amendment!:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, redress of grievances.
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a

That also means you have the right to boycott and yes, even protest, peacefully!

And lastly, one the one thing that makes me most fenced:

Anti Hobby Lobby: If they allowed to do this, then Business owned by Jehovah Witnesses could deny their employees blood transfusions, etc.

I have to say, I'm still mulling this over. It's possible this could e a slippery slope. That if you work for a company that's open about the faith of the founder, that this ma happen.

On one hand, IUDs and Plan Bs aren't considered life saving needs. On the other, who's to say this couldn't happen?

Verdict: On the fence.

I don't think this issue is as Black and White as everyone make it out to be.

I don't think Hobby Lobby is doing this just to bring down women because they don't think women are people. I think they might not be the most informed on the two products their not covering, but I don't see it as a huge fuss as everyone else.

The world's not black and white.

Okay, I'm done ranting...