I agree it is a security concern, but we have many other security concerns.

Community or state or federal law mandating certain styles of public dress - such as no anonymity for any reason - could be passed I think, and would probably be open to court challenge, since it seems to be a new area.

I have a philosophical, libertarian bias against such public dress codes for all citizens, which is why I felt I couldn’t refute DQ’s argument.

Who do we allow to walk around in society fully concealed? Or even for religious reasons?

To ban the burqa - and then allow others to walk around fully concealed for any OTHER, non-religious reason - is precisely the basis for religious discrimination. I can’t see a way around the point you’ve made.

But if Muslim women want to go about in robes and hoods, maybe Christians should do likewise. Only we could wear white ones…

Thanks for your well-stated view. I certainly agree that no one should be forced to wear a burqa, but I cannot say one who wants to wear one is not entitled to do so. We can punish the behavior without banning the symbol. You have a good point about driving. I’d agree that no one should be allowed to drive wearing anything that restricts vision.

Why not stand up for our Western heritage and values as being superior in this case? Because they surely are. Any man who wants his women to wear burqas can take his shrouded chattel “prisoners” to one of the many other lands where burqas are worn and where he and his family will feel more comfortable (and evidently the burqa-wearing women are duty-bound to go in following them, as no woman wearing a burqa is supposed to go anywhere without a male relative as escort).

Why would such people come here anyway? That’s the real question we should be wondering. Like polygamy, honor killings, and human sacrifice, there are some things you can’t do in America. You want to swath your prisoners in burqas and brainwash them into believing they should wear those things–take it outside. You want the benefits of our society, you need to accept the rules and responsibilities. There should be “Americanization” classes to teach these people how to adjust to U.S. society–if they don’t accept, our values, out they go.

Women who choose to wear burqas in America and signal that much subservience and self-abnegation are signaling a big problem, both for them and for us. They can either decide to take the opportunity they are offered to accept a few Western freedoms while they are here (let a little light shine in) or choose to go elsewhere. They have that choice, while they’re on U.S. soil (not afterwards), whether they recognize and respect it or not. We can choose to either insist they follow our rules or, sadly, go back to the darker side of the world.

I would advocate for the sight of a burqa being grounds for Social Services to investigate spousal/family abuse, or for local police to investigate for missing persons, fraud, or robbery or other crimes committed; for traffic cops to pull drivers over as the burqa restricts vision and creates a hazard endangering others. Or for security services to suspect criminal activity being covered up. Wear a burqa, get hassled–the burqa is anti-social, pathological, and deeply anti-American.

Nice modest Amish garb or a scarf on the head is no social sticking point. It’s really not about modesty, it’s about grotesquely misogynistic practices. And since Islam doesn’t dictate the wearing of burqas, it’s not about religion. I’d say let the world know we are benevolently tolerant of diversity here but we have our limits, based on recognizing human rights for all people, men and women. The burqa is odious both practically and as a symbol. It is not cool, it is an artifact of ignorance. It has no place in America.

Burqa-wearing women drivers:
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=%5CForeignBureaus%5Carchive%5C200604%5CFOR20060406c.html

If they’re medieval enough to wear burqas, they shouldn’t be driving! If you want a driver’s license, grow up and join the 21st century.

To that extent, I agree. As I said, people must be willing to show their faces to authorities when appropriate. But there is no need to ban the garb completely to accomplish that.

There will be and should all ways be, different security arrangements for different places. If only to keep the attackers guessing.