French or Freedom?

French or Freedom?

No, not fries. Religion.

The French are apparently trying to decide which they appreciate more: religious freedom, including the freedom to wear a headscarf, or forcing others to follow their sense of morality. Hmmmm. Tough choice for the Frenchies.

On the one hand you have people trying to exercise religious freedom. On the other hand you have the French penchant for seeking gov't control over everything and their misguided sense of moral superiority over everyone who does not agree with them. Even on little things like religious freedom.

Thank God we don't have anything like that here in the US!

France split by proposal to ban Islamic headscarves and crucifixes in schools

President Jacques Chirac must make a potentially explosive decision in the next few days whether to demand a new law banning Islamic headscarves and other religious symbols from French state schools. . . .

The women's magazine Elle published a petition, signed by leading French feminists and actresses, attacking the Islamic headscarf as "an intolerable discrimination against women" and calling for a law to reinforce the principle of a "lay" republic but also the principle of equality between the sexes. . . . [ed. note: unless, of course, they want to wear them, right Elle?]

Under a 1989 ruling by the administrative appeal court, the Conseil d'Etat, headscarves and other signs of religious faith are allowed in state schools so long as they are not "obtrusive". Responsibility for interpreting this judgment falls on individual schools and school districts. There have been a number of confrontations between parents, pupils and schools in recent years - growing in intensity with the rise of militant Islam.

The debate is further confused by the habit of the French media and politicians of talking about la voile or "the veil". The real issue is whether Islamic girls and women can wear foulards (headscarves) in state institutions - principally schools but also hospitals and government offices - and, if so, how ostentatious the scarves can be.

The committee of inquiry, run by the centre-right politician Bernard Stasi, must decide whether to recommend a law banning all religious symbols and, if so, where that law should apply. There is no question of banning headscarves in public places, just in state institutions.