Ban
Racism and not the Burqa
BY BINDU GURTOO 
So
the French president has gone and done it. In the first presidential
address in the French Parliament since 1848, the esteemed President
talked about… the Burqa! By declaring, quite theatrically in the
parliament that there was no place for the burqa in France, Mr. Sarkozy
has undone the goodwill that President Obama so painstakingly earned for
the West in Cairo last month. Not only that, by making a fatwa like
declaration, he has given the Islamic hardliners another opportunity to
raise the bogey of western cultural imperialism. Well, what else can one
expect from a man who seems to have little clue on how to deal with
global recession, or to tackle the rising unemployment in his country or
even to get his countrymen and women to put in an honest day’s labour
without going on a strike. Bombastic statements such as these confirm
the long held belief of the coloured world that liberty is the white
man’s concubine who uses her exclusively for his pleasure.
Pray, Mr. Sarkozy, how is burqa a garment of exclusion while the
catholic nun’s habit is not? Granted that the burqa condemns the
wearer to a claustrophobic formlessness, but, what about the two piece
bikini designed by a man for the voyeuristic pleasure of the male gaze?
How can a culture which connives in forcing teenagers to attain
impossible thinness and applauds bizarre garments as high fashion, or
sit in judgment over others’ attires? Come on Frenchies, tell us, as
instruments of debasement and oppression, how are decadence, racism,
substance abuse, bulimia, porn and pedophilia any less than the burqa?
If, by banning the burqa you are trying to rescue Muslim damsels in
distress, then may we suggest a more worthy alternative? How about
giving the Muslims in your country genuine equal opportunities that are
not sabotaged by racial snobbery?
While you rush to ban the burqa the way you banned the turban, why not
ban a few other things such as tobacco, liquor and skinny fashion which
have debased and destroyed a great many of your people? But we know you
are not going to do that, Mr. Sarkozy for these are valued as
expressions of the haute French culture. And one does not desecrate
one’s culture by rudely hiving off bits, does one? We suspect Mr.
Sarkozy that you have learnt your lessons in governance from the
redoubtable Robespierre whose guillotine had once worked overtime in the
name of democracy.
Perhaps Mr. Sarkozy, it is time you stepped out of the Muslim woman’s
wardrobe and directed your attention to some real issues such as climate
change, recession and the future of the European Union. Or do we
conclude that it is because you are incapable of pondering over these
problems that you take refuge in her cupboard? Do come away from her
closet, President and let the Muslim woman decide for herself what she
would like to wear. Ah! You are only trying to lend a helping hand,
aren’t you? Please desist! For history shows us that the helping hand
often ends up slapping the helper. As the president of the nation that
pioneered popular uprising, you ought to know that revolutions have to
germinate in native soil and can never be successfully grafted. Instead,
place your trust in the Muslims to decide on the destiny of their
cultures for themselves.
Perhaps, Mr. Sarkozy, the time has come for France to follow the example
from across the Atlantic of her once good friend and partner- in-
revolutions and elect colored leaders? Though it may seem a daunting
task for a man of your intellect, but think Mr. Sarkozy, think!
_______________________
Bindu
Gurtoo, CNS
is a member of Citizen
News Service (CNS) Writers' Bureau. Email: bindugurtoo@gmail.com,
website: www.citizen-news.org
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