From Clara Zetkin to the burqa : an ethical question.

 ( 15/04/10 )

  France is a country which seems to like the conflcit and the debate to get things moving. After the national debate, a few months ago, whose inevitably one of the main topic was about immigration and islam ; right now, to ban the wearing of burqa in the means of transport and in the public spaces is at the heart of actuality. Indeed, François Fillon is eager to ban this practical which offends our «conception of the social life in France » , through a bill law, claiming it is not acceptable in a country like France, in this republic, because it is « the symbol of a communal retreat, contrary to the equality between men and women » . This over coverage row follows on from the  debate concerning the national identity established by Eric Besson, minister of immigration and integration. Then remaining the famous secularity principle, a principle of neutrality and not a principle of indifference towards religions, asking fermly to the Muslims to respect this concept of social life.

   Inevitably this is a topic which is very controversial and confuses people in France. It is normal to ban all ostentatious religious signs in places such as school in so far as, school has an educational aim. Some measures in the past have already been taken. For example with Jules Ferry, politician anf figurehead of secularity in France, thanks to his law about primary school in 1882, based on a secular teaching and obligation to teach     ; but also more recenty in 2004, with the law against ostentatious religious sign. To my opinions, school is a sharing place, in which inequalities must disappear, especially social and religious in order to restrict intolerance risks, like racism. School has an educational aim and every pupil has to be treated by the same manner, on whatever pretexts, social and ethnic origins and religious behaviours.

    Indeed it is quite difficult to have a clear-cut opinion, but somehow I guess that, nowadays it is more and more incomprehensible to accept that under the cover of tolerance and freedom of expression. The burqa is a simple-minded symbol for a woman. It is all the more incomprehensible     as, during decades and centuries, lots of women have fought against that kind of obscurantism, claiming more freedom for themselves, not only in France but also around Europe and the world. In Europe a woman, Clara Zetkin who was a german politician, took the initiative on creating feminist movements and was at the origin of the creation of international women’s day, at the beginning of the 20th century. An important avance for women right. In France also we have figureheads, such as Aurore Dupin, a writer of the 19th century who adopted a masculine name to publish her writings. Indeed she caused a scandal through her hectic love life, her masculine cloches and her masculine pseudonym. Besides she wrote lots of political manifestos in favour of the poors, and was not very appreciated by some literary figures, such as Baudelaire. Without forgeting the emblematic Coco Chanel,  in the fashion world, incarnation of the modern, free and active woman by her creations. Started from nothing, growing up within an orphanage to get, finally, one the most famous haute couture fashion house in the world. It is the same in politics. More and more women have more and more powers, like Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, president of Argentina. All these women have contibuted to improve wormen’s social status in the society. That is why, I am hostile towards the wearing of the burqa. Not from a religious point of view, but from an ethical point of view. There is something which is quite annoying in that practical.

   However the most  annoying thing is how politics involves in that. Not to be in favour with the wearing of the burqa, not to support this practical and to be in favour of this bill law are two different things. If this proposed law is accepted, it will reinforce fear for Muslims, and it will certainly develop a kind of racism, whereas the aim of the bill is to develop integration. I think integration hasn’t got the right to do under the cover of intolerance. Because, yet it is. Can you imagine if this law comes into force ? Can you imagine a people from muslim confession, wishing to take the bus with his voile ? Maybe he will not be accepted to use this mean of transport … It is like Apartheid in South Africa, and it is dangerous in a democracy like France. Where is the republican exercice in a bus ? Furthermore this discuss encourage far political parties to develop their antifascist ideology, and thus, to deserve themselves. During the last regional election in France from the 14 to the 21 March, the FN (Front National), Jean-Marie Le Pen’s political party, created the surprise with its 11% for the first ballot and its 9,2% for the second ballot. Proove of the FN’s back on the french political scene, sowing discord within the right political parties, especially the UMP (Union pour le Mouvement Populaire) which lost plenty of its voters. How not to connect these results to the debate on the national identity and the burqa ? Indeed, it is clear that the FN has used this controversial matter to promove its own political interests. Without forgetting its controversial campaign poster representing the France with Algerian flags colours with a veiled woman. « No to islam » was the slogan. Isn’t it an incentive to racism ? This matter became a dangerous propaganda tool. It is a kind of « witch hunts ». And it goes against tolerance, respect and integration. Concerning tolerance and minorities, France should follow England’s example. Nowadays England refers to a tolerent society, thanks to the New Labour which used to set up some measures in favour of the different minorities from homosexuals people to Black and Asiatic, against discrimination.