A Word Against a Proposed Policy in France

Posted on December 11, 2003 in Francophobia Secularism

Here’s a classic example of political correctness gone wrong:

Muslim girls in France could be barred from wearing headscarves in schools after an expert commission recommended a ban on “conspicuous” religious signs.

The official commission headed by former minister Bernard Stasi has released its findings on issues relating to religion and the state.

French President Jacques Chirac will announce next week whether he supports the commission’s recommendation.

The ban would also include the Jewish skull-cap and large Christian crosses.

This Proud French American hopes that Chirac will reject this ludicrous proposal out of hand. The Secular State should not be turning out little robots who think alike.

I support the separation of Church and State. What I cannot support are measures such as this which attempt to regulate the expression of the conscience through behavior. This variety of political correctness misses the mark in many ways: first, as I mentioned, the State has no business regulating the religious behavior of people when there is no clear and present danger (e.g. of clear and present dangers: suttee, human sacrifice, cannibalism).

Second, this kind of regulation targets the victim of racial hatred rather than the perpetrators of racial violence. If someone bashes a little Muslim girl over the head because she is wearing the hijab, it’s not her fault! Educators should be teaching tolerance for nonconformity, not suggesting that being different and out of keeping with the habits of the crowd is cause for discipline. It’s not. What is cause for discipline are acts of violence and intimidation against any human being for reasons of personal expression.

Maybe it is time for me to put on my Quaker hat and never take it off the next time I go to France.

Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!