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* * * 2006 ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET - GOA * * *
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WHERE: Foodland Cafe - Miramar Residency - Miramar, Goa
WHEN: December 21, 2006 @ 4:00pm
More info:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2006-December/051412.html
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--- Vidyadhar Gadgil wrote:
>
> But this issue can no longer be considered
> objectively, given the anti-Islam feeling drummed up
> by the so-called war on terror and the overall
> demonisation of Muslims.
>
Mario responds:
>
Vidhyadhar,
Can you tell us who exactly is "demonising" Muslims,
"overall"? Are you unable to tell that there is a
difference between normal Muslims who comprise perhaps
99% of the community and their homicidal and suicidal
fanatics?
>
Vidhyadhar writes:
>
> Also, security threats can be handled without a
> blanket ban, e.g, you can have women police
> officers available to do checking of burqa-clad
> persons. A blanket ban can only alienate an already
> under-attack Muslim community further.
>
Mario responds:
>
Around the world, women police officers have been
handling security for all women for decades now,
especially the burqa-clad women who are forced by
their repressive culture to hide themselves from the
world under a cloak.
>
BTW, did you know the Qu'ran does not require an
oppressive garment like a burqa? It only requires
Muslim women to be modest and not draw undue attention
to themselves. The burqa was a cultural innovation to
keep Muslim women subordinated. Some other extreme
examples of such cultural subordination are the Saudi
restrictions on women drivers, the ban on education
for women by the Taliban, and the "honor" killings of
women by their own kin.
>
Vidhyadhar continues:
>
> To take another example, in Pune and Bangalore,
> cities with high levels of automobile pollution, it
> is common to see women driving two-wheelers with
> dupattas and scarves wrapped round their faces.
> Is this not a security risk? -- for that matter is
> not a full-face helmet a security risk, let us not
> forget that ex-COS Arun Vaidya was assassinated by
> motorcycle-borne assailants in Pune. But I have yet
> to see calls for banning such face coverings.
>
Mario responds:
>
The reason why you haven't seen any calls for banning
dupattas that filter dust and helmets that protect
heads is that your entire premise here is bogus.
These same dupatta wrappers and helmet wearers take
off their coverings when not riding their vehicles,
have their faces on their licenses, and are not
obsessing about anyone seeing their faces.
>
And, are you seriously suggesting that the assassins
of ex-COS Arun Vaidya would have been deterred by a
nationwide ban on dupattas and helmets? Do all the
assassins in India walk around with their faces
covered?
>
Vidhyadhar writes:
>
> The Holland case is nothing but the fear of the
> 'other' carried to silly extremes, you start with
> the burqa and then move to the saree and who
> knows what next? And it is deplorable that a
> cardinal, of all people, had to join this clamour.
>
> Beware the culture police, whatever guise they
> appear under.
>
Mario responds:
>
Any ban on sarees would be patently silly, as anyone
who visits India should be able to tell. So would a
ban on the Muslim hijab. However, a burqa that covers
the entire face so as to make the person
unrecognizable should be unacceptable to anyone in
this day and age, especially to the woman herself.
>
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Goanet supports BMX, the alumni network of Britto's, St Mary's and
Xavier's -- three prominent institutions in Mapusa, Goa. Events
scheduled from Dec 16 to 21, 2006
For more details visit http://www.bmxgoa.com
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