The most pointless family photo in the world

[jj]

Since I'm slightly to the left of Dawkins on religion I'd be happier if ALL
religious symbolism was abolished or banned, and the C of E
disestablished so that we could become a secular society in name as
well as in fact.
The burka is different to the other examples you quoted in the sense that
it is a political as well as a religious or 'traditional' symbol- the others long
since lost what political overtones they had [you won't see many sabras
espousing Orthodox dress]. There is nothing remotely relevant about it to
a western society; if women want to wear these things, fine- but they can
do it in a theocracy of their choice rather than trying to make one of the
UK.
I take your point about youthful rebellion but it's a minor chord in the
larger synphony of hatred.

[jj]

magoo wrote:
> The Holy Cross has also been used as a political symbol.
Ancient history. See below.
> The KKK still use it as such.
That's why they're [officially, at least] banned.

We used it as such during the
> Crusades when we slaughtered muslims because of our fear of the
> different.
We slaughtered Muslims out of religious mania and a desire for new
territory. And they killed a few of 'ours' too in return. Saladin?

> I cannot really see how a burkha is a political symbol at all.
Not of itself; it's the ideoology that has hijacked it that I object to. The cross/Swastika etc were pacific symbols until their adoption by evildoers.

[jj]

The Taleban are fanatics. The Taleban enforced the burka. QED.

[Sam Slater]

I agree with jj. It's not just religious tradition. It is in the Quran that all Muslims must aspire to live in a country where Islam is the religion AND state. You're not a good Muslim otherwise.

Since this is the ultimate aim of the religion, then any motif or dress that states 'I am a Muslim' has to be taken in a political way.

There shouldn't be a ban on what people can/cannot wear, but I do feel that if you walk into a bank/on public transport or have a job wear there's a certain dress code, Muslim women shouldn't be exempt from these rules.