Hi Dibble et al,
I apologise if it seemed I was addressing my post to you specifically- it was really in response to the whole thread and my general 2 pence worth on the subject.
You were right that I "side-stepped" the forcing issue- not out of disrespect though- it's merrely that I don't know anyone to whom it has happened and I don't know how commonplace it is. My experience is obviously that it's not very commonplace at all- but my image is skewed by the fact the vast majority of muslims I know are educated professionals. A point that was bought up someone, I don't remember who and don't have the inclination to trawl through to find the person- sorry!- was that you don't find any muslim girls at the local clubs "boogey-ing". While I was at university, and part of the club scene, I used to know quite a few muslim women clubbers- but looking at them you wouldn't know they were muslim... I mean those distinctive identifying features we all know aren't there are they? What doorman would led a Burka'd gang on a hen night in? So maybe they're there and we just don't know it? My hijab wearing colleagues at university incidentally were just as sassy as their non-hijab wearing counterparts and would often put me in my place!
I'm sure there are those who are forced to wear it too, but I don't think you can suggest banning or restricting their "use" in an effort to combat that. I'm not saying that's what you suggest, but it could be a logical step to some.
Lastly- on the issue of immigrant muslims in this country on their behaviour. I've always laughed at the suggestion that because they're better off here they should shut up and be grateful- they have as much right to criticise our government and our way of doing things as anyone else. Sure- they came here because things are better for them- but they're not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. When they overstep the mark and suggest violence means though they should be dealt with promptly. The case of Abu Hamza al-Masri was one I will never understand- just why was he allowed to stand on the pulpits for so long peddling his ideas?
Anyway- thanks for posting a reply- my brain can do with the work out at the moment!