if america was to adopt some of france's controversial
attempt to ban the hijab or the cloth women wear over
their faces, how would americans view this?

any opinion at all on the hijab in america?

free country here. let folks wear what they want to wear,except for speedos...lol

live and let live, as more laws over "preference" only enslave people......

I think the state needs a really good reason to get involved in dictating the clothes that people wear.

What are the supposed reasons for banning the hijab?

Agreed.

The Hijab will eventually become fashionable here in the U.S.

Freedom of religion.

They can wear it.

Though I don't understand the full robe in hot weather.

What do they call that, anyway?

The French official explanation for banning the Islamic headscarves in French public schools and government facilities is “upholding the secular nature of the French state,” a tradition that goes back to 1905 legislation and to the principles of the French Revolution. Basically, it is to keep the state separated from any established religion in order to eliminate the influence of religion and religious leaders on people’s life. The law prohibits Muslims, Christians, and Jews from wearing headscarves, large crosses, or skullcaps. So, on the surface, it seems as if it is not discriminatory among followers of various religions.

Evidently they ban all forms of religious symbols in public!
That is not the law here and I dont think it would go over too well!

I dont live in France and dont really concern myself with their internal issues!
My position is to let the French worry about France and I'll worry about America!

Well wearing them is one thing...but sueing the govt., like motor vehicle because they don't want to uncover their faces to take the pic is another. If you don't abide by the rules then you don't get a license... Same with anything else.

Fanta, thanks for the explanation. I'm often amazed at the false accusations some radical Christians make about secularization in America: I didn't know France took it so far. Maybe France's policy is a source of some of the rumors here in the US, which some Christian's believe and propagate.

First of all be aware of what you are talking about.

There are many different forms of hijab.

Hijab in arabic means to cover or to veil.

It does not mean veil as in the clothing.

There is nothing in the Qu'ran that says that a woman or a man has to wear an item of clothing to cover up. It refers to a curtain that provides privacy.

That being said, the form of hijab the French banned is a head covering. A head scarf, in effect. But it is only banned in schools. In the outside world there is no ban on the hijab.
They are attempting to make all pupils equal in the eyes of education.

But then you have to look at Turkey too. They are a predominantly a muslim country and when they established secularism, they too prohibited the wearing of the hijab. There was never any problems with them doing that.

Another muslim country that is more extreme than France is Morocco. The headscarf is not forbidden by law, but not encouraged by governmental institutions and generally frowned upon by urban middle and higher classes. It is becoming gradually more frequent in the north, but as it is not traditional, to wear one is considered rather a religious or political decision. In 2005, a schoolbook for basic religious education was heavily criticized for picturing female children with headscarfs.

In the UK, there is a growing movement to ban the veil. This is due to our rising security paranoia and yet here in the Middle East (where security should be tighter) the veil, the burkha and the hijab are all commonplace.

So the French (and as much as I hate to say this) shouldnt really be pilloried for attempting something that they see is an attempt for all children to be treated equally.

Obviously children are smart and will know who is muslim, and who isnt, but I think in this respect, its an interesting attempt

i have to disagree, America was founded on immigrants. for the ones who wear the hi jab. its there religion. so that's what they beleive,if we start choosing what religion we can worship. that makes us no better then the rest.

France did not outlaw the Hi jab .
It is not allowed in certain work and school places . a shorter one is allowed though in all places . Also Sikhs and Jews are not allowed to wear their religious stuff in the same places .
In France they have many Islamic schools like in Muslim countries . France understands the other cultures more than America .

i was watching a show the other day, Thomas feidmen was in France, you can not wear the Hi jab . in school.

You can wear a shorter one in school .
Avec mes respects monsieur, je sais les lois en France et merci .

désolé parlez seulement russe/Allemand/Ukraine un anglais

Merci mon ami .

Double post .

sorry left out. i do speak a little french. you said thank you my freind.