i've said enough about this: i don't like religion, but i don't support the fashion police.

i'm less concerned about "religious freedom", which i think is an oxymoron, and more concerned about the question as to whether something like this is actually effective. this bill ignores history, and the fact that attempts to suppress religion always lead to religion coming back stronger. if we wish to stamp out religion once and for all, we need to take more enlightened tactics than this. we're better off finding ways to increase integration through gentle coercion. that's what actually works.

what i want to see is muslim women coming together at feminist rallies and burning their niqabs in a show of defiance against muslim patriarchy. i want to see sikh men feel like it's time to move forwards and let go of the past, and cut their beards off and leave their daggers at home. we need gentler tactics in order to accomplish this.

these laws will have them double down, and grow more insular at a time when it is more important than ever to open their social groupings and religious meetings up to outside ideas and secular influences.

i would be more likely to argue in favour of individual expression than religious freedom. but, as it is, individual expression is the more correct argument anyway, because the religion doesn't actually mandate this. this isn't a ban on religious symbols, it's a ban on a fashion decision that is ubiquitous in a specific religion. that's a very different thing, and that much more contemptible: there are excuses for cracking down on religion because it is inherently oppressive, but there are no excuses for restricting individual expression.

i've pointed out before that, despite questionable polling, quebeckers have proven at the ballot box that they don't actually support these laws. the pq has completely exited the left, at this point. let's hope that quebec solidaire takes advantage of this and cleans up.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-niqab-burka-bill-62-1.4360121

jagmeet singh must cut his beard.