A Little Much!!!

17 November 2006

In Holland, policies associated with the nationalist fringe in 2002 have been co-opted by the center: holding asylum-seekers in detention centers, more muscle for the police and intelligence services, and visa examinations that require would-be immigrants to watch videos of homosexuals kissing and of topless women on the beach. Everyone must learn to speak Dutch, and Muslim clerics must mind what they say in their Friday sermons for fear of deportation.
Read full story here  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061117/ap_on_re_eu/netherlands_burqa_banThe headline that proceeds this article is Dutch Government Proposes Ban On Burquas. Now, I, personally, would never wear one and I find it completely unacceptable and barbaric to require a woman, or anyone for that matter, to wear anything. However, if the individual person choses to wear an item of clothing or covering, how ever you would like to define it, that should be their right.
I do understand to a degree the argument against wearing burquas while conducting offical business, such as having your DL photo taken, especially since it is used as a form of official ID. I do not consider that an infringement on someone's rights, religious or otherwise. Why not you may ask. Because in this country if you were to loose that DL, anyone and I do mean anyone could use it without any problem. On the otherside of the issue, I do not agree with France's ban on any head scarf, not that I agree with much that the French do! If they are not going to allow head scarf's for Muslims, then they should ban all head gear of a religious nature, and while they are at it any jewelry that depicts any religious affiliation. After all the argument over the burquas was that France was a secular society. So shouldnt it be secular for ALL Frenchmen?
What got me in the opening paragraph was the requirement of all immigrants to watch videos of homosexuals kissing and women topless on beaches. Okay, guys I know that you are all for that, at least as long as the kissers are women and the sunbathers have nice racks!! But that being said let me put it to you another way, how many of you guys watch "Queer As Folk"? How would you like for your entry into a country to be based on you watching an episode of that show? Yeah that is what I thought, as you guys sit there going "Are you out of your mind?" "Im not doing that!"
Apparently the Dutch are importing some VERY GOOD smokes into the country these days.
Now here is the question that I ponder, what action or reaction passes or fails you on that part of the exam? And if you are revolted or disgusted or offended are you denied entry? And do the Dutch believe that only Muslims would get offended by these videos? So have we now located the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah? Is the Dutch government sending out a message--moral people need not apply?