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French Critique of the Burka Ban

| @eottolenghi 10.03.2010 - 1:33 PM

Two French students decided to produce a critique (I think that’s the word one must use among the educated elites) of the ban on the burka in their country. They thus dressed themselves in a burka and skimpy clothes underneath, and walked around upscale Paris streets and in front of French ministries (mostly in upscale Parisian areas) to bemuse the crowds and show off their long legs under the burkas. They did it, they say, to criticize the French law banning the burka. Clearly, judging by the reaction they got, they certainly made an impact. But, as critique often goes, there isn’t much critical thinking behind it. For clearly, had they really wished to test their theory, they should have tried their outfit in slightly different parts of towns. And one is left to wonder: If, instead of strolling past austere French policemen at the Defense Ministry or at Police Headquarters, they had walked in some predominately Muslim Parisian suburb, preferably near a mosque, possibly on a Friday morning, would their movie look different?

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0 Responses to “French Critique of the Burka Ban”

  1. The Warden says:
    October 7, 2008 at 10:41 pm

    Dang it..wish I bought a McMansion with money I didn’t have so I can have the government keep me in it.

  2. DCUnited says:
    October 7, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    I agree with Bill Kristol, the format hurt McCain.

  3. Seth Halpern says:
    October 7, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    I didn’t forget. I just figured it was an expansive variation on Paulson.

  4. lisam says:
    October 7, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    I didn’t forget about it, it’s just that McCain’s explanation of it was so rushed and cursory that not one in a hundred viewers could have had any idea what he was talking about or any idea as to why it could be of any benefit to him/her. You need to stop speaking in the “royal we.” It’s very annoying.

  5. Rod says:
    October 7, 2008 at 10:50 pm

    And by the end of the debate there were several “undecided” participants wrapping their arms around Obama for a picture…..

    The questioisn were terrible. Really boiring and complete flat and simplistic. The format made both candidates look too scripted and aloof. There was NO energy whatsoever here; neither was too engaging.

    Tom Bronkow was awful.

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