Liberty, Anonymity, Fraternity

A year ago, I probably would have supported France’s proposition to ban the niqab. As "liberals", we often assume that we are the proponents of liberty and freedom and it is the “conservatives” who are smothering people with their beliefs. How ironic that a country would consider outlawing a certain type of dress in the name of values like “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” It seems the “open-minded” who believe they are defending women’s rights, not only fail to understand Islam's interpretations, they miss the definition of women’s rights altogether. While some may define freedom as the ability to wear shorts or show one’s hair (qualities associated with the “modern” woman who emerged in the 1920s) there are women who have chosen to cover their hair and face. Andre Gerin, one of the key people in this movement to ban the niqab, called women who wear the niqab “imprisoned” (Erlanger, Steven, “Burqa Furor Scrambles French Politics,” The New York Times, August 31, 2009) to suggest that French law is freeing them from a frightening oppressor: Islam. Why has the word “right” (both in the context of being right and having rights) become synonymous with a leftist agenda, one that ultimately damages the the word's reputation? Is justice about protecting universal rights or being right? Do we define freedom by our own narrow standards? It seems we are now saying: “you can have freedom as long as it is whatever we consider freedom to be.” I was under the impression that freedom is the right to be who you are and believe what you believe so long as it does not encroach on other people’s rights. Perhaps, the niqab represents the oppression of women to some but it is ignorance that creates this limited view of such a religious symbol. It seems France wants to include another piece to the definition of freedom: “as long as it does not encroach on other people’s rights or your own.” If only we lived in that simple a world. The line where choice stops and force begins is very grey. And while our society values fighting for the “underdog” we cannot always be sure who the underdog is or if we are fighting for them, our self interest or out of fear. When we defend things we know little about, we mock both them and ourselves. One veiled Muslim woman cannot accurately represent every woman who covers herself, so how can Andre Gerin? France may not be sure that all women who wear the niqab are doing so of their own will, but it can be sure that it is keeping them from making their own choices. To support freedom, it is necessary to give people the tools to help themselves. Otherwise we may confuse pushing our agenda with protecting others' rights.

-Kat