France's new ban on Islamic face veils

I've been to France several times, it's a beautiful country. I don't want to "Bash France"; but they have done a dismal job of handling their immigration. I understand they are a high-wage country with a slightly aging population; so I understand why many French companies would welcome cheep foreign labor. Immigration is a good thing, but any country has to follow two rules.


1. Let people into your country at a rate equal to your ability to absorb those new arrivals.

2. Have a clear path that brings them not just into the country; but into your society.

France did neither!

They opened flood gates at a rate greater than the economy's ability to absorb them, and more important while they let these Muslims in to France they never welcomed them in to the fabric of French couture.

The first rule of security is to draw a line; to delineate between "Inside the circle" and "Outside the circle". There was a reason that castles were built with motes, high-walls and drawbridges; it is far easier to fight a force that is "Out-side your walls" then to wage battle once they have gained access.While it was clearly not the intent of France, or other EU countries to create a Ghetto of disgruntled immigrants; that has been the result of their policies. Now many of these countries a facing the difficult question of what to do with a sizable population that rejects some of the basic tenets of which your country are based, and have flourished.

France for one, reacted by enacting laws to designed to keep Muslims from showing their faith, and trying to curtail their prominence. So I find little surprise that "France's new ban on Islamic face veils was met with a burst of defiance Monday". I don't fault countries for wanting to "Draw a line" to maintain the secular pluralistic culture on which they were built. My problem with these new laws is that I believe them to be Ass-Backward; rather that try to stop people from practicing their faith, prohibit them from forcing their faith on anyone else.

Let them build a Masque, open a restaurant that does not sell alcohol, but then also strictly defend a Christian's right to open a wine bar that specializes in pork chops in the very next store front. Don't let the disgruntled immigrants use Freedom and Democracy against larger society, instead send a clear message that says "We welcome you into our country, but we demand you honor the rights and freedoms of all of our citizens. Ok France I understand why you feel the need to "Draw the line", your just drawing it in the wrong place.

Professor Wichman addresses the Muslim Student Association

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/wichman.asp


Professor Wichman E-mail

Claim: A Michigan professor sent an e-mail telling Muslim students to leave the country.

Status: True.

You can read the letter Professor Wichman sent to the Muslim Student's Association.


The e-mail was in response to the announced student protest of the Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist.

The group had complained the cartoons were 'hate speech.'  As you can imagine, people are lining up on both sides, below is my take.


The Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist, were offensive, and I have no problem with the Muslim Student's Association decision to protest. They have every right to complain, and Muslims have the right to demand the cartoonist apologize, and the cartoonist should feel free to tell them “Screw You,” this is my belief and in a free society I can express it, if you don’t like it you can draw your own cartoon.”




Professor Wichman is entitled to his opinion. The examples of intolerance and barbaric behavior, he listed are well documented.

Professor Wichman could and should organize a march of his own.

I do have a problem with him attacking a student union. The students might be misguided, and I fully agree that there are far more pressing moral issues in the Islamic world then a pen and ink drawing, but there is no evidence that “THEY” were guilty of any of the horrors he outlined. Teachers should not go after Students. A school should not defend teachers starting fights with students. A school should, and must, defend a teacher right to hold and express his views.



Had Professor Wichman wrote his views in a blog, published an article or posted a video on YouTube, Great! The school should stand by it’s teacher’s right to express himself, as they also defend the students ability to hold their beliefs. Students pay tuition, the sort of pay his salary. I understand and agree with many of his points, but not the way he handled the situation. I respect a teachers opinion against Gay marriage, but I do not approve of a teacher writing a nasty note to the Gay student’s association.



We need a more uniform code of ethics, one that guarantees Muslim Americans the same rights, and at the same time holds them equally accountable. Muslims should be able to build a Masque where ever they want (Basic zoning laws apply). Muslims must be free to practice their faith. If the choose not to eat pork, fine, just as it is fine for a person to open a “Rib-Shack” and serve “Pulled-Pork.” There is talk about “Drawing a Line,” OK, here is where I draw the line. America should give all people the freedom to follow their faith, but we should have zero tolerance for anyone trying to force their faith on to others.