Hm... the french case is kind of an unfortunate example, because France has historically chosen the complete opposite interpretation of religious freedom than the USA has. It's not up to me to judge which one is better - both respect human rights and both have their pros and cons.
Anyway - France is a fundamentally secularized country and has been like this for over 200 years (ever since the revolution). It's part of the French understanding of nationality that faith and religion are private and that the state has to be strictly secular. You would never hear something like "God bless you" from a French official or he or she would be in trouble for saying it. This counts for all religions without exception. People acting as authority for the country don't display their religion - displaying religious symbols in public is viewed with suspicion.
Historically, this had been France's way of breaking the catholic hegemony over their country - and they have also used this approach as a way to integrate foreigners. Everyone can become French easily - all he or she has to do is to accept the fundamental rules of French culture: democracy, the French language and secularness.
The French can be totally different from each other individually - but these principals are sacred. Either you accept them or you leave the country. This has been their way to deal with diversity. It's not up to me to judge it.
It's understandable in historical context - France has been one of the first states that combined state territory and nation (one territory, one nation, one language) in the 19th century - but they made it easy for minorities to become French themselves in the same time. The French nation doesn't run in the blood (contrary to the German, for example), but in basic cultural rules. You are on the territory, you speak French, you accept democracy and secularness - you're French.
Maybe this helps to understand the situation. It's not without its problems. But I don't think many French people would understand the american preoccupation with "privilege" in this context. It's no privilege to be French.
Concidering this background, it's easily understood why the French could feel offended by a striking public display of something that's seen as private affair by the majority of people (i.e. a burka). Especially, since (gender) equality is exceptionally important in France (as part of democracy), even for western European standards. The burka is considered a sign of female oppression by many leading feminists (and other thinkers) in the country. (I don't try to defend this point of view. Personally, I'm against such bans in general, as they don't adress the real issue - but I can understand how people can come to this conclusion.)
Also, many western European countries have turned from countries of emmigration into countries of immigration in a historically very short period. It's not easy to adapt to such fundamentally new circumstances. Particularly, when your nation has been living on the territory for centuries and has prided itself for its special and highly elaborate culture.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-07-18 08:54 pm (UTC)Anyway - France is a fundamentally secularized country and has been like this for over 200 years (ever since the revolution). It's part of the French understanding of nationality that faith and religion are private and that the state has to be strictly secular. You would never hear something like "God bless you" from a French official or he or she would be in trouble for saying it. This counts for all religions without exception. People acting as authority for the country don't display their religion - displaying religious symbols in public is viewed with suspicion.
Historically, this had been France's way of breaking the catholic hegemony over their country - and they have also used this approach as a way to integrate foreigners. Everyone can become French easily - all he or she has to do is to accept the fundamental rules of French culture: democracy, the French language and secularness.
The French can be totally different from each other individually - but these principals are sacred. Either you accept them or you leave the country. This has been their way to deal with diversity. It's not up to me to judge it.
It's understandable in historical context - France has been one of the first states that combined state territory and nation (one territory, one nation, one language) in the 19th century - but they made it easy for minorities to become French themselves in the same time. The French nation doesn't run in the blood (contrary to the German, for example), but in basic cultural rules. You are on the territory, you speak French, you accept democracy and secularness - you're French.
Maybe this helps to understand the situation. It's not without its problems. But I don't think many French people would understand the american preoccupation with "privilege" in this context. It's no privilege to be French.
Concidering this background, it's easily understood why the French could feel offended by a striking public display of something that's seen as private affair by the majority of people (i.e. a burka). Especially, since (gender) equality is exceptionally important in France (as part of democracy), even for western European standards. The burka is considered a sign of female oppression by many leading feminists (and other thinkers) in the country. (I don't try to defend this point of view. Personally, I'm against such bans in general, as they don't adress the real issue - but I can understand how people can come to this conclusion.)
Also, many western European countries have turned from countries of emmigration into countries of immigration in a historically very short period. It's not easy to adapt to such fundamentally new circumstances. Particularly, when your nation has been living on the territory for centuries and has prided itself for its special and highly elaborate culture.