Quote:
Originally Posted by Zarley
You're making an assumption that women would choose not to go through with getting their citizenship rather than revealing their face. I doubt that would be the case and the vast majority would continue on with getting their citizenship. Those few who refuse would still be permanent residents subject to the protections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Symbolic gestures are important. The goal of this policy is to illustrate to these women, and more importantly to their male family members, that wearing of the niqab is incompatible with Canadian values. If they are showing their face to gain citizenship anyway, what is the harm in requiring this at the ceremony?
The staged ceremony was idiotic but I'm not sure what that has to do with the topic at hand.
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The result might very well be that these women stay home instead. Why do you "doubt that would be the case"?
I agree that the symbolism is important, but I go the other way. Part of what being Canadian is to me is freedom - to express yourself and adhere to whatever religion you like. Making someone remove their niqab, against their beliefs, is the opposite of this. The "harm" in taking it off in a room of strangers is making them compromise their self expression and beliefs... for what? To show their face even when the oath taking is ceremonial and they have already validated their identity? I'm sure we can figure out a way around this for the literally two out of 680,000 people who have requested it.
I see the niqab as a reflection of a patriarchal worldview - but some women who wear it don't. Rather than speak for them, I defer to these women and their beliefs.
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/t...ring-1.3001080
As for the staged ceremony, it shows how little respect the conservatives actually have for it, which is telling.