[nik-]

I've thought a lot about this issue, and it's been a struggle for me. As a generally liberal person, I've had a hard time reconciling with myself why I dislike this symbol so much and why I'm pretty on board with this whole thing. In the end, what I think it comes down to for me, is just because it's part of some culture, doesn't mean I have to respect it and doesn't mean it's ok. I don't see this as Islam thing, I see it as an oppression thing and just because it's "technically" a choice, it's a choice birthed in a flawed education. At the risk of Godwinning this thread, we didn't allow children born and educated in the Third Reich to continue along the paths they were educated in even though it would have technically been their choice. They were re-educated because their education and culture was ####ty. "Cover up because men are ####ing animals and you mustn't tempt them". Yeah, sorry, that's not something I need to respect. Just like I don't need to respect women being forbidden to drive. It's just a ####ty message and I don't feel it meshes with the Canadian tapestry.

I don't feel my stance is anti-islam, or racist. I do feel that there's this insane liberal hypocrisy around this, where people champion women's rights and then just pretend this is totally their choice. It's just indoctrination.

If someone doesn't want to come here because people don't like the niqab, we'll be ok, and so will the people from dozens of different cultures and religions that already have good lives here.