French National Identity VS Burqa Ban

Unlimited religious freedom is a beautiful concept but, in reality, it always has to be subordinate to the interests of the ruler. France is a secular state so it's no surprise to learn that advocating one's religion in public is generally regarded as unwelcome. Cultural integration, while it should not be forced upon, it should be respected. Just like the old saying: when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Foreigners in Saudi Arabia must obey the local customs, or they get stoned. In France, the most severe penalty you get from wearing a burqa is a fine of a few thousand dollars. Therefore some people's argument of intolerance must be established on a more convincing ground.

But is it a different matter when a civilized nation has sunken to the level of an autocrat? I think not. Democracy is never about complete freedom, rather than a system which is more willing to let different voices be heard. Once again, anything has a limit: sensitive issues which pose a threat to national security, which intimidate the majority of citizens' state of being, which violate the country's long-held principles that have been firmly entrenched since the Bastille Revolution, should not be obfuscated by political correctness. Boundary-less democracy is anarchy. No country can survive without a implicit set of rules.

Opponents of the ban fervently defend their right of wearing certain garments where in their own land they do not wear them at all. Proponents who view burqa as a submissive symbol for Muslim women could also run the risk of forcefully imposing western values on a ethnic minority. The controversy intensifies as people keep on guessing on both camps' motives and, as soon as they find a single fault of one another, they label it with either "terrorism" or "racism". In my opinion, we argue too much on a moot point. For those who wear burqa in France, I am afraid you have to give that up; for populists who enjoy arguing no end, you can now climb down your moral high-horse and for once, let the common logic be part of your response: if the values of a country appear conflicting with yours, you are welcome to go elsewhere.

The french deserve kudos for having raised a startling tone, which stands in contrast to the condescending attitude held by most Anglo-Saxons countries, where religious beliefs are now wielding too much influence that people will go to any lengths to show their tolerance for fear of being labeled as a bigot. Little wonder even a woman who, famously mixed secular matters with religious meaning on national TV could still be considered a worthy presidential candidate.
Would I want my message from God delivered to me by a politician? Duh!