Belgian Burqas

A few months ago it was Switzerland banning minarets. Now the Belgians are trying to ban the burqa and the niqab - a measure with cross-party support, apparently (ETA: no pun intended). It's not because they're anti-muslim - oh no, it's actually a security measure! A pre-emptive attempt to stem the tide of burqa-related violence before it even begins! And in fact, as the Government points out, the ban applies to anyone wearing clothing that obscures the face in a public place. So we can expect motorcyclists, skiers, brides, clowns and wearers of pollution masks or full beards to be sharing the cells with the very small number of Belgian women - about 30 in the whole country, according to the BBC - who wear the burqa. Right?

Except that we won't, because that spiel about security is bullshit. This law really is all about Islamic dress codes, as even some its defenders admit. The hypocrisy over the true reason for the law is a little sick-making; but what about the argument that it's to protect women from oppressive Islamic customs? Is there in fact evidence that the 30 women in burqas are wearing them under duress? If not, I'd have thought that there might be better ways to fight the oppression of muslim women than by, er, oppressing muslim women.

Here's an idea. Why don't they call in the Saudi ambassador and demand that the Saudi regime give women basic human rights - backed with the threat of sanctions? Oh, but Saudi Arabia is very rich, and the thirty muslim women are rather poor. Better go back to threatening them, then.

Belgian Burqas

A few months ago it was Switzerland banning minarets. Now the Belgians are trying to ban the burqa and the niqab - a measure with cross-party support, apparently (ETA: no pun intended). It's not because they're anti-muslim - oh no, it's actually a security measure! A pre-emptive attempt to stem the tide of burqa-related violence before it even begins! And in fact, as the Government points out, the ban applies to anyone wearing clothing that obscures the face in a public place. So we can expect motorcyclists, skiers, brides, clowns and wearers of pollution masks or full beards to be sharing the cells with the very small number of Belgian women - about 30 in the whole country, according to the BBC - who wear the burqa. Right?

Except that we won't, because that spiel about security is bullshit. This law really is all about Islamic dress codes, as even some its defenders admit. The hypocrisy over the true reason for the law is a little sick-making; but what about the argument that it's to protect women from oppressive Islamic customs? Is there in fact evidence that the 30 women in burqas are wearing them under duress? If not, I'd have thought that there might be better ways to fight the oppression of muslim women than by, er, oppressing muslim women.

Here's an idea. Why don't they call in the Saudi ambassador and demand that the Saudi regime give women basic human rights - backed with the threat of sanctions? Oh, but Saudi Arabia is very rich, and the thirty muslim women are rather poor. Better go back to threatening them, then.

Giving Shakespeare the bumps

... because everyone else is.

When I was at university, G. K. Hunter G. Wilson Knight [ETA I had a senior moment in the first version of this post, and conflated these two very different Shakespearians] came to give a guest lecture on Timon of Athens. Because I'd found his books irritating (I can't now remember why) I didn't attend, but my friends afterwards painted a vivid portrait of a King Learish moment in which Knight, then in his eighties, stripped virtually to a loincloth with nothing but a lectern to cover his modesty. They'd found him odd, but I doubt they ever forgot his lecture. I do wish I'd been there.

Almost twenty years later I wanted to use the following as an epigraph for Timon's Tide, but was told that it really wouldn't do for that kind of book. I do wish I'd insisted.

Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Who once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.

Giving Shakespeare the bumps

... because everyone else is.

When I was at university, G. K. Hunter G. Wilson Knight [ETA I had a senior moment in the first version of this post, and conflated these two very different Shakespearians] came to give a guest lecture on Timon of Athens. Because I'd found his books irritating (I can't now remember why) I didn't attend, but my friends afterwards painted a vivid portrait of a King Learish moment in which Knight, then in his eighties, stripped virtually to a loincloth with nothing but a lectern to cover his modesty. They'd found him odd, but I doubt they ever forgot his lecture. I do wish I'd been there.

Almost twenty years later I wanted to use the following as an epigraph for Timon's Tide, but was told that it really wouldn't do for that kind of book. I do wish I'd insisted.

Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Who once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.