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Paul Russell: Burkas, the Pope & political correctness

Posted: April 04, 2010, 1:08 PM by Paul Russell

Who knew that a simple garment could become the focus of a heated national debate, implicating freedom of expression, along with the very question of what it means to be a citizen of this country? The niqab (also known as a burka) achieved this dubious distinction in the last few weeks, with scores of readers weighing in on its place in modern Canada. “Discussions about freedom of religion, and freedom of choice in personal dress, just distract people from the real issue,” wrote R. Petlock. “Why is Canada so politically correct and so afraid of being called racist that we let our immigrants define what it means to be Canadian? If you want to be embraced and accepted as a Canadian, learn to speak English and/or French -- and don’t wear a burka.” His letter was prompted by a Quebec law that would block the provision of government services, including education and non-emergency health care, to fully veiled Muslim women. That idea was opposed in a National Post editorial, which stated: “We are deeply suspicious of any government effort to ‘ban the burka.’ In the modern Western liberal tradition, a person’s dress falls into the sphere of individual autonomy.” This position did not sit well with many readers. “Why should people expect to be treated as ordinary when they walk around with their faces covered in the name of religious freedom?” asked Ted Scott. “The National Post is way out in left field on this issue. It should be illegal for anyone to conceal one’s identity or wear a disguise in public.

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