Straw doesn't know his head from his face

Managed to find Jack Straw's whole article. Reads like something colonial from the days of the Raj.

But he's also hopelessly ill-informed:

And women as well as men went head uncovered the whole time when in their Hajj – pilgrimage – in Mecca.

Head uncovered? I thought this was about the niqab, the veil covering the face. Because it's certainly not true - women do not uncover their heads during the Hajj.

There are other troubling parts to his argument:

 

... the apparent incongruity between the signals which indicate common bonds – the entirely English accent, the couples’ education (wholly in the UK) – and the fact of the veil.

You could easily substitute "veil" for "hijab" in this sentence, and indeed any Islamic practice you care to name. Later in the article:

Would she, however, think hard about what I said – in particular about my concern that wearing the full veil was bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult.
 
It was such a visible statement of separation and of difference.

Again, where does this line of thinking stop? Someone else could make a similar argument that the headscarf is also a "visible statement of separation and of difference" making "positive relations" "more difficult". The grounds of Straw's argument are weak and dangerous.

The Prime Minister meanwhile has refused to rule out a legal ban on the niqab:

Asked if there were any plans to enshrine in law the removal of veils in public places, such as MPs surgeries, the PMS replied that though the matter was being publicly debated, it did not make it a matter of future Government policy.

He voluntarily defended Straw's right to "have a discussion and to express [his] personal views", but did not similarly defend a woman's right to wear what she wants. It's funny how the last couple of days, all these defenders of freedom of expression have disappeared.

Comments

[David Duff]

Steady on, Joe, I'm having to dodge your spittle!

I think Osama can speak for himself. However I will take up some of *your* points.

"Jack Straw using his position of power and privilege to slag off his female constituents". That is the sort of hyperbole in describing Straw's mildly stated preference that makes one suspect the rest of what you have to say - but I will persevere.

"[I]t [the wearing of the full veil] is a deeply religious matter for the people involved". I am no expert but from what I hear on my radio there is some dispute over that notion; well, there must be because the majority of Muslim women in the UK do *not* wear the full veil.

"[D]o people have a right to wear a swastika t-shirt in a 'Jewish area'". Stand-by, Joe, here comes a subtle (well, it will be subtle for you) point: Yes, if they are individuals; no, if they are a crowd because in a crowd it will almost certainly be an incitement to violence which is against the law.

"Does Jack Straw have the freedom to say absolutely anything he wants to in public, regardless of who he insults?" Yes, as do you, me, Osama and everyone else - provided it is not deemed an incitement to violence. (I may insult you in a minute, just to prove the point!)

"I notice Jack Straw doesn't insult the rich buyers of British arms of Saudi Arabia who insist women wear a veil in public." Well, he may be another dim-witted politician but he's not barking! All those 'Workers of the World' that I feel certain you admire, or at least, that percentage of them earning their living in the defence industry would not be happy if he lost them their jobs.

"[W]ho is ever going to hear what I have to say?" I'm listening!

[ainelivia]

Now, now A Cara Joe, thanks for giving me something to laugh out loud about on such a miserable day, "New Labour MPs are using their position of influence, privilege and power to abuse a vulnerable and visible minority for their own cheap political benefit -
- using others as scapegoats is nothing new and neither is pleading that you are only expressing your democratic freedom of opinion -".

I remain deeply cycnical about any politics, so, you would like to be in power? and then you'd do exactly what you accuse the present government of doing. No I don't think so.

"- it's a bit rich that some nobody is standing up for Jack Straw's freedom of opinion - in a real democracy this is usually the other way round, the MP stands up for and protects their constituent's freedom of expression - not in Jack's case alas!"

No you've definitely got this wrong 90, in a real democracy, we stand up for what we believe to be reason and just. We don't take sides with people because we like compliments, which are given because they have an agenda; and give you loads of support and backing so you can behave like a one man mob. (Ever heard the expression, Load the gun, but get someone else to fire it. Are you the loader or the shooter?)

In a real democracy, we have the courage to speak out, but most importantly to listen. And you don't do much listening. We have courage, like Anna Politskaya; she was murdered by people who couldn't bear to hear the truth about themselves.

And there seem to be a few lurking here.

"Do I have the freedom to object to what Jack Straw says, and who is ever going to hear what I have to say, compared to a former British Forign Secretary and New Labout MP?"

You have the freedom to say what it is you dislike. You do not have the freedom to silence any voice that does not agree with yours or your opinion. And I hope that this country can maintain that for a very long time, and not allow any totalitarian faction to deprive us of that freedom.

Of course, if Scotland does become independent and is taken over by facists, watch how quickly the population will move back this side of the border.

[ainelivia]

JACK STRAW IS PARTIALLY DEAF..........

Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere in the media, or anywhere else.

Jack Straw is partially deaf.

http://www.deaftoday.com/news/archives/004704.html

Still no comments gentlemen? No acknowledgement that the person whom you have slandered magnificently in this post has a hearing disability?

Or is it that some of the gentlemen posting so venomously here, also have hearing disabilities, and are possibly dyslexic?

[joe90]

I am speaking for myself,
or don't I have that right to speak on a public blog?

Thanks for persevering with me - it must be tough for sophistry merchants like yourself to live in the real world along with the rest of us -

Jack Straw is a political elected representative and, as such, it is his job to represent the interests of his contituents, not attack them -
- he is not just another ordinary member of the public, he is an MP - there is a world of difference when it comes to a working democracy -
- he is deliberately dis-enfranching certain parts of his constituency and not giving them a proper voice in Parliament, for which he was elected to do -
- or am I spitting out too much saliva for you to follow this brutal point of mine -
- why is he trying to discourage people from turning up for his constituency surgery, what do you think?

How many of Jack Straw's female constituents have been given the same amount of media exposure and publicity for their views, as Jack has been given?
- I'll take a wild guess ZERO! and of course Jack knew no-one was going to be given an equal paltform and equal exposre to challange his racist nonsense -

And to try to ignore the background to Jack Straw and New Labour's attempts to use British Muslims as scapegoats for British gvernment's own political failures and mass-murders abroad is nonsense and mendacious -
- why has Jack Straw spoken now, he's had planty of years to say he's uncomfortable with women wearing veils?
- any ideas, or is it just Jack's democratic right to to turn himself into a populist racist demagogue?

It is ok to wear a swastika t-shirt in a 'Jewish area' if you are an individual but not if you are with a crowd -
- Oh that is subtle - for instance, how big is a 'crowd'?

Yes, exactly Jack Straw is a cynic - its ok to slag off powerless female constituents but not powerful private corporations - and there's the real western values coming out now - not a principle in sight, just opportunism and playground bully boy tactics - how noble and brave of Jack!

And my full quote in context is -
who is ever going to hear what I have to say, compared to a former British Forign Secretary and New Labout MP?
- which puts a rather different light on your presentation of what I have said - so much for the champion of freedom and democracy - you can't even repeat what people have just said without twisting it!

[ainelivia]

Joe your perception of Mr. Straw's female constituents as being "powerless", is either sexist and /or racist.

Why do you perceive women as being powerless? Is that the way you see women?

Or is it just this particular section of the female population?

Oh and still no response to Mr Straw's hearing disability.... but then it wouldn't go along with your particular gospel to acknowledge that he has a hearing difficulty, would it?

Wouldn't quite fit in with all of the accusations you have made about his motives? Wouldn't be quite the picture you want to paint? Would it laddie?

[joe90]

I found out about this BBC Radio 4 programme too late to listen to it live -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/unveiled/>Unveiled

Here is the blurb for it -
"Fareena Alam, editor of the Muslim magazine Q News explores the impact of Jack Straw's views on women wearing the veil. Followed by News."

I am not sure if there is the usual BBC Radio 'listen again' facility for it.

Under the time slots given for 'Unveiled', the listings in my Radio Times has the programme billed as 'Open Country', described as a programme about rural affairs.

[Osama]

David, I don't tell anyone what they can and can't say any more than I tell them how to dress.