UK: Niqab school fighting for girl's equality
French versus British approaches
Urban riots in Paris and northern England in recent years are set to be examined by international experts in a bid to address today's growing concerns around immigration, integration and identity. David Waddington, Sheffield Hallam University, says:
"There are various similarities within the two societies based around young people feeling profoundly disaffected and distrustful towards the police. But we also have two contrasting approaches to absorbing different cultures. The British have pursued a policy of multiculturalism whereas the French approach is one of integration, where differences are airbrushed out.'' <<Quick Read>>
Niqab school & Why are we back in court
You probably thought that this issue was sorted out by the Law Lords last year in the case of Shabina Begum, the girl from Luton who wanted to wear a jilbab, a full-length garment, in breach of the school's uniform policy.
Miss Begum's claim that the school had denied her the right to manifest her religion was rejected by the House of Lords. They said it had "taken immense pains to devise a uniform policy which respected Muslim beliefs". This newspaper observed that the Law Lords had "provided an important victory for good sense, for British cohesion and for the right of teachers to run their own schools". <<read a reporter's view>>
Dr Sanity: Four definitions of ideological strategies
*Radical Environmentalism - ("humans are behind the imminent disaster of global warming and only aggressive government intervention can prevent disaster")
*Political Correctness - ("reality, truth and morality are all subjective")
*Multiculturalism - ("all cultures are equally good except for western culture which is uniquely bad; who are we to say that freedom and democracy are any better than tyranny and oppression?")
*Terrorism - ("terrorism is the only option of those who are oppressed by the western imperialist capitalists and is perfectly justified. George Bush/America/the West is the real terrorist")
