Ze burkini is a problem with Ze France

[viper37]

Article in French

Problem: A French woman wants to wear a burkini in a public pool.  Public authorities say no.  She complains of racism, says she will leave the country if she does not obtain satisfaction.
Public authorities says they refuse the burkinie for the same reason they refuse non standard bathsuit (like shorts) and it has nothing to do with racism.

Now for the racism:  She ain't arab.  She's "pure" French.  Converted to Islam at age 17.
It always seems to be these converts who are the most zealous about burkini, burkas and stuff like that.  Always strikes me as weird, but then again, I suppose they must be special people already to switch to such a strict religion so alien to their culture.


P.S.  A burkini is a 19th century swimsuit with an integrated hat

[Caliga]

Converts to ANY religion are always hardcore about it.  If you didn't have a giant boner about that particular faith, you wouldn't be converting in the first place.

[DGuller]

Converts to ANY religion are always hardcore about it.  If you didn't have a giant boner about that particular faith, you wouldn't be converting in the first place.

This is true.

[Eddie Teach]

Shit, I don't see a reason why people can't swim in suit and tie if they want.

[DGuller]

Shit, I don't see a reason why people can't swim in suit and tie if they want.

Hygiene would be a good one.

[Eddie Teach]

Shit, I don't see a reason why people can't swim in suit and tie if they want.

Hygiene would be a good one.

Ok, why do you say swim trunks(or bodies for that matter) are cleaner than normal clothes?

[Josquius]

Swimming pool tend not to have a problem with people wearing t-shirts. Wonder why the fuss here.

[DGuller]

Ok, why do you say swim trunks(or bodies for that matter) are cleaner than normal clothes?

Hmm, good question.

[Valmy]

Now for the racism:  She ain't arab.  She's "pure" French.  Converted to Islam at age 17.
It always seems to be these converts who are the most zealous about burkini, burkas and stuff like that.  Always strikes me as weird, but then again, I suppose they must be special people already to switch to such a strict religion so alien to their culture.

There was this American white girl from San Antonio who converted and she always wore that head shit.  I swear why a woman would not only convert to Islam but to some fucking fundamentalist part of it sorta baffles me...it is like joining a club where you have to be one of the lowest ranking members for life...and there isn't even any social pressure for these women to do this quite the opposite in fact.  At least if you convert to some fucking fundy Christian sect people line up to congratulate you for finding God around here.

Also, like the French press did when they complained of American Francophobia, she misused the term racism.  Last I checked being prejudiced against religions or nationalities is not racism it is good old fashioned bigotry and xenophobia.

[Sheilbh]

There was this American white girl from San Antonio who converted and she always wore that head shit.  I swear why a woman would not only convert to Islam but to some fucking fundamentalist part of it sorta baffles me...it is like joining a club where you have to be one of the lowest ranking members for life...

That's Buddhism.  Women are just above animals but way below men on the reincarnation scale.  It doesn't stop the new age fucks though

[derspiess]

She complains of racism, says she will leave the country if she does not obtain satisfaction.

Sounds like the problem will correct itself, then.  Kinda like that annoying co-worker who threatens to quit.

[merithyn]

I saw a couple of these at the local pool last weekend.

I admit to staring for a short time, but like everyone else, I got over it fairly quickly. Not sure why the French have a problem with it, other than the French have a serious problem with the burka, too. Basically, the French have a problem with the Islamic religion, it seems.

[Sheilbh]

I admit to staring for a short time, but like everyone else, I got over it fairly quickly. Not sure why the French have a problem with it, other than the French have a serious problem with the burka, too. Basically, the French have a problem with the Islamic religion, it seems.

Let's not do Islam the disservice of equating it with the burka.  Burkini's an unfortunate name for this because it's nothing like a burka; it shows the face, the eyes, the hands, the feet and the shape of a woman's body.

[merithyn]

Perhaps, but France has made clear their concern over Islamic dress before:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/25/france-burka-veil-controversy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3478895.stm

[derspiess]

Not sure why the French have a problem with it, other than the French have a serious problem with the burka, too. Basically, the French have a problem with the Islamic religion, it seems.

I don't blame them one bit.  If I were French, wouldn't want France being overrun by Muslims who refuse to assimilate.