.... Nothing good has come out of the tiresome burqa-banning debate, other than a timely reminder that the French aren't really to be trusted. Most of the time they're OK – quite like us, relatively affluent, but not so as to make us feel bitter, the kind of people you'd happily share a school run with.
But, every so often, they'll do something a bit mental – have a revolution, nearly elect Le Pen, capitulate in the face of an evil empire whose armies they outnumber, ban the burqa from public places. It's always a bit of a shock, an undermining of confidence, like noticing that your accountant has a tattoo.
[COMMENT] Burqas are the ultimate in oppressive, primitive stupidity. By standing up for them, you're just saying 'we must defend people's right to be oppressed' or rather 'we must defend people's rights to oppress the women in their community'. Burqas are intimidating, a huge security threat, and they have no place in our society. [Guardian Cif] Read more
