What Lies Beneath the Burqa Debate?

#1: What Lies Beneath the Burqa Debate? Should the Garment Be Banned?

There is currently a debate brewing in France that is essentially dividing the opinions of French citizens in half while stirring up many spectators on both sides. On June 22, 2009, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France gave a speech addressing a joint session of the French Parliament at Versailles saying that "burqa's" (a head to toe garment worn by Muslim women) are not welcomed in France (Kirby 1). Sarkozy's remarks came after a country wide debate on "what it means to be French" was started in May 2009 (France 24). In his speech he claimed:

In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity,...the burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement--I want to say it solemnly, It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic. (Kirby 1)

One day after President Sarkozy gave his speech, Parliament formally created a thirty-two member commission with members form France's four major political parties (France 24). It will deliberate on whether a law should be enacted to ban the burqa and report back in January 2010, six months after the initial speech was given, with a decision (Kirby 1). This law has both supporters and opponents, and the burqa issue is shaping up to be equally divisive, even amongst government ministers. Supporters of President Sarkozy's argument believe that the burqa goes against French values, such as equality among men and women, and symbolizes female submission. Oppositionists to this argument believe that banning the burqa will violate the civil rights of women. Moreover, some Muslims believe this ban may push women to choose to wear the burqa out of defiance, or just to assert their rights in a country that publicizes liberty and equality for all (Kirby 1). The French Republic should consider all factors in this argument and gain a better understanding of the burqa before taking action against this garment. Even if the French people view the burqa as a sign of oppression, banning the burqa in France will be a violation of the French Muslim's civil rights and will stigmatize Islam and the Muslims in France. This will perhaps build a greater barrier between native French citizens and French Muslim citizens leading to more problems for France in the future.

#2: Food Marketing and Obesity

Like many medical phenomena, childhood obesity does not have a single root cause. Consider a weed that has many branches that collectively feed on and deprive a flower of nutrients that comes from one mother weed. There are genetic, environmental, and societal factors that can lead to childhood obesity: socioeconomic status (SES), race, gender, family history, body mass index, diet, and physical activity. The CDC adds to the complicated list of possibilities: "sedentary behavior, parent-child interactions, home environment, child care, schools, and communities (CDC, 2009)." To evaluate the major causes, picture a scenario similar to the classic game show "To Tell the Truth" where a panel in front of an audience decides who the "real" Ms. Jane Doe is. Today, five contestants all claim to have the biggest role in the widespread case of childhood obesity in America: the child, the guardians, society (teachers, care givers, medical professionals), the government, and the food industry. It is important to note that while all of these contestants collectively play a role in childhood obesity, one has the unique ability to influence and shape the perspectives and decisions of the other four individuals. It is up to the panel to correctly identify this important character. This influential player is omnipresent in American society. It controls billions of dollars, and uses this money to support itself--sometimes at the risk of others. It conducts research to ensure that it can promote its well-being in political and medical matters. It has recognized its great influence and has admitted it by promising to make significant changes to help childhood obesity wane. The audience sits puzzled; they try to decide who such a powerhouse could be. The panel deliberates and unanimously chooses the government as the contestant who has the greatest influence on childhood obesity. The room