User post: French pool bans "burqinis" --and I think they're right!

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  Posted by InLove Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:41am PDT

  This is a sticky topic. My opinion is two-sided, and I am not deciding one way or the other.

  Burqas are, to me, a symbol the Middle East's degredation of women. However, just for the same reason I would never want to see a law that forces a woman to wear them, I would hate to see a law that makes it so a woman who voluntarily wants to be very modest cannot be.

  I the case of burqa-swimwear: I see both sides. The burqinis may make it harder to swim than people think and may cause more drownings because wet fabric is very very heavy. Also, that much fabric would bring in more dirt into the pool. Look at pictures of them though, and ou will see that they are not that voluminous and heavy. Should they be banned altogether? I don't know because I think women who want to be modest should have that right. Personally, I think it should be the decision of each individual pool's staff to decide whether or not to allow them. Making any kind of national law would turn it into discrimination against a religious group.

  I see no problem with allowing them, but again, I see understand both sides of this one.

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  Posted by Mama Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:46am PDT

  One woman in a "Burqini" gets banned from one pool in France and its headline news. What if a French man was banned from the same pool for wearing loose, baggy swim trunks? Think we would have heard about it? Nope! I think she can go swim somewhere else that allows her outfit. Any pool in the US would tolerate it, I'm sure.

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  Posted by Bobby Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:03am PDT

  As a past lifeguard, I understand not letting people in who do not have swimwear, but this is a suit made especially for swimming out of a material suitable for the activity. We don't allow non regulation fabric because of weight if thick or transparency if thin. I think it is not a public facility's right to ban someone for something they wear for religious purposes that is perfectly safe for swimming. I would never ask someone to compromise their moral beliefs. It is religious intolerance.

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  Posted by Rachel Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:31pm PDT

  I agree with Bobby why bann the burqinis if its swimwear. Its a swim suit and shes not harming anyone. If you really think about it there are alot of other things that drag in dirt into the pool. That to me is just a lame excuse.

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  Posted by TAY Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:39pm PDT

  Actually, a couple months ago (maybe less) the French president gave a speach about banning Burqas. I think the pool is just moving things along in that direction since they know they have a president who feels the same way. I honestly don't care either way, but I do agree with a previous post that mention we wouldn't be hearing about this if it were a man banned for wearing something that went against pool regulations.

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  Posted by Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:43pm PDT

  Wearing the burqas is a religious belief, it is not just a piece of clothes you can just take off as the close minded author said. Asking women to take off their burqas is the same as an atheist asking to take out the "one nation under god" out of the pledge of alligence. Its the making of one religious group to give up their religion and that is not just. its the compromising of moral and religios beliefs, but many people dont see that because this issue has to do with Islam and many people are prejudice towards Islam an are simply just too close minded to ask and research about it.

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  Posted by Mark Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:07am PDT

  Because you think that being covered is "forced" or barbaric. That is your opinion. But for the ladies who prefer to cover themselves in public, that is thier right, just as it is your right to be uncovered.

  The issue of hygine, is a cop-out. The swimsuit is used for swimming purposes only, not for walking, hiking, sitting & socializing. It is a swim suit, just as much as your 1 or two piece is your swim suit. The fabric is made from lycra, & swimsuit fabric.

  Give me a break, and calm down...if a women wants to cover up, why is it up to you to call her oppressed? She has a choice. Even Christians & Jews have a sense of modesty and dont show certain body parts...stop calling covered ladies oppressed, it bothers you, and not the person covered...and yes, I am a covered Muslim lady...and i LOVE it!

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  Posted by :[ Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:20am PDT

  yawnz.... lets just say i have actually swam in all of them....and the comfiest of them all? burqinis. de le french poole was wrong to ban it. if they wernt covering up too much that cud have caused a prob..how can a burqini cause a prob?

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  Posted by buggabee Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:32am PDT

  who the hell cares they nabed her cause she was not wearing regulation swim wear the same goes for anyone else she just needs to go else wear she has to follow the rules like every one else duh

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  Posted by Mysterious Gryphon Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:50am PDT

  Mark Fri - Nowhere in my post do I call women who wear a veil "oppressed." NOWHERE.

  I said that if a person chooses not to wear regulation dress at a sporting facility, he or she should not be permitted to use the facility. Rules are rules: the only way we can attempt to have a civilized, law-abiding, equality-loving society is when they apply equally to all people in all situations.

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