Opinion
 

French religious laws at odds with culture

by Sarah Ohmer

Equal opportunity and security have increasingly become a considerable part of political platforms, and the United States isn't the only nation carrying these two issues on a pair of Libra-like shoulders. The Libra sign is considered the most capable of putting itself in another's shoes to make an objective judgement. The French government tried to pass a law decreeing that no noticeable religious symbols were to be worn in school. No crosses, no yamikas, no veils, rien.

The news of a religion-free educational environment lifted my spirits at first. That's how you react when you've been raised in a country that consistently tried to keep the state apart from the church, thus keeping schools religion-free. Yes, the French have their priorities straight. It's good to know that a nation strives to remain neutral on religious issues, right?

France has had its share of discriminatory history, from the religious wars within the country back in the 1400s to colonial warfare in the mid-1900s. Just like the United States, France is now a melting pot of different colors, nationalities and religions. However, the French don't speak of races. They speak of heritage and citizenship. So where do you draw the line between heritage and citizenship? If your country passed a law that stood at odds with your daily religious practices, what would you do? Would you accept your country's stance as a fellow citizen, or would you fight for your religious and cultural heritage as a devoted Christian or Muslim or Jew or Satanist?

Imagine you're enrolled in a school you enjoy because all of your friends are there. You're living in the country you've called home your entire life, and practicing a religion which is a part of your identity. Now imagine yourself in a dilemma between your own identity and your education. To the French government, there is no dilemma, because schools earned a religion-free status after the Middle Ages. Some say it will prevent discrimination, segregation and conflict among students. But is this new law really going to change children for the better? All it is enforcing is taboos and indifference instead of promoting the acceptance of differences. One social work educator called it fascism.

There is talk about prohibiting beards and bandanas as well. The new law is thus earning a new name in the halls of the French Assembly, "the law of the impossible." A French mother claimed this law is free publicity for Jean-Marie Le Pen, an extremist right-winger who almost won the last presidential election. Meanwhile Muslims protest in front of French embassies and in the streets of Paris, asking for their rights as citizens, while some Muslim countries suggest that Muslims leave France. But how much liberty of choice, how much strength in a voice, will the title of French citizen provide them? According to the French media, that question shall remain unanswered until after the elections in March, when the law will be voted on.

Ohmer, an editorial writer for The Daily Cougar, can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu.