France and the burqa

A French panel has just come out with the conclusion that burqas--the all-covering clothing for women of the Muslim faith--must "outlawed in public buildings such as schools and hospitals."

And this really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

Further, it has nothing to do with religious intolerance.

It is clearly a matter of security for the French.

Fortunately, the French government is spelling out two reasons for the ban.

"Jean-Francois Cope, leader of the Union for a Popular Movement, or UMP, Sarkozy's majority party in Parliament, believes France needs a solid law against the burqa."

"'The two reasons why we have to implement legislation is to respect the rights of women and, second, it's a question of security. Who can imagine that in a country like ours, people can walk everywhere in the country and also in our cities with a burqa, without the possibility to recognize their face?' Cope says."

So they're standing up for women in this 21st Century as well as spelling out the need for security.

Good for the French.

Hopefully they're leading the way for the rest of the free, educated world.