Quote:But people do.
And i am a person.
So am I, and I am not offended. Nor do I care whether you are offended. I do not even believe you are offended. I think you are feigning offence.
Quote:Our cultural mores are a reflection of ourselves
No. They are a projection of ourselves onto other people. They are a cheap way to pretend to speak for the community when they do not actually share you values. They are a common way to try to impose your will on others. That is why you do not say that the burqa offends your values. Instead you try to pretend it offends everyone, in the hope that this may finally get people to care what you think.
Quote:There is NO right to cover your identity in the public sphere.
Yes there is. Always has been. You are confusing custom with responsibility.
Quote:If there was, you could have your passport photo taken with the burqa on.
Taking a photo for identification is not the same situation as being in public. No-one is compelled to have a photo taken for ID purposes unless they get arrested or enter into an arrangement that requires it.
Quote:You are making upo this crap as you go, FD.
No Soren. I am the only one here who does not chop and change his argument in response to criticism.
Quote:The right of a skier or motocyclist etc, to cover their face is only for a specific activity and is for recognised safety reasons.
No Belgarion. We did not invent special exceptions. It was our right to cover our face in public, without giving any reason at all.
Quote:It's not a full time concealment of identity based on spurious doctrine.
Rights are independent of motive.
Quote:So as to prevent 'others' [i.e. complete 'strangers' ] from ascertaining their apparent identity / 'form'.
What are you on about Yadda? Do you suspect them of being aliens or something?
Quote:Sorry, BUT FEMALE MODESTY IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE [re burkes].
Yadda, people may cover themselves for whatever reason they want, including modesty. You do not get to choose their motives for them.
Quote:Should i [...or anyone else] have the right to go naked in public
Yes you should, and in plenty of places you can. We have come a long way from our victorian background, when our women had to wear a full length woolen gown at the beach. Our culture is actually far closer to that of Islam than our current law. Our current standards are a rejection of our culture and history, not a reflection of it.
Quote:I don't think you are correct.
He is Soren. You are wrong.
Quote:Just because something is not against the law does not mean that it is, therefore, a right
Actually, that is the simplest definition of a right.
Quote:in the sense of being a good, proper, principled and fair thing
That is the worst definition of a right I have ever heard. That sounds more like the BS excuses that the 'culture police' such as yourself give for denying people rights. No wonder you have such trouble with this debate. You have no understanding at all of what rights are. No wonder you don't get Australian culture.