I agree. The problem is more about strategy. At the moment, we have people here who are claiming it is "un-Australian" to wear the burqa, and that laws should be made to stop it.

I fear this puts women in the unenviable position of either dressing in a way that feels demeaning, or going to the side of terrorists who want them to dress that way.

And I do think it raises the question, for those of us who don't wear the burqa, about how free we are if we don't wear it, but feel compelled to wear makeup, have plastic surgery, and feel bad about how we look.

Exposing my body to public view only makes me feel liberated when I am in a place where my natural appearance is accepted without judgement. (When that happens, at hippy festivals for example, I feel great.)

What do you mean by "not my branch"?

Ah yes, cultural heritage is such a furphy. There is no such thing as purity.

Especially in a nation of immigrants like Australia!

"Sciolism" is not a word I knew - thankyou!

Well, yes. I follow that logic. White Australia has a history of being paranoid about invasion from the north. There's a certain irony to it.

When you're that far south there's an awful lot of north! :o)

Yes, that's my biggest concern, too. If she is being forced to wear it when she leaves the house, then you are now preventing her from leaving the house. And if she is wearing it because she feels safe and modest wearing it, then you are forcing her to wear something in which she feels less safe and less modest.

It isn't about religion at all, it's about choice and about giving people access to community.