Those of us who live in the Western world are no strangers to oppression; we have been slave drivers, inquisitors, and repressors. Our history is filled with examples of ethnic, religious and gender based denigration, dehumanization, and demonization that, when taken too far, took the lives of millions of people who’s skin was too red or too black for our taste or who’s refusal to accept our God we found inacceptable, or who were simply defending lands to which they were rightfully entitled… alas, we’re no angels, but that doesn’t seem to stop us from looking down on the Eastern world with arrogance and self- righteousness. It has never stopped us from telling people in less fortunate parts of our planet, “look at how far we’ve come, you should be more like us,” without even taking the time to fully understand why they are the way they are. We assume our way of life is better and we fight wars to impose it (while taking as much oil, diamonds, and uranium as we can fit in our pockets), but we don’t stop to ask ourselves basic questions: Is our way of life really better? Is our way of life sustainable? Should we do more listening and less preaching?

Although we are no strangers to oppression, for the most part, we have strived to evolve and adopt practices and principles that are more in tune with our “intellectual enlightenment.” We have written declarations, constitutions, bills of rights, treaties, books, and papers in favor of freedom and against oppression. Yet, despite all our words and practices, we have found new forms of oppression: war, systemic poverty, environmental exploitation… again, we in the Western world are no strangers to oppression.

It is with these self-critical eyes that I, as a Westerner, am wondering about the recent French ban on burqas, which has yet to be approved by France’s Constitutional Council. With Western eyes, it is safe to say that burqas constitute the ultimate symbol of oppression against women. As a Western woman, it hurts me to see women covered underneath garments I am incapable of understanding. I can’t imagine that any women could be happy to wear a burqa and have my doubts as to the legitimacy of the “choice” some Muslim women may have. As a Western women, I understand the rule of law in only one way: the voice of the people. I understand legitimacy in law to mean inclusive, deliberative, and democratic processes that reflect the voice of the people, hence my love for law and language, so it is in this light, that I would like to quote the voice of Muslim woman in Afganistan who’s words (and story) have pierced my heart:

They think it’s all about the burqa. I’m ready to wear two burqas if my government can provide security and a rule of law. That’s O.K. with me. If that’s the only freedom I have to give up, I’m ready.

Although the context of this quote is not related to the French law, it is related to a practice we would perceive as oppressive, but it still makes me wonder: is it possible that we Westerners might have a little more understanding to do before we can pass effective laws against certain Eastern practices?