Burkini Berks!
By WorDazza
@WorDazza (15830)
Manchester, England
September 19, 2016 2:02am CST
An Australian Muslim woman has been forced to leave a beach on the French Riviera because other people didn't like the fact she was wearing a burkini. If you haven't seen a burkini it's basically a garment that covers the entire body, and the hair, allowing Muslim women to swim in public while preserving their modesty.
Whatever your beliefs you must surely agree that it makes no sense to eject someone from a beach for effectively wearing a wet suit and a hat. What next? The dapper gent sipping a G&T while sporting a pair of linen trousers, short-sleeved shirt and panama hat?
It's a good job these beach nazis weren't around in the North-East of England during the 1970s when my mum and grandmother would regularly accompany us to the beaches of Northumberland fully dressed, complete with overcoat and head-scarf. Although to be fair it was usually freezing!
I could argue that maybe some of the people hanging out of their bathing costumes would be doing us all a favour by donning a burkini. I could also argue that maybe the French should live and let live and get back to concentrating on what they do best.
Going on strike!
25 people like this
21 responses
@LadyDuck (472000)
• Switzerland
19 Sep 16
About strike I fully agree, I still remember how many times we had problems in France for strikes. I think that it is ridiculous to force someone to leave the beach because fully dressed. I have seen plenty of women in winter sitting on the beach gravel fully dressed. As a final note, so many would do us a favor if they wore a burkini, but better than a monokini.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
19 Sep 16
I just can't understand why people think they can dictate what someone wears on a beach. If you ban the burkini then you surely have to ban the wet suit. What you are effectively doing is telling people they have to display their body when on a beach!
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Sep 16
@WorDazza In crime-ridden America, I'm OK with people having to show their faces. Hoodies are the apparel de jour for robberies of various kinds. It gets tiresome. But for most people, I wish they'd cover more of their bodies.
3 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
20 Sep 16
"Beach nazis" ? You are going a bit too far. France is a lay country, and is free to ban any religious clothes : we have already banned burqas, and some places have banned burkinis because they were a source of public disorder : burkinis are something new, and they are nothing else than an extremist Muslim provocation. People should wear blinders to not understand it. I think that people should be allowed to wear whatever they want, but there are some limits, and I am not against a law banning burkinis in France.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
20 Sep 16
@WorDazza If it was a traditional clothing, I would probably follow you, but it is not. It was not existing in France 2 years ago, and all that I can tell is that it is seen like a pure provocation, so, yes, it has been a source of public disorder, especially after the attack we had in Nice this summer, and I am in favor of a general ban of burkinis in France.
Our lay state is something quite unique in the world and difficult to understand from a foreigner point of view. Signs of religions are banned in the administration and in public schools, and might be banned by special laws on public places if needed. If these women want to wear burkinis, they are free to do it in their home or their own swimming pools...
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
20 Sep 16
They are only a source of public disorder if you allow yourself to be provoked. Anyone who is provoked by someone wearing what amounts to a wet suit and a hat should maybe just relax and enjoy the beach.
I am completely against any form of face covering in public but this just seems way over the top.
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
20 Sep 16
@topffer I suspect the recent appearance of the burkini is more to do with advances in fabric technology rather than some sort of religious two-fingered salute to the establishment.
I'm prepared to bet that before the burkini was available there weren't too many Muslim women frequenting beaches. Obviously, once suitable garments, made with suitable fabrics were available they were bound to appear as Muslim women felt they could enjoy the beach in comfort without displaying their body.
At one point nobody wore bikinis until someone designed them!!
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
21 Sep 16
Given the sight of the average English body on a beach it might be kinder if we all had to cover up. I do not like seeing women covered in black from head to toe and do see the Burka as a symbol of oppression, but making people leave the beach for wearimg it was ridiculous.
2 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
27 Nov 16
@Jackalyn yes ridiculous until people start getting blown up. Difficult to balance freedom of religious expression and security, isn't it, especially when violent fanaticism hides behind religious expression?
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
19 Sep 16
absolutely, I just came back from Ibiza! and man.. some people really could use one!!!
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
27 Nov 16
Yep, I mean what happened to that claim of égalité? I do, however, shudder to think what might have happened if the woman in the burkini had tried to take a dip on some of the beaches here in the old USofA, the land of the free.
I personally don't like seeing the burqa because I suddenly flash that there might be a body-bomb under all those coverings. But that's a fear-based reaction and I keep it to myself while getting some physical distance between myself and the burqa-wearing person.
On the other hand, I agree with you that some in this country who bare their flesh go waaaay overboard. Yep, I'd like to see a bit less flesh showing and a bit more mystery when it comes to it.
I think the Catholics (or whoever) are right: all things in moderation.
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
28 Nov 16
While I think that everyone has the right to wear what they want, within the bounds of taste and decency, I can fully understand why some people feel uncomfortable around someone who wears the full on face covering.
Anyone who can't see this should ask themselves the question would I be comfortable to spend time in the company of someone wearing one of those balaclavas with just a couple of eye holes? I suspect they wouldn't.
1 person likes this
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
28 Oct 16
I remember my gran going to the beach in a huge coat and headscarf too. Bridlington was not exactly the French Riviera of course. She used to paddle in the sea with her tights on too - something I found bizarre as a kid and the image of that has stayed with me for decades. I would've loved her to have turned up on a chic French beach like that
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
29 Oct 16
Obviously the fully dressed old lady was a common sight along the coastline of North East England. Quite often accompanied by the old man in a jacket and tie! I wonder if, when I get older, one morning I'll wake up and think "You know what, I've got nothing to do and nowhere to go today. I think I'll put on a jacket and tie!"
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
13 Nov 16
I actually have seen such a garment. Some of the Muslim women in my area came to the community pool in their every-day clothing. I didn't like that because it wasn't swimming material -- and you shouldn't wear your street clothing in the pool for cleanliness reasons. There was one Muslim woman though, the shape of the garment was the same -- but it was made out of swimsuit material - That I had no problem at all with.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
20 Sep 16
if the French saw me in speedos they would soon change their minds about wanting bathers to wear less
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
23 Sep 16
Well there is usually someone on strike at this time of year in France like air traffic control, the railways or ferries or farmers etc.I would love to see some of the portly Helga's from Germany covering up to be honest. You know the ones I mean the ones that have bruised knees!
As for banning of clothing some shopping centres here in the UK will not allow people into the shopping centre if they are wearing hoodies!!!!
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20046)
• United States
19 Sep 16
yes, it might be wrong that they did, but I don't understand how someone would want wear that if it's so hot outside.
1 person likes this
@sapphire556 (48)
• Allendale, Michigan
19 Sep 16
I think the lady should be allowed to swim and enjoy the beach. Most people now days don't wear too much of anything but showing off what they have to attract attention for the most part. Some women and men don't do this since each person may have morals and just try to enjoy the water with out making a statement.
