Nice Canadians and ‘useful idiots’

It is concerning that so many in the “progressive” media find themselves so out of touch with the majority of Quebecers and Canadians when it comes to their views on burkas and niqabs. Much of the media reaction is expressed as a protective stance toward a perceived oppressed minority and reveals an astonishing ignorance and denial of reality.

Bill 62 is helpful and useful in clearly indicating that these garments, which render women invisible, are not acceptable in our society. We do not cover our faces here, except against the cold or for fun as part of a costume or to protect our heads during dangerous activities.

Canadian values and rights include the absolute equality of men and women as well as freedom to act as we choose until our behaviour conflicts with the rights of others, which the niqab and burka do: In our society, we see the faces of others.

Opponents of this law claim banning these monstrous aberrations will further marginalize an already marginalized group. Does it escape those opposed to this law that the reason women who wear these symbols of oppression are marginalized in the first place is because they wear these backward, exclusionary garments?

I can only hope our legendary niceness and tolerance as Canadians will not lead us into the role of “useful idiots” — a term credited to Vladimir Lenin to refer to the blinded leftists who apologized and rationalized the excesses of Bolshevism.

Phillip Burns, Dollard-des-Ormeaux