Online Only: Unveiling stupidity

Much like the USSR and the evils of communism were deemed the permanent enemy of America in the 20th century, today's eternal threat seems to be "Islamofascism" via terrorism.\nThough I do not agree with the idea, I can understand how those in power and many others believe that to make the world a safer place, they need to somehow change the way people practice Islam and modernize Muslim society.\nThis led politicians, pundits and policymakers alike to figure out how to go about this daunting task in some other way besides invading countries that have no ties with the al-Qaida terrorist network. \nIn an unparalleled display of stupidity, chief policymakers in various nations decided that there is, in fact, a way to fight Islamic extremism, to deter suicide bombers, to help pacify and integrate immigrants in Western countries, to make al-Qaida operatives wave American flags while rocking out to Lynyrd Skynyrd, to motivate Hamas to send get-well cards and flowers to Ariel Sharon, to turn sectarian violence in Iraq into sectarian potluck dinners, to inspire the Taliban to devote their lives to producing children's television shows instead of opium. \nWhat action, you ask, will result in this phenomenal new world order? \nBanning head scarves and veils! \nSheer brilliance. \nApparently the move is aimed at helping immigrants modernize and assimilate into Western society. Some predominately Muslim countries, such as Turkey, are considering a ban on or discouragement of the Islamic head scarf and the less common face veil in order to curb extremism. \nA terrorist or "extremist" bent on causing death and destruction is not going to wake up one morning and decide he doesn't want to anymore because his wife decided not to wear a head scarf or veil outside the home. \nGovernments have also defended such policies by arguing that women who wear veils are oppressed. This might or might not be true, but the fact that many women, like German schoolteacher Fereshta Ludin, are fighting for their rights to wear the veil points to the opposite. \nMuslim women, and Muslims in general, contrary to popular idiotic thought, are not just a big a mass of people waiting for some great mandate that will instantly change their lives. \nNo women ran around the streets of France ripping scarves from their heads and purchasing halter tops when the French instituted their ban on conspicuous religious dress at state schools. \nSuch bans on people's choice of religious dress will do nothing to curb extremism or integrate immigrants. What should be addressed are the root causes of these problems: poverty, lack of proper education -- both religious and secular -- and political injustice.