Roots of the Establishment of Secularism in the U.S. and France

What makes the approach France takes in promoting secularism different than that of the U.S.?



On Monday April 15, the Brookings Institution sponsored a discussion in Washington, D.C., moderated by Brookings senior fellow, E.J. Dionne Jr., relating to the French ban on wearing religious 'symbols' such as the hijab.



French writer Justin Vaisse promoted the idea of enforcing the ban, while Ms Raja Elhabti, a Moroccan scholar, who works for Muslim Women for Human Rights, a Washington group, and Pakistani journalist Husain Haqqani of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace defended a woman's right to wear the hijab.



Mr. Vaisse pointed out what could possibly be seen as the essence in the difference between secularism in France and in the States. In the latter, the purpose of establishing a secular state was to avoid the interference of the government in church matters; in France, however, the idea was to protect the new French democracy from the Catholic church which was socially dominant and opposed to secular democracy. He stressed that what was at work was the French principle called “laicite” which meant balancing religious freedom and public order. Contrary to secularism, it was a principle of “religious neutrality” in order to create conditions for religious freedom (dailytimes.com.pk). But is banning a religiously-mandated headscarf, and effectively denying people the freedom to practice their religion, "religious neutrality"?



Though this may be true, it is important to consider that we are now in the 21st century. Shall we not move on beyond the history of the Catholic Church's involvement in France? This becomes an important question to consider knowing that about 8.3 percent of France's population are Muslims.



But France's ban of the hijab has not only affected its citizens. The plague of this version of secularism has now spread to a southern state in Germany, where hijab has now been banned for teachers.



Thus, the people of France need to reexamine the direction in where their country is headed. Afterall, do they really want to live in a so-called democratic country where religious oppression is being enforced on a federal level?

A Reflection: Experience in NY

This past weekend, events arose leading me to unexpectadly travel from Virginia to New York. Having been raised in New Jersey during the earlier years of my life, though I must have forgotten about the pot-holes, I was at least somewhat expecting the pollution and the noise that are so common to the two states. There was one thing I had forgotten to take into consideration, however. Unlike my earlier life in New Jersey, I now wear a headscarf, a pseudo announcement to the world that I am Muslim.



While traveling accross the Brooklyn bridge, I sat in our small grey minivan admiring the awesome structure of that huge contraption. "How was it," I thought, "that we, as a people, have come so far that we can build such a magnificient structure?" For anyone that has passed through the Brooklyn bridge, I am sure these thoughts have come to mind. Just then, a light bulb went off. "I should definately savor this moment by forever perserving its magnificence with a pictre," I thought.



I hurridly looked through my bag and took out my digital camera. I held the camera firmly on the back seat so as to avoid the picture blurring from the vehicle's motion. I looked outside from the back window and angled the camera to what I thought would be a nice snapshot. I took a couple of pictures then noticed the driver in the car behind us. The license plate indicated that it was a diplomat's car. The driver looked horrified.



At first, I wondered why. Did he think I was taking a picture of him? "What's wrong with him? What's the big deal," I thought. Then it hit me. Here I am, on the brooklyn bridge, with a camera in my hand and a scarf on my head. Here I am, a Muslim taking pictures in New York.



For whatever it was worth, I actually felt sorry for the guy. He must have been so frightened. I humbly put away my camera and sat back down. "I hope he doesn't report our liscence plate to the feds," I thought. "I don't want to spend my weekend being interrogated in prison."