Boris and the burka

dowie said:
If a Republican made a point of referring to President Obama as "Barack Hussein Obama" then that is a dog whistle, playing on the whole is he a muslim/his dad was a muslim thing while at face value just saying his full name.

Boris on the other hand has quite openly criticised the veil, he was straight up about it, there was no additional meaning to be implied. The fact some racists might have liked it isn't particularly relevant.
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It's completely relevant if he's trying to divide the party.

It's not just me that sees it, either (I just googled "dog whistle burka"):

"Boris Johnson accused of ‘dog-whistle’ Islamophobia over burka remarks"

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/wor...tle-islamophobia-over-burka-remarks-1.3589047
 
dowie said:
Yes and others have been screeching that it's "racist" too, it doesn't make it true...
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"Screeching"? What do you mean?

Edit: according to the article, it was Sayeeda Warsi (fromer Tory chairman) who accused him of dog whistling, not some random internet throbbers.
 
mmj_uk said:
Hate speech laws are based around political correctness. The word Islamophobic itself is a ridiculous invention of the left as most peoples concerns around Islam are based on rational things like creeping sharia law, attacks on women, the idea of the Burqa itself, extremist Islamic terrorism. A phobia is an irrational fear. Yes I know not all Muslims are bad and a female muslim doctor has very sensibily spoke out against the Burqa and in support of Boris but as we all know the minority ruin it for everyone.
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Being scared of an idea is rather irrational...

That said do I think what he said was racist or islamophobic? Not particularly.

Were some of his comments/comparisons insulting to a group of people who may well already feel rather disenfranchised and isolated, living in a culture that has major media outlets and a significant number of people that seem to hate their culture and religion? Yes.

Personally I’d rather try and integrate people, rather than isolate them even more so you an win some brownie points with certain unsavoury sections of society, to further your political career. But then... politics.

Oh and “Hate speech laws are based around political correctness”...“but as we all know the minority ruin it for everyone.” Is pretty on the button really.

Hate speech laws are there because the minority ruin it for everyone.
 
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dowie said:
Yes and others have been screeching that it's "racist" too, it doesn't make it true...
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Perhaps not racist but ignorant/xenophobic.

Above all, insulting to a group of people whom it is cool too hate and with idiots like this endorsing it, is coming commonplace.

Yet on another religious minority on whom a derogatory comment may be passed, it is seen almost as blasphemy.
 
Interesting times for the Tories. I think Boris is lining himself up for the top job and he's carved a nice wedge to drive between himself and Theresa.

Boris Johnson facing Tory investigation over burka comments

*snip*

...Critics have accused him of stoking Islamophobia to boost his Tory leadership ambitions but his supporters have said he was speaking up for "liberal values...
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45130532
 
Yadda said:
I thought it was about burkas, not Islam?

You heard that dog whistle, didn't you?
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Schrodingers column? It’s both about and not about Islam at the same time - obviously depending on what their argument is at the time.

Alternatively it’s just certain posters have entire not read the column in question, completely misread it, or don’t care about the column at all and just want to snipe - quite possibly the latter considering the posters making up the junk.
 
Amp34 said:
Schrodingers column? It’s both about and not about Islam at the same time - obviously depending on what their argument is at the time.

Alternatively it’s just certain posters have entire not read the column in question, completely misread it, or don’t care about the column at all and just want to snipe - quite possibly the latter considering the posters making up the junk.
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It's funny how some groups say that criticising burkas is not racist because it's not actually criticising Islam, yet at the same time also conflate burkas and Islam, as Skunkworks did just above. :)
 
I have to laugh at the people with the banners 'My dress, my choice' Are they happy for us to adopt that in places of their culture? They are lucky to live in a place where they have that freedom.
 
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/08/10/rowan-atkinson-defends-boris-johnson-burka-comments/

Rowan Atkinson has defended Boris Johnson after his controversial comments about women wearing burkas.

The actor, known for his comedy performances in Mr Bean and Blackadder, said the remarks were funny.

Atkinson wrote in a letter to The Times: "As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers of the burka resembling letterboxes is a pretty good one."

He added: "All jokes about religion cause offence, so it's pointless apologising for them.
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