Are inbred MPs total tossers?

[Montreal Wanderer]

I can't believe a Foreign Secretary could be this insensitive even if he represents Blackburn.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5411954.stm

[Soldier_Of_The_White_Army]

I suggest he starts worrying about chavs wearing baseball caps and longs hoods before worrying about something like that!!

[CAPSLOCK]

I've never, ever voted Labour

I can't see myself ever starting

However, I agree with Straws comments

He firstly pointed out that one to one convos work better if you can build up a relationship

Thats difficult when faced with a talking letterbox

He then added that race relations could be improved if there weren't obvious cultural differences

He's not said anywhere that veils cannot be worn

Just expressed an opinion

[Bwfc in the bloodline]

Ive never supported Labour either, but our local mp Brian Iddon, has done good things in politics, they arent all bad.

With regards to jack straws comments (by the way he is FORMER foreign secretary, its Marg Beckett now) I agree with him, in these modern times, with cultural awareness being paramount. Its only basic that Muslim women wearing these veils understand that most other people regardless of colour or creed find it offensive. I personally couldn't care less if there walking around doing there business wearing this religious uniform. But i wouldn't speak to one, and if they worked on a checkout in ASDA i'd go to a different checkout.

When a local council, banished pig shaped stress toys from office desks, and hardly anyone bats an eye, i cant see the big problem with Jack Straws comments.

And another point to ponder is the fact that certain application forms for certain jobs, ask questions like, 'Do you have any visable tattoo's?' Would a Female Muslim person who applied for one of these jobs, wearing this veil, who had been turned away. Be able to claim descrimination??

[laz]

Ive never supported Labour either, but our local mp Brian Iddon, has done good things in politics, they arent all bad.

With regards to jack straws comments (by the way he is FORMER foreign secretary, its Marg Beckett now) I agree with him, in these modern times, with cultural awareness being paramount. Its only basic that Muslim women wearing these veils understand that most other people regardless of colour or creed find it offensive. I personally couldn't care less if there walking around doing there business wearing this religious uniform. But i wouldn't speak to one, and if they worked on a checkout in ASDA i'd go to a different checkout.

When a local council, banished pig shaped stress toys from office desks, and hardly anyone bats an eye, i cant see the big problem with Jack Straws comments.

And another point to ponder is the fact that certain application forms for certain jobs, ask questions like, 'Do you have any visable tattoo's?' Would a Female Muslim person who applied for one of these jobs, wearing this veil, who had been turned away. Be able to claim descrimination??

I do currently work on a checkout at ASDA, its like serving a ninja assasin!!

[Bwfc in the bloodline]

I wasnt being disrespectful, merely stating that i would rather use a cashier whose face i could see.

[laz]

I wasnt being disrespectful, merely stating that i would rather use a cashier whose face i could see.

Neither was I, just stating the obvious..

[Bwfc in the bloodline]

I wasnt being disrespectful, merely stating that i would rather use a cashier whose face i could see.

Neither was I, just stating the obvious..

Are cashiers allowed to work with their veils on? Or would they be turned away at the interview?

[Montreal Wanderer]

He then added that race relations could be improved if there weren't obvious cultural differences

I'm trying to get my mind around this one - if there aren't any obvious differences then we might be one homogeneous race and race relations would be better. As far as I'm concerned improving race relations means understanding others despite obvious differences.

For the rest of it CAPS he surely must know the remark would give offence to a significant proportion of the world's population. A proportion moreover who can be a tad touchy. Perhaps the Pope was right in what he said - I am not sure that was comforting to the nuns killed the following day. The man is a very senior political figure - ex-Foreign Secretary and Deputy Talking Head or something. I still feel it is insensitive whatever his personal views.

[laz]

I wasnt being disrespectful, merely stating that i would rather use a cashier whose face i could see.

Neither was I, just stating the obvious..

Are cashiers allowed to work with their veils on? Or would they be turned away at the interview?

I don't think they are..but there are a few muslim workers on the checkouts who wear headscarfs but not veils..i don't believe they would be able to anyway due to the nature of the job being focused on interaction with the customer.

[CAPSLOCK]

He's Leader of The House, I think

Straw represents an area with a high asian (dunno whether its muslim) population

He's saying to the muslims that theyre going to have to work harder to be part of our country

Extremists are driving a wedge between the communities

It's going to be very easy to suck moderates in if the various parties don't put some serious effort in soon

I applaud Straw

As i applauded Reid (I think he was the one who asked parents to keep an eye on their kids)

FFS stop being so bloody touchy

Theres a hellish amount of fear of what muslims are up to

Most of it misguided, ignorant even

But it's there

I'm one of the tolerant ones, taking folk as they come, but its like treading on egg shells at the moment

[CAPSLOCK]

I don't think they are..but there are a few muslim workers on the checkouts who wear headscarfs but not veils..i don't believe they would be able to anyway due to the nature of the job being focused on interaction with the customer.

There is no way any employer could prevent a muslim wearing a veil - I really must check the spelling and I'll use the correct term

[TANGODANCER]

There are lots of things considered insensitive these day. Straw didn't attempt to make a law of this; he just put a feeler out as to the reaction. Biggest problem here is evolvement from 1500 year old doctrines. Asses have been replaced by top range Mercedes Benz motor cars when Arab Muslim wives shop in Marbella. The dress code remains biblical. The Koran, like the race card, is played sometimes, I think, for convenience rather than practicality.

I'm not saying I have any issues with the dress code, I don't, but I also know a lot of fervent Muslim girls (who observe tee-totalism and want to visit Mecca (a couple have already)who don't observe facial covering. There is supposed to be only one version of the Koran, so even amongst Muslims there are different opinions on the topic.

[laz]

I don't think they are..but there are a few muslim workers on the checkouts who wear headscarfs but not veils..i don't believe they would be able to anyway due to the nature of the job being focused on interaction with the customer.

There is no way any employer could prevent a muslim wearing a veil - I really must check the spelling and I'll use the correct term

That may well be the case..but how many have you come across in a workplace..I cant recall any.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Not being touchy, CAPS, just have a different opinion from you. He asks his constituents to unveil when they come to his "surgery" - it makes he feel more comfortable but it may make them feel uncomfortable (of course they comply because they want something from him). Well, if that was the extent of things - fine. Yet as a high profile public figure he has to express his personal feelings to the media even though they will surely be controversial and possibly increase tensions. Otherwise he might be overlooked in the coming leadership race, I suppose.

[Bruce Rioja]

It would have been much better had he just burst into a rendition of "Get your face out for the lads". That should've done the trick!

[TANGODANCER]

Too much emphasis is placed on"Muslim" and "Asian", and not enough on good and bad. In your town, amongst your workmates and yes, sometimes even within families, there is an "asshole" percentage. Are the aforementioned any different in the count up? It's always the minority elements that cause the problems, regardless of race, colour or creed. It always was, and evermore shall be so. We should spend more time dwelling on that topic than on where you come from or what you believe in.

[Loyal White]

All Straw has done has stated that he asks women to take their veils off when they come into his surgery as it results in a better conversation as he can read their facial expressions...

He does not state that he demands it from them and he does not state he is against the wearing of veils. He just prefers talking to someone when he can see their face.

To make a comparison, would you really want to chat to someone wearing a motorcycle helmet? or would you prefer it if they took it off?

[Montreal Wanderer]

All Straw has done has stated that he asks women to take their veils off when they come into his surgery as it results in a better conversation as he can read their facial expressions...

He does not state that he demands it from them and he does not state he is against the wearing of veils. He just prefers talking to someone when he can see their face.

To make a comparison, would you really want to chat to someone wearing a motorcycle helmet? or would you prefer it if they took it off?

It might depend what they looked like I suppose. Having read most of the responses it is obvious that Canadians view these things somewhat differently from those in the UK.

[Bwfc in the bloodline]

All Straw has done has stated that he asks women to take their veils off when they come into his surgery as it results in a better conversation as he can read their facial expressions...

He does not state that he demands it from them and he does not state he is against the wearing of veils. He just prefers talking to someone when he can see their face.

To make a comparison, would you really want to chat to someone wearing a motorcycle helmet? or would you prefer it if they took it off?

It might depend what they looked like I suppose. Having read most of the responses it is obvious that Canadians view these things somewhat differently from those in the UK.

The main bug bare for me regarding this issue, is the political correctness gone mad. We (anglo-saxon/christian/caucasian population) suffer immensly from anti 'british culture' Political correctness. Such as shops not having christmas displays in them incase it may offend others? This is the first time it has swayed in the opposite direction, and there is uproar (well sort of)?