We’ve got the discussion going elsewhere, so let’s just move it over here:
France’s immigration minister says the burqa is not part of the national identity. Earlier this year, France’s president said burqas are not welcome.
Here’s another view. And here’s another.
I have had this conversation with Muslim women friends — some who wear the hijab, and some who don’t. I remain firmly on the fence, and perfectly capable of arguing either side.
Dating Jesus 
I think the head scarf can be beautiful. The burqa, on the other hand, makes a woman invisible. What is so bothersome to me is that the burqa was/is imposed on many women and it is not their free choice. How would we ever know if a woman is choosing it freely? That would be difficult. I find it hard to believe that a woman would freely choose to view the outside world through a screen.
Good point and good distinction between the two.
Burkas as well obstruct eye vision and directly cause women’s death by being run over.
If it’s not about choice, if it’s about women being forced to wear this then the problem has nothing to do with the burka. I say we stop focusing on the burka, which women may choose to wear and focus on the injustice of someone being forced to do anything at all. You can force women out of the burka and it will change nothing within a culture that views women as secondary.
Good point. Sometimes, a burqa might be nothing more than a symptom.
…and since it’s what we outsiders see, we think that if we no longer see it, we think we’ve taken care of the problem. I think you’re right about that, Vegas. Still, I can understand the interest in doing something by banning the burqa.