Thanks - I think my comments really sum up the debate for me as well. I have thought about this and really considered both sides equally and without the prerequisite drama or prejudices. I actually voted "Yes" because I love the concept of woman not being demonized, minimized, trivialized or otherwise oppressed.

After rethinking - I've come to the conclusion that for me the concept is simple: I am grown - I will wear what I damn well please.

Jacquii.

Thanks so much Tauhid for your reply

and this is coming from an Arab Muslim Grand Imam,

So Now thats why i guess we're seeing more and more islamic states allowing women to dress more moderately and just allow a simple head scarf, you only need to see the You Tube Videos of the women in Iran with just with their head scarf.

You only need to look at the people that enforce the Burkha and their other stricter religious views, The taliban are supporters of a very strict muslim sect that dosn't think twice about Public Exicutions, Honour Killings, Assult Battery and Rape against their womenfolk, Child weddings etc.. and we need to remember also that they originated from Saudi Arabia.

Like all religions Muslims should be treated with respect and in the same light as everyone else, you only need to look at the first Gulf war to see that Muslim Countries can indeed work alongside its western counterparts. The plan to liberate Kuwait, from saddam was a success, thanks to the Muslim Countries that helped.

The Future of Burkha?

There are both the opponents and the supporters of Burkha out there but many Muslims are starting to agree that such enforced dress code is not necessary. Unlike historical times, many nations have begun to lessen their enforcement of the Burkha. Women are also no longer required to wear the Burkha (only some Muslim nations) even though they are encouraged to wear modest clothes such as a headscarf (most of Islamic states).

Liberal Muslims and women’s rights groups are advocating for the compulsory enforcement of the Burkha to be stopped so a women (and girls) are given the choice to decide if they want to wear the Burkha or not. Currently, this issue or topic is hotly contested by the Islamic scholars, Muslim Communities and the Western nations. However, as Islam moves into the modern age, one can only speculate as to what the future of Burkha will truly be.

you can't just be happy by saying no to Burkha ...

Burkha mean respect and loyalty and purity of women...

We hove no right to take it for him just because we don't like it :S

I Vote NO for dictatorisme I vote yes for liberty isn't france mean liberty ?

this vote is like we sed are jews must live or die ? there is no deference

I Disagree



What's your problem if she wear hjab or Burkha?



Why you want to decided for other person if wear hjab or Burkha?





Are you calling France Democratic republic?



Where the Democratic when you force other people to do what you like?



Away from them Religion you know in Islam women like Diamond no one can touch her



Else her husband not like in your country any one can sleep with any girl any time without marriage and in 21 the girl was slept with more than 20 but in our Religion (Islam) you the first one touch her and the last one



Do you understand women majesty in our Religion? For sure not



Because if you know you will not write some voting to decid what she must do





And she understand this and accept this without any force because she believe in Allah



So don't force them in France for do some thing they didn't like it

and by the way i'm egyption and in iran you will find girls wear hjab and girls wear Burkha and girls without hjab or Burkha

she decid what she wear not me not you not any one

Hi styl3r and SSCC, Welcome to VB.org and for joing our debate

Thanks for your posts, but i feel your missing the point.

if women want to wear a burkha in Afganistan or Saudi Arabia then its up to them, but to expect them to wear in in a country that dosn't allow it is pushing the boat out a bit.

Its been said before by Egypt's Grand Imam, Sheikh Mohammad Tantawi that its down to whatever country feels the need to ban the burkha or not.

Surely your not saying that your Religious Elders are Wrong???

Altough the arguement is not the fact that women can wear them or not we all respect others religion, but the fact that people expect to wear them in countries which are not considered islamic.

These countries have Muslim women in government and they know full well of some of the forced agrangements that women and indeed girls have to endure by wearing these burkhas.

You say let the women decide?? i've not heard from any muslim Women on the matter, only from what was posted from the Muslim Women Forums.

This had nothing to do with Jews, its a small percentage of Muslims that wear the Burka, Nothing to do with Jews what so ever, so there is a differeance a large one too!

There seems to a a pretty large debate going on around the world, with the fact that France wants to Ban the Burkha, Some people just cannot explain, Egypt's Grand Imam, has said that the Burkha is not compulsary in the Islamic Religion, yet Mulsims are disagreeing with this???

as i said before

Currently, this issue or topic is hotly contested by the Islamic scholars, Muslim Communities and the Western nations. However, as Islam moves into the modern age, one can only speculate as to what the future of Burkha will truly be.

Unfortunately the ban on burkha will confine those women to their own houses. Some won’t be comfortable in public without a burkha and other may not be allowed.
That law will liberate them form the veil and imprisoned them in their own homes.

Then i guess they will not go to that country. But to one where they can wear the Burkha quite happily :erm:

We need to remember also that there are loads of places in the world that would make you welcome but you need to go by their rules, otherwise you end up in court if your lucky and prison if your not.

Respect is a Universal word, valued in countries all round the world, You respect them they respect you, coming from a christian Country myself, I wouldn't have a problem moving my whole family to the States, Austrailia, Canada, even france, but i would certainly think twice about moving to Iran, Saudi arabia, iraq, can you see what i'm talking about??

Great result on the Poll Though a Draw so far, Thanks everyone for voting and your views, Its a hard subject to discuss, and we're being very civil with our replies, so thanks for that. :)

Why ? My be they like Paris and that tower there :d . Or may be they are French Muslims . Do they leave their country because they are Muslims ? Do they leave their neghboors and friends and relatives :( . No of course because Islam Is actionable, righteous in everyplace in every tense ;) .

Why do you think twice ?

Welcome to Saudi Arabia :d

I am studying in Knig Abdulaziz University in Jeddah . Most of the teachers from foreign countries here like U.S and UK.

Brother Tauhid,

First, I will give you an example to make you and all understand a fact .

When someone ask you where you can find the Zamzam water . Who do you ask ? Where do you search first?

of course you gonna ask an Arabic person not African . You search in Arabic countries not foreign ones .

You can apply The same fact here about Hijab/Burka ! You will ask Arab Muslims about the meaning . Even if you want to know the true islamic rules , you will ask whom ? Of course you will ask people who live in the same place where our prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him born . They will know the exact meanings of words and Islamic rules because Holy Quran is in Arabic language .

So, Hijab in our discussion , in our islam, as I said , as Tantawi said is,

But he also said :

Why do you think he said that ?!! Because he knew already that there are lots of foxes in the shape of humans these days who like to annoy women . Moreover, he knew that Muslim women are very shy, pure heart . They believe in Allah, They fear from anger of Allah that make them to cover all pieces of their body. Finally, Tantawi said that because there are some few differences between four creeds (Mathaheb) in Islam . Some of them said that Hijab must cover the whole body even head and hands, and some of them said just the whole body without face and hands.
Here we can derive one property of Islam religion that there are more than one choice in such cases . It is the easy-affluence religion . Which solve -as we can see- the problems like this one (Sarkozy. problem).

You ask him to bring a proof table ? OK no proof table after what you have said here :

I know you are Muslim and Muslim will never say such thing. I repeat this is quoted from another pathetic article .

The Qur'an and the Traditions of the Prophet (Hadith or Sunnah) are the sources (proof table) from which every Muslim woman and men derives her rights and duties.

7th century Arabian life is real Muslims life that if we follow them exactly these days, We will already be the humans that all people respect us and no one try to give unfair commands like Sarkozy .

Never think Muslims do like whose in iran (Sheia) and Taliban. God (Allah) never said to do that things .

Islam is instinct religion that asks people to do things that they can believe without efforts it is true

OK I have two gifts to you both , Tauhid and UKBusinessLive . Try to read these two articles please. You will know many things about Islam with evidences from Holy Quran .

Women's Liberation Through Islam

HIJAB IN THE WORKPLACE

I vote here " I Agree "as mistake
anyone can help me to change that

Hi SSCC and thanks for your post, I think your missing the point here, The debate is not that women should wear the burkha or not, but should they break the laws of a non islamic country.

Its like me saying my wife likes to Drink so its ok to go to Saudi arabia and drink in the streets?? Its not, and she'll probably end up in prision. I cannot argue the case, full stop.

Whilst western reporters work in islamic countries they respect their laws by wearing a scarf on their heads.

So whats so hard about going to a non islamic country and respecting their laws ?

To refine, The debate is not about wearing the Burkha, Women can wear it all day long, the issue is that a non muslim country has banned the burkha because of several issues, and thats what you have to expect when you visit a non islamic country, like we respect your laws when we go to yours.

No problem with that,if someone got a problem with some country's law they can choose not to go there.
But what about French Muslim women, born and lived all their lives in France.
What choice will they have if the anti-burkha law is passed ?

Not a lot, they will have to change to suit the Law of that country, but i'll bet it will be only a very tiny percent as if a muslim women has lived all her life in France she would be pretty westernised by now.

Take France's Justice Minister Rachida Dati seen here on the left, That doesn't make her a bad Muslim.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/...zc3HA/610x.jpg

The law of the land applies.If they dont like it then they can go to a country that allows them to dress as they please.

This will proberly only affect the older generation who are to set in their ways to welcome change.As for making them prisoners in their own home i highly doubt and see that remark as just scaremongering.

Surveillance cameras play a big role in our society. I am just curious, how do you catch someone who commits a crime wearing a burkha in a neighborhood where everyone wears one?

I don't think there is in a western country a neighborhood where everyone wears one. Its just a very small minority that make the women wear the burkha, and because of the fact that no one can be sure if a woman is forced to wear it or she does it off her own free will.

Theres also the security issue, and its not generally accepted in western culture to walk around in a mask, it gives the impression of "I don't Want to belong in your Society"

exactly people must abide by the laws of the land,

I'm a christian and wouldn't unless as a missionary go ANYWHERE near a muslim nation, the culture sw against my own, Islamics who are in Christian/catholic nations must abide by the laws of those nations, or return to an islamic nation, there are after all, more than enough of those going around

okay
first of all you are wrong about "Burkah" which is write in arabic برقع
it’s not thing that you mean look at this
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2009/06/2.jpg

so what he mean is "Negab"
so I hope in next time he first read before he talk

any way
you guys say that france is the country of freedom and every one can life his life as he want

so why as some women love wearing Bikini some women want wearing Negab.
why Mr Sarkozy angry ?

if he not angry from that and he just said
hey muslims this is my country
this is my world
and I’m who said what you wearing and what you won’t

okay I’m totally don’t have any problem with that
but also
on every muslims country for every francian people
we will say the same
this is our world
and you should wearing Negab :D
so are you agree on that?

I guess as a leader of a country he doesn't want to see this type of seperation amongst his people. Just like leaders in islamic countries expect westerners to cover up. you have to respect each countries laws.

Muslims are doing quite well in france with several High ranking Muslims in government. Just because they don't wear a Burkha makes them a bad muslim.

oh man
you are totally don?t answer my question

we didn?t talk here about does Negab make women bad or not
and we didn?t talk about the feeling of Mr Sarkozy
also I notice you really need to come to Saudi Arabia
cuz you talke as the western people here can?t live there life as they want
so I want give this picture
it?s from Ryiadh the capital of Saudi Arabia

http://www.alweeam.com/news/infimage...e6a7a2394c.jpg

http://www.alweeam.com/news/infimage...e6a91aca13.jpg

http://www.alweeam.com/news/infimage...e6a91bc034.jpg

I beleive it was St George's Day as I remember
no one of any muslims Saudi Arabia
go to them and said hey christian
you shouldn?t wearing this
u should wearing Negab :p

I hope you get my point

Hi Ba$im

Thats great, but your King allows this to happen, and normally inside as a private function, if they all went down the street drunk and drinking from bottles then they would be arrested without doubt.

Its a tough cookie but its down to the ruler of a particular country to decide, i can't really see how anyone can expect an non islamic country to change for the sake of it.

Its like me having a market stall in Iran selling Lager and Pork Sausages?? Its disrecpectful to even think about it let alone expecting the governement to change because i want to do it??

Instead i would go to Germany and sell my larger and Pork Sausages, to the VB Germany guys ;)

Can you see where i'm coming from, Its nothing to do against the islamic religion, But the Law of the land of the country that your Visiting.

Besides the French Each Snails and Frogs legs, I don't like it but it still doesn't stop me respecting their laws, and when i go to france i can expect people to eat this.

Burkha is not much different to Nun's habit.So how one is 'debasement' and other isn't.

will we still talking about what you wear not what you drink
besides if the goverment here catch them while they drink on street
they will not going to prison
they will realse them and ask from them not drink in street that’s all

as I said in first
if what is going on here is that Mr Sarkozy said france my world
also we will said egypt our world
so when he come back to egypt and want to visit Necropolis
with his lovely girl
we will not allow to her visit it without wearing Negab

so isn’t sound justice ? :p

Well - to be honest - I think you will find that the arguments for Sarkozy's anti-burkha legislation is more of an anti-Muslim thing cleverly disguised as giving a damn about the debasement of woman... You will see that the main argument has become "If you don't like the law - then go back to your Muslim country." --- It's a bit of a shame really, easy dismissal is abundant, as noted when an interesting point of trying to do the same to Jewish people was brought into the equation. The argument was simply ignored.

I think you will find also that your point regarding the nun's habit will meet similar... I can see similarities yes, but then again - the Muslim female in a Burkha or hijab is not giving her life over to Christ :)

On the same token though - I do quite understand that civilizations are allowed to make such laws in their countries. All nations are based on laws I suppose... The law of the land is the rule of the land until the government is overthrown and new laws are put in place LOL

Jacquii.

Good point Jacquii

But i don't think its anything to do with being Anti muslim, France with the highest population of Muslims in Europe and Several Senior Muslims in the Government, simply wouldn't let it happen.

Infact it was the Justice Minister, A Muslim herself that refused a Morrocan Women in a Burkha residentcy earlier on in the year.

Plus you need to Remember that France is a predominantly Christaian / Jewish country, with no real desisire to turn into an islamic state.

What your saying here is that France is ok until the government is overthrown and an islamic laws are put into place, I really can't see it happening.

The debate is not about Jewish people, you can't hide behind something else and expect it to be ok, just like the debate is not about muslims, its about the small minority that talibanised the religion, and its a small minority, as there are millions of moderate mulims all round the world that don't believe in this, that desn't made them bad muslims.

Also the debate is not about should women wear the burkha i've said this no end of times, if women want to they can, Please do, But when a country says no, we should respect that, whats so hard to do??

To go to Austrialia, i need a Visa, If they don't want to let me into the country they won't, They are not being racist, just following the laws of their country, even to the States now, you need to register in advance before your trip, I feel that its also in the interest of National Security, as certain countries around the world where the stricter muslims inists on the Burkha are Countries where Terrorist come from.

Its certainly a decission not taken lightly.

One thing I don't think you have mentioned at all (pardon me if I am wrong):

The burka is effectively banned in Turkey (a Muslim country) as well, and has been since 1927 or so; the actual legal ban in Turkey is on veils of all kinds, and the burka being the industrial-strength veil to end all veils, it's like kinda triply illegal.

These days you do see many Turkish women actually ignoring the law in Turkey and adopting the veil; it's usually a political statement, where they are identifying themselves as supporting the overall new Islamist* trend in Turkey. But AFAIK it's still illegal on the books.

____________

* And it was precisely because of Islamic fundamentalism that Turkey, while remaining a Muslim country, banned the veil back in 1927 or so; the government of that time wanted a reasonable amount of what you could call church/state seperation, and a fraction of secularism in society.

Thanks for that Tim, i haddn't realised that a Muslim Country actually Banned the burkha too :eek:

Now what does that say??

The Strict laws governing the burkha, looks like its not welcomed in a moderate Muslim society, I feel its very outdated and when you think of the burkha you think of the taliban and their strict muslim laws, which frequently excuted people almost daily in Afganistan. Even in countries where the Burkha is worn, women are told to wear the burkha and failure to do so can result in beatings, harassment or other worse punishments.

There have also been instances where men wore the burkha to escape from the police or to hide their identities from the authorities. One such famous incident occurred at the Red Mosque siege in Pakistan, and recently on of the London Bus Bomb Terrorist espaced police custody dressed in his sisters Burkha.

Modern day muslims base their authority regarding the Burkha on the Hadith or collected traditions of life in the days of Muhammad the prophet. But a noteworthy objection is that Hadith describes 7th century Arabian life, which should not be imposed on modern day Muslims world wide.

Muslim communities also argue that women are to dress modestly but should not be forced or punished to wear a burkha. This is why many Muslim communities have different preferences regarding the application of the burkha.

There are both the opponents and the supporters of burkha out there but many Muslims are starting to agree that such enforced dress code is not necessary. Unlike historical times, many nations have begun to lessen their enforcement of the burkha. Women are also no longer required to wear the burkha (only some Muslim nations) even though they are encouraged to wear modest clothes such as a headscarf (most of Islamic states). Liberal Muslims and women’s rights groups are advocating for the compulsory enforcement of the burkha to be stopped so a women (and girls) are given the choice to decide if they want to wear the burkha or not. Currently, this issue or topic is hotly contested by the Islamic scholars, Muslim Communities and the Western nations. However, as Islam moves into the modern age, one can only speculate as to what the future of burkha will truly be.

Makes me also wonder how many Muslim members disagreed with the french actually have Sisters Mums and other female Relatives wearing the Burkha, and are not simply disagreeing because they are Muslim ?? Which is not what this debate is about.

If a woman want to wear anything then you have to respect her desire
Where is woman right that we all talk about

Now you want to force the woman to do what you want
sorry to say that but you are strange UKBusinessLive and unfair in the same time

A woman can wear what she want, as long as its within the laws of a country, In the modern world if she want to wear a burkha then she will be restricted to wear she can go, thats nothing direspectful it the Law.

No one wants to Force the woman to do anything, I've said before she can wear the burkha all day long in the few countries that allow it.

Its not down to me what these countries decide, I'm not making the Rules here :erm:

You need to realise even islamic countries like Turkey has banned the Burkha, The wearing of even simple headscarves by women is banned in Tunisia.....a 99% Muslim country......and its not compulsary in many others.

All i'm saying and i'll say it again when forgien people come to your Country, they have to respect your countrys laws, even if they think its not fair, otherwise they will no doubt be punished - Do you agree ?

if so, likewise when you and your family visit another country you need to go by their rules, especially a non islamic country, otherwise you will be disrespectfull towards that country and its religion - True or false.

Its not rocket science, but we do need to remember, that even in the freedom that we live in, there are certain parts of the world that are not as liberal as others, You can find yourselves in prison without trial, or even physically punished, beaten and worst.

Religion Plays an important part too, especially if you don't go by the laws of the land.

That is just a blatantly false statement LOL
The law is all about force. Nothing more, nothing less.
I wonder... What is the penalty for a woman who wears the burkha in public even though the French prohibit it? Is she stoned to death?

Jacquii.

The ban looks stupid to me why is it when nuns walk around nothing happens yes there is more backward muslim wearing the burkha in france than nuns.. But it always islam that in the news or the papers. Okay there is some noobish radical muslims but there not muslims there a disgrace to islam. I'm starting to hate the media always be anti-islam i hope soon the radical muslims are in a room and nuked :). so that others muslims can live in peace, back to topic :D. There was first the hijab that wasnt allowed then muslims in france started using burkhas instead.. and soon lets see what else they wear..

Allah Says:
They aim to extinguish God's light with their utterances: [9] but God has willed to spread His light in all its fullness, however hateful this may be to all who deny the truth

And
O followers of the Bible! Now there has come unto you Our Apostle, to make clear unto you much of what you have been concealing [from yourselves) of the Bible, [28] and to pardon much. Now there has come unto you from God a light, and a clear divine writ,


one day you will hear Sarkozy says
Borkha is compulsory in France
cause thousands of French converted to islam every year.

do you know why?

Read what French Professor (Bocay Morris) Says in his book (the Koran and the Torah and the Bible and Science)
you will know why French ppl converted to islam !

Democracy HERE Says 53.33% Disagreed

Thanks to Allah
God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is, as it were, [50] that of a niche containing a lamp; the lamp is [enclosed] in glass, the glass [shining] like a radiant star: [51] [a lamp] lit from a blessed tree - an olive-tree that is neither of the east nor of the west [52] the oil whereof [is so bright that it] would well-nigh give light [of itself] even though fire had not touched it: light upon light! [53] God guides unto His light him that wills [to be guided]; [54] and [to this end] God propounds parables unto men, since God [alone] has full knowledge of all things. [55]

It may be about force Jacquii, But mainly National Security i dare say. Either way the guy don't want it, why can't people respect the law of the land??

They only Stone women to death in Islamic countries, not france :rolleyes:

--------------- Added [DATE]1246462243[/DATE] at [TIME]1246462243[/TIME] ---------------

Hi bela-meaad

Thanks for your response :)

I'm not saying that people do not convert to islam, Thats Great its their right to do it but, the Burkha is mainly an Arab costume and not worn by every single muslim convert.

In Fact there is only a small tiny minority of Muslims in Europe that Wear the burkha, and the ones that do are mainly imigrants from the strict arab countries which they've escaped from.

In Saudi Arabia, women wear the burkha, But if your a muslim in a western country your more than likely to wear western clothes, even in Iraq and iran, a simple head scarf is more than enough, Even Muslim countries have Banned the Burkha, like Turkey.

As a Muslim yourself, do you regard Muslims in western countries as Bad Muslims because they don't wear the Burkha, and if you could say to a Western Woman Muslim she must wear a burkha, what reason would you give as the Koran simply states that the woman must cover up modestly.

;)

it is not matter of Burkha
its matter of islam.

Even Muslim countries have Banned the Burkha, like Turkey.
Thats not true
scarf was only prevented in UNI
and that was prevented in secular system time
but not any more
so don`t poke the poison in food and mix up everything.


what if the oboriginals in Australia
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...1&d=1246473577
Force Australian women
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...1&d=1246473577
to take off her cloths and be naked as they are

Allah Bless you

Not sure why you seem to go on about naked women, The debate is about a countries refusal to allow the burkha to be worn, Nothing about naked women :confused:

Wrong again, The Debate is is about wearing the Burkha, Nothing to do with religion or islam, If Christians and Jews wore the Burkha it would apply for them too.

Their are lots of things that we do in the west, that you cannot do in Saudi arabia and vise versa, We each need to RESPECT each countries laws, Why won't you respect it??

^^ I don't quite understand why you keep on repeating 'respecting other countries law'.
The ban on headgear and burkha will mostly effect French citizens only.

It won't affect french Citizens as they don't wear the Burkha.

Let me explain

When you go to a different country you have to go by their laws - Agree ??

Like when people from other countries visit your countries they respect your laws - Agree??

And if a country deems its unacceptable then you must accept that countrys rights.

--------------- Added [DATE]1246484933[/DATE] at [TIME]1246484933[/TIME] ---------------

No because Our countries are civilised.
Lets discuss how our women must cover up when they go to certain countries,or not even be allowed to kiss or cuddle or show affection for one another in public regardless if married or not.
Maybe we should try and force our views on these countries like they try to do with ours

Ah! Now we get to the truth of the situation. National Security eh? Funny.
But why make all the false arguments, purporting to give a damn about the debasement of women when "national security" is at issue? For me - that just goes to show that there is a secret, hidden agenda behind the whole farcical "no burkha" legislation. And for this reason alone - I think the no-burkha law is despicable. There's a way to do things, and I would dare say the anti-muslim stance shrouded in the lie of "empowering woman" is no different than covering oneself up in a burkha.

Jacquii.

ps - I was actually serious about the statement I made - what is the said penalty if a woman is caught wearing a burkha, thus breaking that ridiculous French law? And yes - I know that in some islamic-premised countries there is stoning; sometimes I think such stringent punishments would fair well in western countries ala the thief gets his hands cut off hahaha...

--------------- Added [DATE]1246491478[/DATE] at [TIME]1246491478[/TIME] ---------------

Ah! Are we talking about "getting even" with these evil Muslim countries or are we talking about actually having the best interest of oppressed woman at heart?

Looking at this purely from an unemotional and unbiased stance - I would say that you guys are being bigots: "Those people are bad so let's take away their rights to wear what they want to wear."

Jacquii.

So when i say Muslims are more than happy to wear the burkha no one wants to listen to me?? The problem is when they enter a different country, Mainly a non islamic country.

The Laws of different countries are not made my me or anyone else, they are decide via a democratic process.

There are reasons of National Security where Terrorist and criminals have commited crimes and escaped wearing Burkha's, so that too has an element of fact.

Imagine Jacquii, you went to Saudi Arabia and was told to cover your head, and you refused,on the principal that you feel you can wear what your want. What do you think would happen, will they say, its ok, we're cool or will the Religious Police, (yes there are such things) come and arresst you??

There is also the Public safety Element, where you can't identify the person in a Burkha, Not sure what happens in the States, but in the UK when you Enter a Bank or Shop theres often as sign asking people to remove their Motorcycle Crash helmets. So that they can be Identified on the CCTV camera's.

Its so easy to debate something that dosesn't effect your personally but you need to look at the question from all angles.