Identification of Canadians and Quebec's  Bill 62:  Who Are You?

The Province of Quebec recently passed Bill 62, the ban of full-face covering —for anyone giving or receiving public services.  The controversial ban is criticized  by the 'politically-correct'  as being specifically aimed at Muslim women.  Wrong.   It is not. It is aimed  inclusively  at  all persons in Quebec,  any and all individuals, any citizen, foreign, immigrant, visitor, asylum seeker, fake refugee  or otherwise—any 'person'  receiving or giving services  who  arrogantly insists upon hiding  (his/her/its/gender-neutral, modified, transformed, whatever, your choice) their natural face.  You got it, anyone in Quebec who hides  their faces and identity from other Canadians is now required to conform to a common-sense law.

Who ARE You?  Identification of Canadians... a valid Question of Security

"Who are you?" remains a valid question of security for people world-wide. Around the globe.  Identification of  Quebeckers, in fact any and all Canadians or others  with covered faces in public places  —is a security issue.

Don't like it?  Get used to it.  Join the modern world.  France and other countries including Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands have done the same.   Worth noting, some Muslim countries also recognize that security is paramount and must come first.  Chad, and even Egypt are doing the same. With good reason.  Terrorists use deception and hide their faces, gender, and intent. Full-face coverings are NOT  an "Islamic" religious requirement contrary to the loudly-expressed opinions of perhaps well-intentioned—but   ill-informed protesters.

Identification of Canadians and the Stigma of Hidden Faces

Here in Canada we are an 'open-faced society' and always have been. Hidden faces have traditionally and correctly borne  the stigma of suspicion and evil. The indeterminate stranger approaches presenting unknown and  potential danger.   Lack of trust is invariably created, regardless of what  lurks behind masks and other forms of face coverings.

Hidden faces have been and will continue to be  associated with persons having something to hide,   criminality,  untrustworthy, evil  intent. Shady individuals, attackers, break and enter artists and car thieves alike do not want their faces revealed before or after being caught.  Terrorists with murder on their minds do not wish to be identified. ISIS 'fighters' and extremists of every kind practice secrecy of  the worst kind.  Hidden intent.  Terrorism.  The past 20 years has demonstrated an automatic correlation between hidden faces and masks, including  "burquas and hijabs".  We cannot help that.  How unfortunate.  But to deny the association between 'hidden faces' of any type and human lack of trust  is to be naive,  uninformed, and foolish.

Benefits of Open Faces and Identification of Canadians

Yes. Benefits. Open faces offer more than simple  visual confirmation of  identification.  Uncovered faces  increase trust between people in daily contact, on passing,  standing  face-to-face, silently, speaking directly to one another or not.  Open faces improve communication via  the inherent  understanding of  natural and unmistakable  language of facial expression.    Faces signal intent, friendship, status, happiness, sadness,  good or evil  —although such an interchange may be subtle, missed entirely,  understood or not.

Why are there Objections to Reasonable and logical Identification of Canadians? Why is this even an issue?

Open, honest and uncovered faces improve tolerance, inclusion, and acceptance above all.   Worth repeating, uncovered faces  offer inclusion, acceptance, and even potential friendship to strangers. Open faces reduce concerns for personal  safety— by honestly addressing, reducing or completely eliminating  suspicion. 

Canadians naturally object to covered faces for all of the above reasons. Canadians are, by our very identity, history  and  nature, friendly, open-faced, inclusive and tolerant of those who dress 'strangely' and those who may be  'different'. We want to know who specifically stands before us for any purpose.

On the Other Hand...

Want to be looked upon with suspicion by all? Try it. Cover your face fully. Hide your face from any and all observers and passers-by. Lurk in public places,  courts of law, lineups at bus stops, at the mall, in lineups at the show, ceremonies,  events, schools,  the supermarket,  the welfare office, or your neighbourhood community center. Try entering an airport wearing a balaclava—and see what happens.  Expect to be confronted and identified.

While you're at it, protest  Canadian social life, Canadian traditions,  and whine loudly.  Scream racism!    Hide your face so nobody can determine who you are, what you are  protesting and  whining loudly for, or screaming dissent.

How about let's sneak about like it's Hallowe'en. Close enough.  Pretend you're practicing  "it's a woman's choice' ,  imagine you are a different gender and supporting "women's issues."  Pretend that you're a 'feminist',  as certain out-of-touch,  ill-informed, confused and incompetent politicians posing as 'leaders'  seem to be prone to encourage. Does a  full-face covering make your voiced opinion any braver, any  more valid?  No.  In fact, the opposite;  the hidden face  demonstrates cowardice.

One may use the excuse  that a burqua, Lone Ranger mask,  niquab, rubber Grinch-face,  wooden voodoo mask, head-scarf,  extreme-weather face-cover-hoodie, ski-mask, hollowed-out pumpkin-head, rubber duck costume,  toque,  or northern balaclava — is somehow  justified by  a "religious requirement" and a 'religion'.   It is not. They are not. None of the above face coverings qualify for exemption or eliminate, dismiss, or trump the logical and reasonable quest for security for ALL Canadians. 

Walk into a bank or jewelry store or bank—or  any other civilized workplace with a full-face covering  and try withdrawing money or inciting a  nasty public demonstration— and discover why full face covering are a bad idea.  

This is Canada. It is time for politicians of all stripes to remind themselves why the essential   tradition of  open-faced  identification of Canadians IS the essence of Canada.  

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Is that Incoming I hear?