tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post5901434262569874812..comments2023-06-24T01:19:24.380-06:00Comments on Write Ray!: The Niqab 'Issue'Ray Courtmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643220772745933250noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post-39463999291386784392015-10-04T15:04:52.842-06:002015-10-04T15:04:52.842-06:00We're not talking about a trial by your peers....We're not talking about a trial by your peers. We're talking about a symbolic ceremony to declare someone a Canadian Citizen! Much of Canadian law requires folks to remove all facial coverings (including eyeglasses in some cases) when expediting certain legal actions. In those cases, the niqab would have to be removed. In the case here, I think my compromise would solve this particular impasse!Ray Courtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13643220772745933250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post-13126267015983618882015-10-04T12:20:35.522-06:002015-10-04T12:20:35.522-06:00Odd that it's always about money, for some. Is...Odd that it's always about money, for some. Isn't it possible that Nenshi is taking a moral stand, on behalf of the principle of 'live and let live'? But, for the sake of argument, let's say that it is about money, and that's all: Calgary certainly can't do worse if the Conservatives somehow manage to get re-elected. The city has gotten far fewer federal dollars than Toronto or Vancouver - for stuff like transit, or police, or infrastructure - in the past 10 years from the Harper government. The NDP and Liberals - which are only competitive in maybe 2-3 seats in Calgary - aren't promising a whole lot better; the Liberals' track record for supporting Calgary with federal dollars is pretty lacklustre, too.<br /><br />I digress. On the point of having a juror wearing a niqab during a trial - what difference would that make, really? Especially since any vote to convict or acquit would be done in private jury deliberations, anyway? Besides, deciding whether a defendant is receiving a fair trial isn't up to the defendant - I mean, I'd figure most people found guilty and sent to jail don't think that they got one, either.<br /><br />That's why it's up to a judge, who would be a part of the juror selection beforehand - along with the Crown prosecutor and your defense attorney. So what you've got here is really just a strawman argument. And we're really talking about two people in the whole country, during a single ceremony that lasts only a few minutes; not a blanket ban of the niqab in all instances, in public.Rhyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00933971231139659284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post-79385626766108890872015-10-04T06:27:04.020-06:002015-10-04T06:27:04.020-06:00Hmm. I wonder what it would be like to have someo...Hmm. I wonder what it would be like to have someone in a Burka or behind a veil sitting as a member of a jury of my peers if I was in court for some reason. Would I feel like I was getting a fair trial? Hard questions indeed! I don't think the problem is as simple as one might think and Nenshi should be a bit more careful in his criticism in recognition of the difficulty. More likely that he is out to score a blow against a party that he sees as less promising for $$.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com