N
not spavin
Guest
Because it is how we identify each other. It's tacit in that it's just an understood and accepted part of culture and social norm that you would not cover your face in public. People don't walk around in balaclavas and if they did they would be lifted.
Do we need a ban? Probably not no. But it's still disrespecting British culture. Wherever I travel I learn about their customs and culture and try to follow and respect that. I would expect people to do the same coming here.
That assumes Britain is a monoculture, and it is not.
Eye contact is social norm - is wearing sunglasses in conversation disrespectful to British culture? Wearing hats indoors? Turbans? Yarmulkes?
Britain is, and always has been, a tolerant polyculture. Burqas are part of that. You're entitled not to like then - I don't - but to suggest that they have no place in Britain is very unBritish. Your wife will probably have to cover up if you went to a Muslim country. I happen to think it's a great think that people don't have to hide their own culture when they come to ours.
As long as people pay taxes and learn the language, I couldn't care less if I can see their nose or not.