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About three months ago in France a new law was approved by our government and its leader Jacques Chirac. That law is called the "Law against any Religious Signs". The new law says that "no signs will be allowed at any grades in school or in public areas when they reveal a religion." It includes the hijab for the Muslims, the yarmulke for the Jews, any clothes showing God, and jewelry. Actually, the law says that people can wear any piece of jewelry as long as it is smaller than an inch. The funniest thing about the size is that the government seems very serious about it. How ridiculous! The debate about that controversial law began last year after many attacks and insults mostly between Jewish and Muslim people. Last year and in the past few years, a lot of racism problems were reported by the high schools and sometimes middle schools as well. For many years, France has lived in a climate of fear against the others and the differences. It is probably because our president changes the reforms more often than usual and writes new ones about taxes, social security, money, jobs, education without thinking about the French and their needs. Of course, every time a change is done, it is to help the rich and break the poor’s lives. Two years ago, the huge climb of racism in France was just one part of a difficult reality. France is not doing well; did they forget that WWII started with the detestation and the fear of others? Apparently they did, because it is not okay to be mean to others nowadays. The problem with the new law is that it only affects some people. 2 of the 3 biggest religions in France. The Jews and the Muslims are two minority’ parts of the country, but they are part of France like Christians are. Why should the law only hurt the minorities? Why should they always touch the ones who feel everyday that the government is against them? I really don’t get that. I don’t understand how politicians can still make laws so dangerous for the country in 2004. I was not in France when they approved the law, but I read many stories to at least know what was happening and I know that people didn’t like this "new important law." As real French, they decided to be on strike to show their anger. They had a lot to say. Really, I am trying to think what the next law will be like. Something as stupid probably. The very sad truth is that since they passed that "best law for everyone" many young Muslim ladies dropped out of school and so did some Jews. The main reason: they didn’t feel any support from the teachers who had to follow the new rules. It means that when a Muslim girl was going to school with her hijab (headscarf) she had to see the principal and go back home. It became illegal to go to school with this scarf. I heard a girl say that she doesn’t want to go to school anymore, because she feels "naked" when they make her take off her hijab. In three months more than 5,000 young people dropped out of school and didn’t have anywhere to go, because it is too expensive to go to a private school. Good job, leaders of France, when will be your "new great law"? I
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