Having read the FGM linked supplied by Bags, I find it truly shocking that a primary school teacher could have likened this horrible mutilation inflicted on a young girl to a rite of passage such as a Barmitzvah. Her behaviour displays a sycophantic belief that all cultures must be treated equally. I for one don't buy into that one. As far as I am concerned any faith/culture/religion that thinks it's OK to harm children is wrong! wrong! wrong! and should not be tolerated.
I think it's fair to say that most of these abhorrent practices are completely covert. Along with many of the abuses SOME adherents to the Muslim faith inflict on their young, mainly female, followers and yes I know that all has not been hunky dory with Christian denominations and we should put our own house in order as well. Nevertheless, SOME Africans who follow strange quasi faiths, that encompass something called "JuJu" whilst living in this country also do horrible things to their children in the name of exorcism. Vile beatings and I've also heard of Chili powder being rubbed into the eyes of very little children. These practices are positively stone age, it's as if science doesn't exist. How can anyone honestly believe having sex with a young child, or even a baby can rid them of some awful disease is beyond me.
I think it's deplorable that a blind eye can be turned in the name of political correctness. I believe in France they have girl children from places where FGM is widespread undergo an examination by a doctor, I can imagine that some would say that would be an infringement of human rights, but if it is for the greater good in eradicating this vile practice then I think it's preferable to the child being spirited away and having to undergo this procedure and endure a lifetime of pain and complications.
I've said before I think most religions are deeply patriarchal and are skewed to keep women in their place, but I think some are worse than others I'm afraid. I find it deeply insulting to suggest that women should be covered from head to toe because they might inflame men's passions, and men should also find it insulting to them because it implies they have no self control. I took my granddaughter to see a theatre production of the Gruffalo's Child a few months ago, this was aimed at children from roughly aged 1 to 6. A party of very young, possibly aged 5, Muslim schoolgirls filed in, all with their heads tightly bound in a headscarf, not only a sad and quite unnecessary in my opinion but completely incongruous in our society and sod multiculturism I'm with the French on that one. Why do little girls have to a) feel bad about having hair or b) that they could be temptresses if the hair isn't covered. Yes I can see the the counter argument that we live in a sexualised society and women are often made to feel that they have to be on display, and not in a good way, but does that mean women should walk around like a mobile tent with no peripheral vision in the worst case scenario.
France I believe have banned the headscarf in school along with other religious symbolism and veil. Arresting women for wearing it in public does make me feel they are taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut sometimes, but I do feel they are right to try and eradicate FGM in a more heavy handed way than we appear to be doing, turning a blind eye and tinkering around the edges with something as important as this is pathetic. You can't please all of the people all of the time so don't please those who are in the wrong!
