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Clarkson was right about burkas and red G-strings
Antonia Bland: Clarkson was not being insensitive - Muslim women do wear lingerie
Jeremy Clarkson, Britain's top bloke, is in the dog-house over a cartoony incident he claims to have witnessed in Piccadilly. He told viewers of his BBC TV show Top Gear how a woman wearing a burka tripped and fell as she crossed the road in front of him, tumbling head-over-heels, to reveal a red G-string and stockings.
Clarkson claimed he was sitting in the back of a London cab when it happened and, if you don't believe him, he said, ask the taxi driver. (Quite how we're supposed to do that is a mystery - and anyway, why not ask the woman?)
As far as Clarkson was concerned, this was just another excellent example of how female pedestrians pose a hazard to male drivers trying to keep their eyes on the road in summer: girls everywhere are revealing more leg and cleavage.
As far as the Daily Mail is concerned - a paper that specialises in drumming up public rows over broadcasters' faux-pas (just think Ross and Brand) it's an appallingly insensitive remark that "outraged" television viewers.
Well, as uncomfortable as it may feel to defend Jeremy Clarkson in public, I have to say he's said nothing wrong. It's not insensitive at all. He is simply re-telling a truth known to all Muslim women and a lot of their men friends - that a woman who chooses to wear a burka in public may also choose to wear gorgeous lingerie in private.
I've seen teenage girls in burkas in Topshop, checking out the latest fashions; I've seen elegant burka-clad women expertly flicking through the rails at Joseph.
One Muslim girlfriend told me recently, in the wake of the defacement of sexy bikini ads in the East End, "Women in Islam are not condemned to a life of prison in their own homes as most people believe - we have freedom of choice, we can do what everyone else does, but we have to do it the right way.
"We are not supposed to dress provocatively in front of strangers due to the simple fact that we may catch the eye of someone who is out to do some harm."
Look at it this way. From the point of view of the woman who flew head over heels in front of Jeremy Clarkson - imagine the shame if she hadn't been wearing a cute red G-string and stockings that day, but extra-large M&S white pants? Sorry, girls, but honestly on which day would you rather take a tumble?
By the way, Clarkson has also put his rather clumsy big paw on a very telling truth in fashion that covering up can be just as sexy as revealing it all.
The maxi-dress is already making a reappearance on the streets of London. Don't be surprised to see the burka on the catwalks at London Fashion Week this September.
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I had no idea that the views of Britain's Chief Chav were of such importance.
I think I prefered it when I thought they just wore jeans and a T-shirt underneath. I hope this doesn't cause a spate of tripping Burka wearers by curious young boys....
As a Muslim female, I applaud Clarkson for this revelation; God does work in mysterious ways. Although I don't wear the burka myself, I do wear the loose abiya over my regular garments underneath & the head scarf. As a grandmother, I am allowed more 'slack' in my appearance; but, still prefer to keep the modest dress in public. I so agree with Veronica in her observation that women submit themselves to more degradation when they dress in such a way that draws the wrong sort of attention from men; depends on one's interpretation of what "liberation" really means to a woman, I suppose.
"We are not supposed to dress provocatively in front of strangers due to the simple fact that we may catch the eye of someone who is out to do some harm."
I see!
So, since the burka originated in Muslim countries the obvious inference is that most Muslim men are "someone who is out to do some harm."!
So - now we can say it ? - it's admittedly just as provocative to cover up and peep thru your burka -"the eyes have it" ? - look at those beautiful eyes in the articles' picture - maybe Muslim men actually prefer the attraction of the unknown, and are not telling ?? you have to laugh - I think attractive muslim women look great in their burkas or anything else they wear, but unattractive ones don't - men don't like looking at unattractive women - so maybe men figured this would keep them out of view -OR- it's actually to protect the ugly from contempt ??
Of course we western women just HATE the idea of women doing this because they are told to by the males in their society, that is what we are REALLY incensed about - it's not the burka itself !
On the other hand, in western society - we all hate all that coarse eye-popping boob stuff everywhere and the miriad barbie-doll look-alikes - ridiculous and way more degrading to women than the burkas worn by beautiful young Muslim women !!!
I'm so glad I dont have to think about any of this any more now that I'm an old lady - I just wear comfortable and classic and to hell with who likes how I look !