Those caveats out of the way, it's a stupid thing to say. How will he enforce it? Fines? And how do you welcome a garment or not? Will officials snatch it off and hand women Hermes scarves to replace them? It seems he's being deliberately provocative for his own sake. Heat, not light.  

But my view on covering is that it is a huge double standard for women. I'd defend the right to wear it, but I'd never believe it was a true "choice."

I understand modesty, but men aren't required to cover and they wear Western garb and seem to meet the modesty requirement just fine. The "protection" against lascivious males doesn't hold water with me, either. Besides, who are these "males" who, just by the sight of a bared arm, just lose all dick control...AND why is HIS lack of dick control a woman's problem? It's like the notion of "protecting" women in this society--if we had equality (in this instance, enforcing the same moral behavior among men that is expected of women) and justice then women wouldn't have to worry about protection. Problem solved.

It seems like if you're covered, you're trying to erase a woman--it's as if she doesn't exist. I find it interesting that you mention how women and girls are "exposed" because I rather find covered women and nearly naked women opposite sides of the same coin. With a woman wearing next to nothing, you see only tits and ass. You don't see the person. You don't see her; only body parts. She doesn't exist.

You can say my view doesn't matter, and it's fine. I fully recognize that the reason lots of folks latch on to covering has nothing to do with women being truly free to live their lives as they see fit. I don't have to be offended seeing a woman wearing next to nothing, because there's nothing making me dress that way. I don't have to be offended seeing baggy jeans hanging off someone's backside, either--there's nothing making me do it.

But there is something driving why others would present themselves either completely covered or nearly naked, and it's not merely because a style is in or out of season. To pretend otherwise is folly.

Can't hear ya, Peach!

Oh, really! And you know this exactly how? You have discussed it with how many women who actually wear them? You have done what psychological or sociological or anthropological studies that led you to this conclusion?