PARIS -- France's lower house of parliament voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ban students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other religious apparel in public schools. The classroom ban, which also applies to Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses, was approved 494 to 36. The measure goes to the Senate in early March, and little opposition is predicted.

The religious minority in France is thoroughly outraged.

"It's bad enough we must stink like them now we can't wear scarfs why is this?" said one angry....smelly protestor.

"The Republic and secularism are strengthened," Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said, hailing "the magnitude of this vote. We French must be alike and stink alike!".