Of course there's conflation.  On the one hand, we have people who want to be able to dress however they want at work in certain types of jobs and aren't allowed to take off their tortuous ties while at work in certain types of jobs.  On the other hand, we have women who are being told by the president of the country that they may not wear a certain clothing while setting foot on French soil or YE SHALL BE CAST OUT.  This from a man who, as you pointed out, has repeatedly demonized those with the misfortune to lack the proper skin color and bear non-Muslimy names.

But yes, by all means, let's make this about ties, because that's the real discrimination.

Of course there is socio-cultural pressure on all of us to act and dress in certain "acceptable" ways.  Every society has that, and this is not about my ability or inability (thanks for that, though) to see it.  Sarkozy has chosen to throw the coercive weight of the state behind his side.

My sympathies go to those who face competing pressures from two different societies, which they inhabit simultaneously, and which expect opposing behaviors from them.  Politicizing their dilemmas does them no favors.