[news.yahoo.com]

I finished reading this story on Yahoo news about ten minutes ago, and I really don't know how to articulate just how shocked and disheartened I am. For those who can't follow the link, Switzerland has voted to ban all further construction of Islamic minarets (towers that are iconic of the faith).

Sponsors say that they pursued the ban because the "minaret is a sign of political power and demand" and go on to equate the religious buildings with female genital mutilation and forced marriages (don't ask me where they got that from). They also say that Muslims, who make up about 6% of the Swiss population, would still be able to practice their religion however they want. My question is, how are they supposed to do that when one of the touchstones of the faith has been banned? I imagine it would be like being told one day that, "Oh, Christians, they can still worship however they want. They just can't build any new churches because they symbolize pedophilia." All it does is drop a big, scary buzzword into the mix to justify a baseless and prejudiced point of view.

Now, I could almost understand if the adhan (call to prayer) were being broadcast five times a day from the towers and disturbing the residents of whatever town they're in (there are four existing minarets in Switzerland, which are not affected by the ban). However, the article says that the existing minarets don't broadcast the call to prayer outside of the tower anyway. And even if they did, wouldn't that be like saying that churches couldn't ring their bells? Patently ridiculous.

This whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth.

And you who seek to know me,
know that the seeking and yearning
will avail you not,
unless you know the Mystery:
for if that which you seek,
you find not within yourself,
you will never find it without.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 11/30/09 12:12AM by Rian.

They're removing them because of what they symbolize in the Islam world, which is being transplanted in Europe. Keep in mind that they are not banning the religion; just its public symbols. I personally don't take issue with it, though it'll probably get reversed sooner or later.





A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people- Thomas Mann




My writing blog: [aspiringpen.blogspot.com]

So it's fine to ban public symbols of faith? What if someone decided my wearing a crucifix on a necklace was a public symbol of faith?

If they own the property on which they are building, I don't think anyone should stop them from constructing whatever they wish to.

this whole thing is pathetic. i understand that Switzerland doesn't want to turn into a Muslim state ruled by sharia. that makes sense to me. Their reaction? Not so much at all.

now if minarets were somehow structurally unsound, and endangering people's lives, that could make sense. if they were somehow obscene and offensive i could get that. if they were maybe a hazard for aircraft? i could maybe understand that as well.

But they aren't any of these things. minarets don't take over switzerland; they don't force people into marriages,and they don't mutilate little girls. And to me, they have never even represented these things! They're simply towers, that i personally find to be beautiful!

some people in Switzerland are obviously not thinking straight.

yeah but it says "Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved" that means A TON of swiss arnt thinking right.... yeesh... this is nasty.

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That which does not feel pain is dead.

Aren't thinking right? Maybe the land of John Calvin does have a bit of good in it still.





A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people- Thomas Mann




My writing blog: [aspiringpen.blogspot.com]

what i would kind of like to know is why it's a big deal to Muslims getting minarets banned. i mean it's annoying, but they can still build mosques, right?

what do you mean by that faerie?

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That which does not feel pain is dead.

Well, I just meant that the same country where a great Reformer preached once is the same one banning symbols of a pagan religion, though I doubt the two may be connected.





A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people- Thomas Mann




My writing blog: [aspiringpen.blogspot.com]

ooook. im as much for John Calvin, Zwingli, Martin Luther etc...as probably anyone on this board. but how in the world is banning minarets good????

you don't win people to Christ by banning their religion you know.