Secularism vs Religious Expression-

Nightshade · Post by **Nightshade** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:17 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
PARIS â?? Waving the French flag or wearing it as a head scarf, thousands of Muslim women marched Saturday through Paris, the center of a worldwide protest against France's plan to ban head coverings from public schools.

From Baghdad and Beirut to London and Stockholm, protesters condemned the law as an attack on religious freedom. Even in the West Bank city of Nablus and in the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Srinagar, women came out to support French Muslims.

"Where is France? Where is tolerance?" the crowd chanted during the four-hour march through Paris. "The veil is my choice."

The protesters want to scrap a bill that will go before French lawmakers next month forbidding "conspicuous" religious signs, from Islamic head scarves to Jewish skull caps and large Christian crosses, in public schools. Easy passage is expected, and the law is to become applicable with the new school year in September.

President Jacques Chirac (search) says the aim is to protect the principle of secularism that anchors life in France. However, it also is seen as a way to hold back the swell of Islamic fundamentalism (search) in France's Muslim community â?? the largest in Western Europe at an estimated 5 million.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Western values are in conflict across the world in more ways than one. Which should prevail?

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:52 pm

A secular society is either one of two things:

1. A society that is inclusive of all relgions.
2. A society that is exclusive of all relgions.

What France is doing will probably do more to insite fundementalism than stem it.

In the end, the western value of moronic government always wins out.

Shoku · Post by **Shoku** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 6:11 pm

Secularism will eventually win the day. With more attention being focused on the religious cause behind most of the world's turmoil, religion, as an organized institution with authority over millions, will eventually be forced underground after a sweeping, global annihilation of ALL religious organizations.
Fundamentalism always leads to oppression of one form or another. Even Jesus denounced the religious fundamentalists of his day . . . God and religion have NOTHING in common.

index_html · Post by **index_html** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 6:27 pm

"Where is tolerance?" the crowd chanted

Certainly not in the authoritative center of Islam (Saudi Arabia):

Muslim religious practices deemed heterodox by government-appointed Islamic scholars, and all non-Muslim religious practices, were banned and subject to criminal prosecution. Both citizens and foreigners residing in Saudi Arabia were required to carry identity cards indicating the bearer's nationality and religion. While private religious worship appeared to be tolerated, public non-Muslim religious activities were not permitted and worshipers attracting official attention risked arrest and deportation.

http://www.hrw.org/wr2k/Mena-08.htm

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 10:10 pm

Too bad we are talking about France.

There's probably a sane reason why they aren't living in the middle east no more.

index_html · Post by **index_html** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 10:51 pm

... obviously to insist on proper shoolgirl headgear in the institutions of infidels. heh. Which solicits a non-violent protest message? Oh no, the hive has to stay in character:

On Monday, 150 students, including women in the head-to-foot chador, protested in front of the French Embassy in Tehran shouting "Death to France!" and "Death to Chirac the Zionist!"

Death and Zionist plots (blah, blah, blah) ... over friggin' scarves.

Here's an interesting little bio (translated from French journal LibÃ©ration) on the guy who organized the demonstration in Paris. Typical Jooo hater. Oh where, oh where is the tolerance? (give me a break):

http://watch.windsofchange.net/themes_75.htm

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 11:03 pm

I think a more workable solution to the problem of race is for every to paint all exposed flesh grey when out in public, and wear a standard uniform.

That should put a check on the rise of white power in america.

Palzon · Post by **Palzon** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:28 am

anyone who chants death to anyone should have their scarf removed.

Jeff250 · Post by **Jeff250** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 1:36 pm

the Zionist

Your enemy's enemy is your friend.

Testiculese · Post by **Testiculese** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:41 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Shoku:
God and religion have NOTHING in common.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Holy ****! Someone else knows! And I thought I was the only one...

Dedman · Post by **Dedman** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:48 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by fliptw:
In the end, the western value of moronic government always wins out.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Only because we have bigger bombs.