Swiss vote on anti-Islam move to ban new minarets

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

GENEVA – Swiss voters are deciding in a referendum Sunday whether to accept a ban on the construction of minarets, which right-wing parties regard as symbols of militant Islam.

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Polls indicate growing support for the proposal, but doubt remains about whether it will pass.

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The vote taps into the anxieties about Muslims that have been rippling through Europe in recent years, ranging from French fears of women in body veils to Dutch alarm over the murder by a Muslim fanatic of a filmmaker who made a documentary that criticized Islam.

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Muslims make up about 6 percent of Switzerland's 7.5 million population, many of them refugees from the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. Fewer than 13 percent practice their religion, the government says.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091129/ap_on_...d_minaret_ban_4

[Danno 1,228]

What is the main purpose of constructing Minarets?

I think it is completely reasonable for town and hamlets across that country to reject such dominating structures which certainly alter the historic atmosphere of the

area... even if they were not used as a means to call to prayer.

It's funny, many of the same people who would support limits on the construction of Wal-marts..... would look down their noses at the Swiss who would vote to stop the construction of these huge towers.

[HAL 9000 96]

I think they're pretty to see.

I wonder what kind of reasoning these voters are using to negate such a building practice. Reminds me alittle bit of US voters that vote down gay marriage rights while they aren't gay themselves and thusly, unaffected by Stan and Jim's love for each other.

[HAL 9000 96]

Although I certainly agree that if a jurisdiction wanted to preserve the historical and structural 'integrity' of its towns... then so be it. If this were the case they should hurry and declare entire areas of Switzerland as 'Historical' zones in order to avoid certain claims.

[PlatyPius 5]

When I think of Switzerland, I certainly don't think of Minarets....

I don't like seeing places lose their cultural heritage in the name of cultural diversity. Just like I wouldn't expect/want to see Wal-Marts and McDonalds in Iran, I wouldn't expect/want to see minarets in Switzerland.

[HAL 9000 96]

All this creates is more segregation.

[PlatyPius 5]

All this creates is more segregation.

You know I like you Hal...... but why have countries? Aren't countries, by definition, segregation? Should the entire world look the same, sound the same, BE the same? That's where we're headed with our fear of challenging anyone for fear of being labeled racist/bigoted/ethnocentric/etc.

Oddly enough, if I go to France, I expect to see French people, French architecture, French history. Likewise, I don't expect to visit Germany and see mosques everywhere, a McDonald's on every corner, and Chinese food every other block.

Too many places are losing their cultural identity in this current area of political correctness bullsh|t.

Edited November 29, 2009 by PlatyPius

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What is the main purpose of constructing Minarets?

I think it is completely reasonable for town and hamlets across that country to reject such dominating structures which certainly alter the historic atmosphere of the area... even if they were not used as a means to call to prayer.

[HAL 9000 96]

All this creates is more segregation.

You know I like you Hal...... but why have countries? Aren't countries, by definition, segregation? Should the entire world look the same, sound the same, BE the same? That's where we're headed with our fear of challenging anyone for fear of being labeled racist/bigoted/ethnocentric/etc.

Oddly enough, if I go to France, I expect to see French people, French architecture, French history. Likewise, I don't expect to visit Germany and see mosques everywhere, a McDonald's on every corner, and Chinese food every other block.

Too many places are losing their cultural identity in this current area of political correctness bullsh|t.

I agree with you brother Platy. I think I'd like to know more about the Swiss' electorate and how they view minarets before accusing anyone of being 'pc' or 'bigoted,' in any stance. From my knowledge of the Swiss, tolerance to outsiders' traditions in their country isn't exactly a national characteristic. Outsiders in general, too... not any specific group.

That said- I see absolutely nothing wrong with a non-hate/religious/kind of structure in peaceful coexistence with its heterogenous community. Key word here is heterogeneous. Some on the bigoted side of things do have a problem with a heterogenous population. This is a very far cry from everything being the same, and is why I am very cautious about claiming one thing or the other.

Those Alpine Swiss towns are pretty the way they are too. I imagine the minaret structures would likely go in more urban areas like Geneva, Zurich, etc... where a single homogenous architectural style is not so apparent anymore.

I think there are complex emotions running on this one- which probably has run to the benefit of the bigoted side of the argument I suppose. This is a common MO on many of these issues.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Too many places are losing their cultural identity in this current area of political correctness bullsh|t.

PC isn't the biggest factor in places losing their old cultural identities (in exchange for new ones).

Globalization is.