I mostly support the Swiss decision. As from my comment at Der Spiegel,
The Shrike Send a noteboard - 02/12/2009 05:54:11 PM
Please note it was made after addressing the silly argument people make that in Muslim nations they don't allow Christian churches,
I do not like the argument that just because Muslims in Muslim nation won't allow it so we in the Judeo-Christian West with democracies and full respect for human rights shouldn't care because someone else is doing the same thing. We have respect for human rights. We have freedom of speech. We have democracy. And while I will not judge what the majority of Swiss voters have chosen to do in their nation, I will judge those of us who compare us to less enlightened societies. We are better than they are. At the moment.
Personally, I don't mind minarets. They are often beautiful architectural features that add to a skyline. Like the steeples of a Gothic Church. I think it would be better to allow minarets than not to. There could be architectural competitions to design them and the mosques. It would add to civic cohesion. But that is just my personal opinion on the matter.
However, if there is no call to prayer emanating from a minaret, then there is no functional purpose, other than an aesthetic one, for the minaret. And since I vehemently oppose any call to prayer in any non-Muslim nation, then ultimately, I think the decision is moot. Swiss Muslims don't have a call prayer. The minaret's function is to be the source of a call to prayer. If there is no call to prayer, then the minaret is not needed.
I do not like the argument that just because Muslims in Muslim nation won't allow it so we in the Judeo-Christian West with democracies and full respect for human rights shouldn't care because someone else is doing the same thing. We have respect for human rights. We have freedom of speech. We have democracy. And while I will not judge what the majority of Swiss voters have chosen to do in their nation, I will judge those of us who compare us to less enlightened societies. We are better than they are. At the moment.
Personally, I don't mind minarets. They are often beautiful architectural features that add to a skyline. Like the steeples of a Gothic Church. I think it would be better to allow minarets than not to. There could be architectural competitions to design them and the mosques. It would add to civic cohesion. But that is just my personal opinion on the matter.
However, if there is no call to prayer emanating from a minaret, then there is no functional purpose, other than an aesthetic one, for the minaret. And since I vehemently oppose any call to prayer in any non-Muslim nation, then ultimately, I think the decision is moot. Swiss Muslims don't have a call prayer. The minaret's function is to be the source of a call to prayer. If there is no call to prayer, then the minaret is not needed.
It seems the Swiss ban on muslim minarets has passed rather quietly
- 02/12/2009 04:15:22 PM
520 Views
I mostly support the Swiss decision. As from my comment at Der Spiegel,
- 02/12/2009 05:54:11 PM
277 Views
Re: I mostly support the Swiss decision. As from my comment at Der Spiegel,
- 02/12/2009 06:23:09 PM
262 Views
I understand the first in Qatar was built in 2003.
- 02/12/2009 10:11:31 PM
240 Views
So you ban the steeples where church bells are not needed?
- 02/12/2009 07:19:16 PM
272 Views
I would take an equal line against steeples where there is no bell/or no bell allowed to be used.
- 02/12/2009 08:29:21 PM
270 Views
Does anyone know the legal effect of this referendum?
- 02/12/2009 10:00:54 PM
257 Views
It's Switzerland. Their referendums are binding.
- 02/12/2009 10:07:52 PM
264 Views
Do the Swiss think they live in 5th-century BC Athens or something? 
- 02/12/2009 10:11:29 PM
259 Views
- 02/12/2009 10:11:29 PM
259 Views
Switzerland is odd in a great many ways.
- 02/12/2009 10:14:26 PM
262 Views
Actually, I think I meant the European Court of Human Rights, not the ECJ.
- 02/12/2009 10:16:38 PM
261 Views
Yeah, but does that one have any power?
- 02/12/2009 10:17:54 PM
276 Views
- 02/12/2009 10:17:54 PM
276 Views
ECHR Article 9 – Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- 02/12/2009 10:52:35 PM
309 Views
I feel like I'm missing something in this debate
- 02/12/2009 11:21:03 PM
231 Views
The latter.
- 02/12/2009 11:22:49 PM
272 Views
Huh, that's bizarre
- 02/12/2009 11:39:03 PM
243 Views
It's coming from a party...
- 02/12/2009 11:42:49 PM
297 Views
sicherheit schaffen, that's great!
- 03/12/2009 12:00:00 AM
240 Views
I don't really see a problem with it
- 02/12/2009 10:09:55 PM
250 Views
They pretty much have.
- 02/12/2009 10:16:46 PM
266 Views
I would say it is a bit reactionary but i guess it depends on your definition of intolerance
- 03/12/2009 03:39:48 PM
265 Views
The Adhan can really get to you
- 02/12/2009 11:14:47 PM
312 Views
I think it seems kind of a silly waste of government power...
- 03/12/2009 12:27:29 AM
249 Views
It's not the government that did it. *NM*
- 03/12/2009 12:29:35 AM
120 Views
*re reads* Oh. I guess it's really power to the people over there
- 03/12/2009 12:35:59 AM
227 Views