Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Swiss Ban Minarets
The Weekly Standard ^ | November 30, 2009 | Jim Prevor

Posted on 11/30/2009 1:15:43 PM PST by JimPrevor

The larger question, though, is whether a nation is any more than a geographic entity. If some Parisian Rip Van Winkle wakes up one distant morning and finds himself in a nation that speaks Arabic, where the people are Muslim, food is by law halal and the government follows Sharia law. Is that fellow still, in any meaningful sense, in France?

Is it simple racism for, say, the Dutch to want their nation to stay Dutch -- not just in terms of geography -- in terms of language, food, religion, government, architecture and all the things that make up a culture?

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: culture; minarets; swiss; swizerland
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-26 next last
The focus on the specific issue of the Swiss banning new minarets, and the allegations of racism that go along with the matter, is really a distraction from broader questions: What is a nation? Can a people legitimately seek to defend anything other than territory?
1 posted on 11/30/2009 1:15:43 PM PST by JimPrevor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Hey! There is good news to end your day!


2 posted on 11/30/2009 1:17:09 PM PST by villagerjoel (1. Implement socialist policies 2. ??? 3. Heaven on earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: villagerjoel

The focus on the specific issue of the Swiss banning new minarets, and the allegations of racism that go along with the matter, is really a distraction from broader questions: What is a person? Can someone really claim equal rights and respect, when their culture promotes violence, abuses women, and has no respect for those who disagree?


3 posted on 11/30/2009 1:18:06 PM PST by villagerjoel (1. Implement socialist policies 2. ??? 3. Heaven on earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor

The Swiss can see France from their house...


4 posted on 11/30/2009 1:19:53 PM PST by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor
The Swiss can do what they like in Switzerland. It's their country. May I propose another question?

Can America ban islam ... or the construction of mosques ... or the erection of minarets ... and still be America?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

What's "religion"? Who gets to define it? Who gets to say them "nay"? What does the "free exercise" of religion mean? How is this to be enforced? What may individuals and organizations do on their own private property?

5 posted on 11/30/2009 1:21:12 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor
The Swiss can do what they like in Switzerland. It's their country. May I propose another question?

Can America ban islam ... or the construction of mosques ... or the erection of minarets ... and still be America?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

What's "religion"? Who gets to define it? What does the "free exercise" of religion mean? How is this to be enforced? What may individuals and organizations do on their own private property?

6 posted on 11/30/2009 1:21:41 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor

“Can a people legitimately seek to defend anything other than territory?”

Yes they can! They can do anything they please inside of their own borders. It’s their country. If they want to keep it the way it is, that’s up to them.


7 posted on 11/30/2009 1:22:34 PM PST by RC2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Ray

Ping


8 posted on 11/30/2009 1:24:42 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor

Two Middle East mothers are sitting in a cafe chatting over a plate of tabouli and a pint of goat’s milk.

The older of the two pulls a bag out of her purse and starts flipping through photos. They start reminiscing.

‘This is my oldest son Mohammed. He would have been 24 years old now.’
‘Yes, I remember him as a baby’ says the other mother cheerfully.
‘ He’s a martyr now though’ mum confides.
‘Oh, so sad dear’ says the other.

And this is my second son Kalid. He would have been 21.’
‘Oh, I remember him,’ says the other happily, ‘he had such curly hair
when he was born’.
‘He’s a martyr too’ says mum quietly.
‘Oh, gracious me ...’ Says the other.

‘And this is my third son. My baby. My beautiful Ahmed.
He would have been 18, she whispers.
‘Yes’ says the friend enthusiastically, ‘I remember when he first started school’

‘He’s a martyr also,’ says mum, with tears in her eyes.

After a pause and a deep sigh, the second Muslim mother looks wistfully at the photographs and says...

‘They blow up so fast, don’t they...’


9 posted on 11/30/2009 1:33:32 PM PST by himno hero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor

“Country” is a geographic area. “Nation” is a collection of people with common characteristics.


10 posted on 11/30/2009 1:35:59 PM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor
The larger question, though, is whether a nation is any more than a geographic entity.

Indeed. And whether nationality is any more than a geographical statistic. Virtual village.

11 posted on 11/30/2009 1:36:34 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (whitey's over it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard

The Swiss can do what they like in Switzerland. It’s their country. May I propose another question?

Can America ban islam ... or the construction of mosques ... or the erection of minarets ... and still be America?

***********************

Yes.

Islam is treason, which competes with the Constitution.


12 posted on 11/30/2009 1:37:46 PM PST by ROTB ("By any means necessary" is evil. See what God thinks of "rising oceans" in Jeremiah 5:22)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor

Now they are calling it racism? How can it be racism to ban the expansion of buildings which are used to indoctrinate in a world-expansionist ideology cleverly disguised as a religion?


13 posted on 11/30/2009 1:40:30 PM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor
Take the islands of what we now call “United Kingdom” and “Ireland.”

Pre-picts, Pict's, Celts (various tribes, multiple origins and migrations), Romans, Germans from the mainland (various tribes-Jutes, Saxons, Angles), Nordics (including the vikings from Scandinavia, and the French speaking Vikings from Normandy).

The culture which resulted from that was transplanted to North America, setting the basis for the “culture” and language of what became the United States of America.

But added were elements from France, Germany, Scandinavia, Belgium, Holland and other places.

At what point in our history would there be a parallel for outlawing Minarets, if you consider them as places of religion?

But if you consider them as places of political and military aggression, you can outlaw them.

14 posted on 11/30/2009 1:44:03 PM PST by truth_seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard

The short answers to your post #5 are easy to derive.

America is a nation of sovereign citizens. All have agreed with Washington that “the Constitution is sacredly obligatory on all”.

Muslims are forbidden by their Koran from becoming Americans. Therefore, Islam, being antithetical to and irreconcilable with America, can lawfully be banned from America.

I can believe in the Church of the Holy Duracell Bunny. Nothing in the bunny contradicts the Constitution.

However, were I to claim a belief in the Great Cannibal, and believe that the Great Cannibal commands me to eat my neighbor without his permission - then my religious belief would require my being banished from America.

Islam Delenda Est - because they WILL make us play Cowboys & Muslims.


15 posted on 11/30/2009 1:49:47 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ROTB
Islam is treason, which competes with the Constitution.

How so?

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Simple assertion will not do. Treason, in these United States, is defined above. Please elaborate on how adhering to islam (or any other religion) is treason.

16 posted on 11/30/2009 1:52:37 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: GladesGuru
Muslims are forbidden by their Koran from becoming Americans.

Chapter and verse, please.

Therefore, Islam, being antithetical to and irreconcilable with America, can lawfully be banned from America.

Not so very long ago, folks said the same thing about "Papists". Right here in America. Heck, some folks on this very forum come close to saying it. Some of these United States banned Catholic schools (or attempted to) just the way some folks on this forum would ban mosques.

After the Know Nothings have successfully banned the moslems ... how are the Catholics (or other selected scapegooat) to defend themselves? Should the Knights of Columbus trade in their swords for AR-15s?

17 posted on 11/30/2009 1:59:50 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor

Tit for Tat, make the ban on Mosque construction be conditional, Make it so the ban on new mosque construction will stay in effect until Saudi Arabia has removed it’s ban on construction Churches and Temples and end their persecution of Christians and Jews.

So it will stay in effect until the Saudi’s learn to play fair in their own country.


18 posted on 11/30/2009 2:14:30 PM PST by GraceG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor

The focus on the specific issue of the Swiss banning new minarets, and the allegations of racism that go along with the matter, is really a distraction from broader questions: What is a nation? Can a people legitimately seek to defend anything other than territory?

A country is defined by “Borders, Language and Culture”

Someone once told me this.


19 posted on 11/30/2009 2:15:34 PM PST by GraceG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimPrevor
Can a people legitimately seek to defend anything other than territory?

Sure. But the devil's in the details, in this case treaties between Switzerland and the EU. Pretty confusing, but on a quick read seem to give the EU the upper hand; cf guillotine clause.
20 posted on 11/30/2009 2:50:28 PM PST by caveat emptor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-26 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson