In a few weeks, Switzerland will vote on a very controversial issue. It’s about entering in the Swiss Constitution a law that forbids the construction of minarets on Swiss soil. I’m sure you can already picture why this is being debatable. On one side, shocked people who think this law is racist, discriminatory, and bad taste, and on the other side, people who are chicken shit about Islam and the propagation of Muslim symbols on Western countries.
I hate talking about something I don’t known so eventhough I had a vague idea of what a minaret is, here’s what I found out. First of all, minarets were used as a lighthouse so that followers could be called for prayers. Nowadays, this is not how it’s done anymore. Prayer is called via speakers. Secondly, minarets had an architectural purpose: to evacuate the heat and thus acting as an air conditioning system… pretty smart.
The political party behind that law proposal is the UDC (Union Democratic Center) and is considered as the national party in Switzerland (biggest party too with some 30% of the population voting for them). Here’s the thing, I’m apolitical because I think they’re all clowns. But I like campaigns for the marketing aspect of it and I must say, the UDC has this provocative attitude that I like. It’s as if pissing people off would give them more credits. I don’t blame them, people are dumb. (on a side note, minarets are not necessary for the practice of the religion).
Anyway, the minarets issue was just the kick for the other issue that other European countries are facing (not so much Switzerland), it’s the Burqa. For those who don’t know (you’re actually learning stuff here… how amazing), a burqa is a long dress that covers the entire body leaving a few holes for the eyes so that you know where you’re walking. Originally, burqas were worn by both men and women, because you know… in the desert you’d hate having sand all over you. Also, because there were some clans attacking each other and kidnapping women, a burqa would be a way to hide women. Picture an idiot on his horse kidnapping someone thinking she’s a hot lady and finding out she’s actually an old fart.
But in some Islamic tradition, a burqa is really a way for men not to be tempted by carnal desires represented by women. I can’t blame them, we (men) are after all dirty pigs. However, this is taken as a bit too extremists in Western countries. Finally, reason why I’m talking about minarets and burqa, is because of the now famous UDC poster for the ongoing campaign. What do I think about all of that? Well first of all, I think religion is dumb to a certain extend. It’s actually not dumb per say… it’s just us who are too dumb to deserve it. Secondly, I believe “In Rome, do as the Romans do” meaning when you’re a guest, you don’t impose your lifestyle. At home, do whatever you want but in public, behave.
MY theory of the burqa, is that there’re actually bodyguards under it and they always remind me of ninjas… or sith lords if you’re a geek. Anyway, here’s the drama poster.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
Pour une fois j’ai pas réellement de débat à lancer… Le sujet me dépasse un peu. Autant les gens font ce qu’ils veulent et croient ce qu’ils veulent, du moment que ça n’ai pas d’effets néfastes sur les autres, autant je déteste l’idée de rabaisser les femmes à ce point là. Bref, je ne sais pas quoi répondre (il est tard, aussi).
Donc il va être extrêmement paradoxal de ma part d’utiliser cette expression ici : “Je suis la suisse”.
The “issue” about the burqa is that we, Western people, only see it with our eyes. What tells us that women over there are not happy with it? Maybe the consider mini-skirts and short t-shirt completely inappropriate. Honestly, I don’t know because I don’t know any woman who wears a burqa.
About the minarets, Pece on CFSL said it right: it’s not an easy situation. Switzerland is moreover famous to be an open mind country and multi-cultural (we officially speak 4 languages), it is then difficult not to consider this poster as being racist.
Now, I know that several Western countries are talking about it now. It’s difficult to express an objective point of view on a religion as controversial as Islam without being treated as “ignorant”. Political correctness also plays a role, let’s face it.
Anyway, I respect all religion… I have much less respect for people who don’t know how to “use it”.
—————————————
Le “problème” de la burka est que nous, Occidentaux, ne voyons qu’avec nos yeux. Qui nous dit que les femmes ne sont pas plus heureuses avec une burka? Peut-être considèrent-elles la mini-jupe et les t-shirts courts comme complètement dépravés. Honnêtement, je n’en sais rien, je ne connais aucune femme qui la porte.
Concernant les minarets, Pece sur CFSL a dit juste: ce n’est pas une situation simple. La Suisse étant en plus réputée pour être un pays ouvert et multi-culturelle (nous avons 4 langues officielles), il est difficile de ne pas considérer cette affiche comme “raciste”.
Maintenant, je sais que plusieurs pays en Occident en parle en ce moment. Il est difficile d’exprimer un avi objectif sur une religion aussi contreversée que l’Islam sans être étiqueté comme “intolérant”. Le politiquement correct y est aussi pour beaucoup, ne le cachons pas.
Quoiqu’il en soit, je respecte toutes les religions… je respecte beaucoup moins ceux qui ne savent pas “s’en servir”.
Mmm…what is a country? what is a tradition? Switzerland is by tradition a christian country (as for most of European countries…Turkey anyone?). Switzerland is politically neutral… Geneva is traditionally a land that welcomed different religious entities…Hard and vast debate that i would sum up with this quote i just invented “Thou shall treat your guest well as he may be one day your host”.
http://islam-west.com/2007/11/christian-churches-in-muslim-countries.html
As for the burqa…being nowdays mostly linked to extremist islamic mouvements (contrarly to common hijab covering only the hair) and consequently to their low consideration of women (actually just worse than ours)…well fuck it!
Pour la burqa mon avis est simple : même pas en rêve cela devrait être accepté.
Et pour faire simple et etayer un tout petit peu mes propos : l’aspect religieux je m’en fiche royalement si ce n’est l’image que cela véhicule, à savoir que nous serions impûres et tout le reste … qu’ils aillent se … (je ne dis pas la suite mais le pense trés fort).
J’ai déjà eu ce débat maintes et maintes fois avec des gens, et je continue de penser que ma solution est la meilleure, si voir une femme risquerait de les dévier de la “vrai” voie (celle du vieux barbue misogyne), qu’ils se crevent les yeux ! Pas de problème !!!
I make a big difference between respecting someone’s religion and tolerance to it. For example, I really doubt that in Islamic countries they would let you drink alcohol, wear “Jesus ROX” t-shirts and let women not wear a veil to cover their hair. If I’m a woman and go to Iran, I am by LAW forced to wear something to hide at least my hair. I would do it gladly because I’m invited in a guest country.
It’s as if your religion asks you to pee on walls every day at 18 o’clock and one day you’re invited to someone else’s house… what do you do?
As for “Europe” and the meaning of countries, someone please tell me why Israel and Russia participate to Eurovision?