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98G · 12-23-2009, 06:51

Interesting article, thank you. Here is a Guardian article written by Ian Traynor on Tuesday 8 December 2009 19.06 GMT. Europeans are aware of the precarious situation they are in, and the French are some of the most vocal in this regard.

Nicolas Sarkozy today voiced sympathy for Switzerland's controversial decision to ban the building of Muslim minarets, calling on religious practitioners to avoid "ostentation" and "provocation" for fear of upsetting others.

The French president said he was surprised by the widespread criticism of the outcome of last week's referendum in Switzerland when 57% voted to proscribe the building of new minarets in a country that has four, and is home to 400,000 Muslims.

Sarkozy's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, promptly denounced the Swiss decision last week, saying he was shocked and scandalised and calling for the ban to be reversed.

But writing in the Le Monde newspaper, Sarkozy defended the Swiss in arguing for the necessity of the contentious debate on national identity he has sponsored in France.

"How can you not be amazed at the reaction that this decision has produced in certain media and political circles in our own country," Sarkozy said. "Instead of condemning the Swiss out of hand, we should try to understand what they meant to express and what so many people in Europe feel, including people in France."

He was the first national leader in Europe to offer a detailed opinion on a decision that the Swiss government has criticised as discriminatory and probably illegal, if implemented.

Sarkozy called for discretion from France's 6 million Muslims, the biggest Muslim community in Europe, in their observance of religion, while pledging to fight all discrimination.

"Christians, Jews, Muslims, all believers regardless of their faith, must refrain from ostentation and provocation and ... practise their religion in humble discretion." Muslims would need to find a way of integrating in France "without conflicting with our social and civic pact" while moderate Islam would fail if Muslims sought to challenge the country's republican value system or Christian heritage.

......
Such direct single-issue votes are unlikely elsewhere in Europe, but newspaper opinion polls in Spain, France and Germany since last week's referendum have shown large majorities supporting a ban on minarets.

full article can be found here. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009...an-switzerland

12-23-2009, 06:51	#4
98G bonum medicina malis locis Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Blue Ridge, GA and Orlando, FL Posts: 305	Sarkozy defends Switzerland minaret ban Interesting article, thank you. Here is a Guardian article written by Ian Traynor on Tuesday 8 December 2009 19.06 GMT. Europeans are aware of the precarious situation they are in, and the French are some of the most vocal in this regard. Nicolas Sarkozy today voiced sympathy for Switzerland's controversial decision to ban the building of Muslim minarets, calling on religious practitioners to avoid "ostentation" and "provocation" for fear of upsetting others. The French president said he was surprised by the widespread criticism of the outcome of last week's referendum in Switzerland when 57% voted to proscribe the building of new minarets in a country that has four, and is home to 400,000 Muslims. Sarkozy's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, promptly denounced the Swiss decision last week, saying he was shocked and scandalised and calling for the ban to be reversed. But writing in the Le Monde newspaper, Sarkozy defended the Swiss in arguing for the necessity of the contentious debate on national identity he has sponsored in France. "How can you not be amazed at the reaction that this decision has produced in certain media and political circles in our own country," Sarkozy said. "Instead of condemning the Swiss out of hand, we should try to understand what they meant to express and what so many people in Europe feel, including people in France." He was the first national leader in Europe to offer a detailed opinion on a decision that the Swiss government has criticised as discriminatory and probably illegal, if implemented. Sarkozy called for discretion from France's 6 million Muslims, the biggest Muslim community in Europe, in their observance of religion, while pledging to fight all discrimination. "Christians, Jews, Muslims, all believers regardless of their faith, must refrain from ostentation and provocation and ... practise their religion in humble discretion." Muslims would need to find a way of integrating in France "without conflicting with our social and civic pact" while moderate Islam would fail if Muslims sought to challenge the country's republican value system or Christian heritage. ...... Such direct single-issue votes are unlikely elsewhere in Europe, but newspaper opinion polls in Spain, France and Germany since last week's referendum have shown large majorities supporting a ban on minarets. full article can be found here. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009...an-switzerland __________________ SEMPER VIGILIS The two easiest things to spend; someone else's time and someone else's money. Last edited by 98G; 12-23-2009 at 14:38.
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