That's a scary thought, the UN banning public expression of religion. Because religion itself isn't evil, and neither is the public expression of it - unless it's used for evil (to incite people to hate, or kill, etc.) It sounds like a hoax, though, and I''m hoping it is (it wouldn't surprise me if it was.)
As for the situation in France, I think it's going way too far. Granted they have different laws, values, and customs in different countries (does France even have a law that permits freedom of expression?), I just don't see the point of this prohibition. Teach secularity all you want - wearing of religious icons or traditional clothing isn't any threat to that. I've been in classrooms where students wear crosses and Muslin headscarves and kipot (the Hebrew word for the skullcap, also known as a yamicah in Yiddish), and it never threatens the secularity of the curriculum. I've yet to see any fights or arguments in public schools or universities over people displaying religious iconography.
The closest incident I can recall of anyone making a big deal of any sort out of someone displaying a religious icon was when I noticed a few of my classmates wearing ashes on their foreheads for Ash Wednesay. Out of natural curiosity, I asked a classmate what Ash Wednesday was, and she explained to me. I found it to be pretty interesting. So nothing negative came of it in any way. If anything, it may encourage students to want to learn more about other traditions and religions out of curiosity.
And then, of course, is the fact that many religions require special clothing to be worn. That's a religious practice. What next, Jewish students won't be allowed to bring kosher food from home, or studnets won't be able to say their blessings over their food before we eat? Judaism requires that a prayer be said before and after you eat, and other religions also require blessings over food. It's nothing that attracts a lot of attention - you whisper a few words quietly, and then you chow down. Would any of you have a problem with one of your classmates doing this?
I'm also surprised that 40% of Muslim women actually voted in favor of this.
Last edited by Darknight613; 2004-02-11 7:21 AM.
