Talk To The CEO, If He's Even In
Herouxville Coun. André Drouin said the Charter of Rights and Freedoms must be changed to drop protections for religion, or provinces like Quebec should separate and adopt their own rules.
"If there is some kind of religious accommodation to be asked or to be given, don't ask us, ask your God," Mr. Drouin said.
While Herouxville has been ostracized in some quarters, it was also clear Wednesday that the town's residents are not alone in thinking the protection of personal and religious rights is a threat to Quebec's francophone, secular culture. Many other presenters, including academics, feminists and Quebec nationalists, mentioned the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as enabling religion to creep into secular society.On the flip side, and not to be lightly dismissed of course, are arguments such as :
"It's another way to say, 'We don't want Muslims,'" said Muslim woman Asmaa Ibnouzahir, a Montrealer. "For them, all Muslims are related to stoning, genital mutilation. They're saying, ‘We want people to come to Herouxville who look like us, who don't look different, because we don't like differences.'"
"We're pretty far from stoning here," commission head Gerard Bouchard said flatly.
This second point is certainly true ; the first is a more generalized, wishful and fear-mongering approach that borders on the absurd accusation of "islamophobia." The point missed by both objections, however, is that our best hope for keeping the stonings and mutilations at bay is to simplify the rules by maintaining a clear, firm and non-negotiable separation between Church and State.
"If there is some kind of religious accommodation to be asked or to be given, don't ask us, ask your God," Mr. Drouin said.
While Herouxville has been ostracized in some quarters, it was also clear Wednesday that the town's residents are not alone in thinking the protection of personal and religious rights is a threat to Quebec's francophone, secular culture. Many other presenters, including academics, feminists and Quebec nationalists, mentioned the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as enabling religion to creep into secular society.On the flip side, and not to be lightly dismissed of course, are arguments such as :
"It's another way to say, 'We don't want Muslims,'" said Muslim woman Asmaa Ibnouzahir, a Montrealer. "For them, all Muslims are related to stoning, genital mutilation. They're saying, ‘We want people to come to Herouxville who look like us, who don't look different, because we don't like differences.'"
"We're pretty far from stoning here," commission head Gerard Bouchard said flatly.
This second point is certainly true ; the first is a more generalized, wishful and fear-mongering approach that borders on the absurd accusation of "islamophobia." The point missed by both objections, however, is that our best hope for keeping the stonings and mutilations at bay is to simplify the rules by maintaining a clear, firm and non-negotiable separation between Church and State.
posted by jp at 00:09
1 Comments:
Nice and great post.
Thanks & regards.
Post a Comment
<< Home