Swiss projected to OK ban on new minarets Right-wing initiative regards mosquesâ spires as symbols of militant Islam Swiss voters approved a move to ban the construction of minarets in a Sunday vote on a right-wing initiative that labeled the mosque towers as symbols of militant Islam, projections by a widely respected polling institute showed. The projections based on partial returns say Swiss swung from only 37 percent supporting the proposal a week ago to 59 percent in the actual voting. Claude Longchamp, leader of the widelyrespected gfs.bern polling institute, said the projection contracted by state-owned DRS television forecasts approval of the initiative by more than half the country's 26 cantons, meaning it will become a constitutional amendment The nationalist Swiss People's Party describes minarets, the distinctive spires used in most countries for calls to prayer, as symbols of rising Muslim political and religious power that could eventually turn Switzerland into an Islamic nation The move by the People's Party, the country's largest party in terms of popular support and membership in parliament, is part of a broader European backlash against a growing Muslim population. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34191036/ns/world_news-europe/
I wouldn't think so either, although it does seem to me that symbols and symbolism can certainly play a role.
I agree if I understand rightly that you are pointing to the political meaning behind this. Surely there must be a better way to combat extremism than to condemn an architectural style. There is too little diversity in that realm anymore, too many glass boxes.
Architectural and all other symbols associated with extremist views/cults/organizations are just one of many tools used by extremists to spread their views and promote the message of hatred, intolerance and extremism. The Swiss don't want these symbols in their country. Who can blame them?
So the US has not banned the Confederate flag, nor has the US banned the Nazi swastika...because we believe in freedom of speech and self expression...and the Swiss fall back on their German roots in a move that puts them on a path towards fascism...
Exactly. What a shame that we don't have any politicians with the guts to push for such bans here in the United(?) States.
It's a blessing that, for the most part, we don't have politicians that dumb. Most folks recognize that there are all kinds of "associations" in this world. Correlation does not equal causation.
Eventually the ENTIRE PLANET WILL BE ISLAM! (1) They have no tolerance for "non-believers" and willing to murder them, and (2) they have the highest fecundity rate in the world... They are already 25% of the world's population... it's only a matter of time.
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