Thursday, December 11, 2003
A ban on "conspicuous" religious signs in French schools is being recommended. Similar procedures have already been put into action in Germany. With the shock second place of Le Penn in France's last elections, the rise of the right in Eastern Europe, attacks on synagogues and the fact that here in the UK the issue of asylum seekers has been allowed to be declared a crisis without any proof whatsoever, it would seem that Europe is not a particularly tolerant place. However, I think this banning 'conspicuous' signs is numpty-headed and also in this climate the polite face of race hate. By demanding that the 'other' do something in order not to offend us 'normal people' (and I see no reason why this rule would only stop Muslim women wearing a headscarf, from the way it's reported it would require them to walk around in only their underwear) it creates more of a distinction between 'them' and 'us', which is what leads to the verbal abuse, molotov cocktails and death.
And why stop at religious symbols? Some people might feel offended by trannies, so let's stop all forms of cross-dressing in public places (trousers down ladies). Some people get irritated by people using mobile phones? Anyone found using a mobile phone in public has their hand broken. And smoking? It's the firing squad for you I'm afraid. I'm sure that after all this, we'll all feel much better.
And why stop at religious symbols? Some people might feel offended by trannies, so let's stop all forms of cross-dressing in public places (trousers down ladies). Some people get irritated by people using mobile phones? Anyone found using a mobile phone in public has their hand broken. And smoking? It's the firing squad for you I'm afraid. I'm sure that after all this, we'll all feel much better.
