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Instamonkey: Casting stones at the Swiss

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 23:55 — Ben

My friend Doug Bandow has a provocative article on National Interest Online about Switzerland's vote to ban new minarets on mosques. Bandow believes the vote violates the religious liberty of Muslims living in Switzerland. But he also believes that Muslims living in nations that violate the rights of Christians are in no position to criticize the Swiss.

Indeed, as Bandow demonstrates, the loudest protests have come from countries where Christians, Jews, and other religious minorities suffer varying degrees of discrimination and even persecution.

"Switzerland is a beacon of liberty and reason compared to the Muslim nations," Bandow writes.

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Wed, 12/09/2009 - 10:18 — Joel

Or...

...you could argue this is another example of the West becoming like the things it hates in order to avoid becoming like the things it hates.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 11:21 — john 2000

heaven forbid

"The West" show signs of intolerance to in-your-face intolerance. I applaud the Swiss people for their vote.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 12:57 — Dr. Zaius

RE: heaven forbid

Of course, John. Didn't you get the memo? Tolerance for such matters goes only one way — and requires (ultimately) the cultural suicide of "The West." When our soldiers were protecting the Saudi rulers (and all their oil wealth) from Saddam, they were instructed by the Pentagon to refrain from walking about with Bibles.

When a culture is not willing to protest that outrageous mandate — to people protecting your odious regime — the game has long since been given away.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 13:10 — Khabalox

Of course

Why take the high road when we can lower ourselves to their level? That is the most constructive (and Christian) thing to do.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 16:38 — Dr. Zaius

RE: Of course

Why take the high road when we can lower ourselves to their level? That is the most constructive (and Christian) thing to do.

Ok. What "constructive" thing would you do?

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 16:58 — crywalt

Lead by Example

You do exactly what you were taught in the Boy Scouts, which is lead by example. You show what tolerance means by being tolerant yourself. And you let people build onion domes if they want. (Around here all the minarets and onion domes are on Christian churches anyhow.)

You also stop supporting tyrannical regimes like that of Saudi Arabia, but that's a separate issue, and doesn't really involve the Swiss to the best of my knowledge. I mean, I'm sort of unsure what American soldiers carrying Bibles in Saudi Arabia has to do with minarets in Geneva, since I'm fairly certain the Saudis being protected are not the same people as the ones building mosques in Switzerland.

Oh, wait, I forgot, all Arabs are Muslims, all Muslims are Arabs, and all of both are intolerant jihadists. I keep forgetting to go over the Dr. Zaius FAQ before posting!

Thu, 12/10/2009 - 08:16 — Khabalox

"Constructive" Answers

That's a much better answer than what I was going to give, which was (wait for it) "let them construct minarets."

Regarding the Saudi Arabia angle, I saw a comment on another forum that asked, "What does SA's treatment of other religions have to do with a Muslim from Bosnia living in Switzerland?"

And then there's this: Single Prayer Option.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 11:52 — Wry Mouth

Or You Could Argue

that different nations have different sets of rules?

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 13:05 — john 2000

yes

Islam would like to rule the world with its set of rules whether you choose to believe it or not. It is codified.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 20:20 — Wry Mouth

Yes well

thenn... I would counsel "them" to be wary when they cross over international boundaries. Hey look, khaba! I put "them" in "quotes!"

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"Don't confuse political savvy with competence or principles." -- RobbL, 2009