Minarets are now constitutionally banned in Switzerland

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I have family living in Switzerland and it should be mentioned that they generally have VERY strict laws regarding the asthetics of their cities and villages. For instance, my relatives are Italian and they find it very annoying that by law, they cannot hang clothes out to dry (and they do not like clothes dryers), The papers for recycling can only be put out the morning (not before 5AM) of the paper collection so as not to make the area look "shabby", lawn ornaments have to be approved, no signs in yards, no billboards on the streets and all buildings MUST comply to certain rules.

So Switzerland isn't a country, just a giant HOA?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Next up... banning of Doric columns. ####### is this #######, really.

I think it's called separation of Mosque and State.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Next up... banning of Doric columns. ####### is this #######, really.

I think it's called separation of Mosque and State.

All minarets are constitutionally banned, even those constructed by non-governmental entities.

So no, that's not what it is at all

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Next up... banning of Doric columns. ####### is this #######, really.

I think it's called separation of Mosque and State.

Nagi, not very nice. Say tomorrow we ban crosses. All of them in the outside of buildings.

[Nagishkaw 510]

I was joking.

[christeen 966]

I have family living in Switzerland and it should be mentioned that they generally have VERY strict laws regarding the asthetics of their cities and villages. For instance, my relatives are Italian and they find it very annoying that by law, they cannot hang clothes out to dry (and they do not like clothes dryers), The papers for recycling can only be put out the morning (not before 5AM) of the paper collection so as not to make the area look "shabby", lawn ornaments have to be approved, no signs in yards, no billboards on the streets and all buildings MUST comply to certain rules.

So Switzerland isn't a country, just a giant HOA?

Sometimes it seems that way... For instance you have to ask permission to move from one canton to another, get approval from the town hall to rent a different apartment, When a child is born in Switzerland but to parents of another nationality they cannot claim to be Swiss but the counry of the parents only, each region has different type of trash bags which cost about $3 a piece and ALL trash MUST be put into those bags and you get a ticket if you put recyclable materials into the trash, the only external banners can be the Swiss Flag, Swiss nationals are assigned specific bomb shelters located underground, all paint colors must be approved by the city and the list goes on and on..... It is VERY pretty over there and VERY clean, but that comes with a whole boatload of rules to keep it that way... This ban is just an extension of that mentality...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What about McDonald's Golden Arches?

[Jenn! 918]

I have family living in Switzerland and it should be mentioned that they generally have VERY strict laws regarding the asthetics of their cities and villages. For instance, my relatives are Italian and they find it very annoying that by law, they cannot hang clothes out to dry (and they do not like clothes dryers), The papers for recycling can only be put out the morning (not before 5AM) of the paper collection so as not to make the area look "shabby", lawn ornaments have to be approved, no signs in yards, no billboards on the streets and all buildings MUST comply to certain rules.

So Switzerland isn't a country, just a giant HOA?

Sometimes it seems that way... For instance you have to ask permission to move from one canton to another, get approval from the town hall to rent a different apartment, When a child is born in Switzerland but to parents of another nationality they cannot claim to be Swiss but the counry of the parents only, each region has different type of trash bags which cost about $3 a piece and ALL trash MUST be put into those bags and you get a ticket if you put recyclable materials into the trash, the only external banners can be the Swiss Flag, Swiss nationals are assigned specific bomb shelters located underground, all paint colors must be approved by the city and the list goes on and on..... It is VERY pretty over there and VERY clean, but that comes with a whole boatload of rules to keep it that way... This ban is just an extension of that mentality...

A friend of mine living there tells me they can't flush the toilet after 10pm or so.

[thongd4me 69]

I'd hate to be the "hall monitor" in Swiss schools checking the kids:

"Is that a minaret in your pocket?"

and

"Did you intend to use it while you attended class today?

Edited November 30, 2009 by thongd4me

[christeen 966]

I know that the headquarters for McDonalds Europe is outside of Geneva because we passed it one day... But I remember there are no big lighted arches at any of the McDonalds, most seem to be located at major highway intersections and near the train station in big cities... But they blend pretty well...

They do have noise ordinences where you cannot make loud noises after 10 Pm on weekdays and 11 PM on weekends... No running dishwashers or washing machines (which BTW you have to pay a tax on and you pay more to run it at certain peak times) after 9PM... We go over 2 times a year and stay and my sister in law is always telling us about the new regulations and rules. BTW, they also have a private healthcare insurance based system where having health insurance is mandatory and can be expensive, but there cannot ban anyone for pre-existing conditions...

But the vacation time granted from companies is really GREAT as is maternity leave, sick leave and pay if you get laid off... Pay is one of the highest in Europe and the cities are pretty... But come with LOTS of rules!!!

[Danno 1,228]

Next up... banning of Doric columns. ####### is this #######, really.

I think it's called separation of Mosque and State.

Nagi, not very nice. Say tomorrow we ban crosses. All of them in the outside of buildings.

But that supposes that customs and non customs .... traditions and non traditions are on equal footing with the Swiss.

While AMerica is a little different, most countries I have been to do not accept that their culture and history are so disposable.

I think many European countries have been very flexible at opening up their country to others and even bending to incorporate them into their country...

I don't see where this act prevents anyone from practicing their faith at all, it simply gives signal that the Swiss have a limit on how much of Islam they will allow to intrude on the appearance of their cities and towns.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... it simply gives signal that the Swiss have a limit on how much of Islam they will allow to intrude on the appearance of their cities and towns.

Which, in and of itself, is not such a bad thing. Of course, Europe has demonstrated a penchant for taking things like this to some ridiculous extremes.... let's see if that happens again.

[alienlovechild 75]

Too bad the Pilgrims didnt see things that way.

If you ignore the First Amendment of the U.S. Consitution you'd have a point.

Also churches and other religious structures in the U.S. are subject to height limits, parking requirements and other zoning requirements. In any case, the Swiss are more tolerate than many Islamic nations. In Egypt, the president must approve the construction of a church. There are no churches in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan nor are there likely to any for the forseeable future.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Sofiyya:

Too bad the Pilgrims didnt see things that way.

If you ignore the First Amendment of the U.S. Consitution you'd have a point.

Also churches and other religious structures in the U.S. are subject to height limits, parking requirements and other zoning requirements. In any case, the Swiss are more tolerate than many Islamic nations. In Egypt, the president must approve the construction of a church. There are no churches in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan nor are there likely to any for the forseeable future.

I have a very good point. Are you aware that the 1st Amendment wasn't adopted until 1951?

I'm referring to Native Americans being forced by Christians to become like Whites and to accept Christianity. Not much tolerance was shown by them. The so-called tolerant Swiss rejected minarets on the basis of the same kind of intolerance you point fingers at Egypt and the KSA for; they are seeking to minimize an alien influence. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, O ye intolerant ones.

Edited November 30, 2009 by Sofiyya

[alienlovechild 75]

I have a very good point. Are you aware that the 1st Amendment wasn't adopted until 1951?

I'm referring to Native Americans being forced by Christians to become like Whites and to accept Christianity. Not much tolerance was shown by them. The so-called tolerant Swiss rejected minarets on the basis of the same kind of intolerance you point fingers at Egypt and the KSA for; they are seeking to minimize an alien influence. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, O ye intolerant ones.

Really? I thought the 1st Amendment was ratified as part of the Bill of Rights in 1787. You've got a lot of explaining to do.

How did the Whites force conversions on the Indians? Did they use the same methods used to spread Islam on a far larger scale? Neither of us can change history but the usual knee jerk defense doesn't foster much understanding. I somehow doubt I'd get much of a chance to openly criticize Islam in a MENA country the way you're free to critique Christianity here. Feel free to do so and practice your religion.

If don't know why your many Islamic nations legally enforce restrictions on other religions you've got a very weak case for complaining about intolerance in the largely secular Western nations.

Look at the numbers of mosques in the U.S. at around 1,500 and compare that to the MENA countries and there's simply nothing comparable.

Edited November 30, 2009 by alienlovechild