It actually ties in very nicely with yesterday's discussion about Michael Smith's essay, Religion in a Secular Society. If I can simply Smith's argument, it is that a true secular society allows the free discussion of all viewpoints; not the exclusion of faith itself.
This is all related to political-correctness and multiculturalism, which George Jonas seems to feel has gone way over board trying to appease the ever-increasing influence of Muslim immigration and population growth. And if we look to Britain, we can see the writing on the wall for Canada.
Jonas points to a recent Daily Mail article citing a study that shows that British schools are "dropping the Holocaust from history lessons to avoid offending Muslim pupils".
It found some teachers are reluctant to cover the atrocity for fear of upsetting students whose beliefs include Holocaust denial.
There is also resistance to tackling the 11th century Crusades - where Christians fought Muslim armies for control of Jerusalem - because lessons often contradict what is taught in local mosques.
Jonas likens this situation to Orwell's famous novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, where "past events that didn't sit well with Big Brother went into a memory hole".
Michael Smith notes:
The trend in our country and elsewhere to consign religious communities to the private realm is, in fact, a drift toward intolerance, despite claims to the contrary.
Religious communities must continue to speak and act in the public realm and to propose policies for the common good.
Will Britain's problems become ours someday?
If we allow ourselves to be goaded into silence, I fear that may well be the case.
* * * *
Related: Dr. Roy - CBC mocks Christians on Good Friday.
Update: More at Fox News.
-Just picked up a copy of George Jonas' "Reflections on Islam", which was highly recommended by Lorrie Goldstein. Looking forward to catching up on my reading.
Have a great weekend, whatever you are celebrating.
Update: More at Fox News.
-Just picked up a copy of George Jonas' "Reflections on Islam", which was highly recommended by Lorrie Goldstein. Looking forward to catching up on my reading.
Have a great weekend, whatever you are celebrating.
18 comments:
There is no need for religious communities to be silent in a society where there is a seperation of church and state.while their viewpoints may be consistent with their belifs, their arguements should not deend on their beliefs. You can argue against abortion on many points that do not depend on any religious beliefs. \The arguement that it is against our beliefs shoul be a non starter.
If we are to accommodate all belief systems so as not to be offensive, we should just stop teaching history. If we pretend it never happened, perhaps it never did. Why bother teaching any history if it is all subjective?
It already is our problem.
It already is our problem
You've got that right. Check the link for Dr. Roy at the end of my post.
So some teachers are hesitant to cover some topics for fear of contradicting what is taught in mosques? Teachers seem to have no hesitation whatsoever in teaching things that contradict what is taught in some local Christian churches. Political correctness, thy name is bigotry and hypocrisy.
The Islamic Republic of Britain
Maybe the time have come for Canada and other western countries to insist on immigrants and other newcomers to our countries to adapt to our culture, traditions and our way of life instead of the other way around.
If we start changing our way of life in order to avoid offending one group or another, soon there will be nothing left that we can call our own.
Several European countries have tried that route, and have regretted it, as it has not resulted in their immigrants assimilating into their societies. Instead it has resulted in a permanent underclass with very little emotional connection and identification to their newly adopted countries.
Joanne, I hadn't read Dr Roy's post that you had linked to when I posted my first comment. Now that I have, I completely stand by what I said in my first comment about political correctness. My only regret is that I don't think I could emphasize it any more and still keep it G-rated.
It's time for immigration information provided to other countries to include something like this: "Welcome to Canada...a democratic nation developed along Christian principles. Here you are free to follow any form of worship you please that does not run contrary to the laws of the land ie: virgin sacrifices, stoning of adulterers, etc. You are free to live in any manner you please as well, again as long as it does not run contrary to the laws of the land. You should also be aware that beyond that, no concessions will be made to accomodate beliefs and/or traditions. Once again, welcome to Canada."
If people pushing the Holocaust would allow sane and sensible discussion of the topic instead of turning it into an act of faith then we would not have this problem in the first place. (real conservative)
Western civilization is superior to all others, even the Muslims completely agree that the West is superior or millions wouldn't have come here - and none of the savages go back to the uncivilized places they came from.
Britain is the cradle of the modern civilized world - the most desired countries to emigrate into are all english speaking countries founded by white guys - it's about time the West admitted that it is the best, especially since everyone else does when they vote with their feet.
Muslims, or any other immigrants to the civilized world, are free to leave at any time and should be encouraged to do so if they can't let go of their prejudices.
My only regret is that I don't think I could emphasize it any more and still keep it G-rated.
Brian, I admire your restraint.
Well, somewhere there should be a happy medium, between assimilation and respecting individual cultures. Maybe we just need to get more to the middle.
I believe George Jonas is a national treasure. Hungary's loss; Canada's gain!!
In a way, Canada is more susceptible to political correctness than those who invented it: the Americans. Canadians are very nice and polite so if someone challenges our way of doing things, we try to accommodate.
It's uncharacteristic for Canadians to tell someone to go pound sand when they start to fuss about hurting someone's feelings... but we're going to have to learn to do so or we'll become the Islamic Republic of Canuckistan.
Let's follow the example of the Australians... You want to come to Canada, great! You're welcome but be prepared to comply with our cultural norms... or else go back to whatever festering hellhole you came from.
Can't argue with that, Mac!
This is my country, the rest of you are visiting - learn that well or we're going to have problems.
You've got to be kidding me.
Zac
Zac, I just deleted that one. At first I let it stand because I figured anyone would see how over-the-top it was, but since some might take offense, I decided to delete.
I am a victim of political correctness myself. *Sigh*
Ah, the irony is too much.
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