The Canadian government is trying once again (the Supreme Court already smacked them down for this before) to ban certain types of facial coverings for citizenship ceremonies. Nevermind that this is only being done so the Tories can get more votes (this is a good issue to win votes among rabidly secular Quebecers), it's already been ruled that a verbal oath isn't needed and facial recognition isn't required because by that point a written oath has already been signed.
The BQ, to the surprise of no one still paying attention to them, have also jumped on this issue to try and win back ground from the NDP (who along with the Liberals oppose this measure), further reinforcing the fact that the Quebec independence movement is still loaded with xenophobes.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bloc-qu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois-anti-niqab-ad-takes-aim-at-ndp-1.2974146
edited 10th Jun '15 3:00:11 PM by Rationalinsanity
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.Why isn't suspected Charleston shooter Dylann Roof called a terrorist?
Critics have charged that in cases where the suspects are Islamic extremists — like the Boston Marathon bombing or the recent attack on a Texas cartoon contest — they are labeled acts of terror. But when the suspects are white, the acts are instead treated as the result of mental illness.
The targeted church in South Carolina holds a cherished place in African-American history as a beacon for civil rights — so was likely chosen for its symbolic significance.
Elected officials have talked around the issue. Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush described the shooting as "an evil act of aggression" and was criticized for saying he didn't know "what was on the mind or the heart of the man who committed these atrocious crimes."
South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford struggled with the question when asked in an interview with Yahoo News’ Bianna Golodryga if he would label Roof a terrorist.
“No, I think terror goes to the larger notion of a political agen[da]," he said. "I don’t know what the difference is. I know what he was. He’s a bad guy and he needs to be brought to justice. That’s all I know.”
It does in that there is a double standard that is biased against Muslims.
On another topic, I am concerned that I myself am becoming Islamophobic. Back in the day, I used to think of Islam's popularity in Asia as encouraging, and due to the inherent merits of a religion with a sensible monotheism and an emphasis on social justice in the face of blatantly absurd polytheisms that were designed to perpetuate and justify cruel social orders and tribal divisions.
Nowadays I think of Islamic expansion as a problem and a nuisance, a destruction of cultural patrimony, and its replacement with a violent, hegemonic, and intolerant worldview.
In fact, from here, Me From The Past seems like an asshole.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.Nowadays I think of Islamic expansion as a problem and a nuisance, a destruction of cultural patrimony, and its replacement with a violent, hegemonic, and intolerant worldview.
Point the first: And this can't be stressed strongly enough. Criticism of Islam (and there are many things to be critical of) and Islamaphobia are not the same thing.
Point the second: If you look into the history and behaviour of other religions, Islam is nothing special in that regard.
An influential panel of Buddhist monks in Myanmar is seeking to ban Muslim schoolgirls from wearing headscarves at school, among other things
. The panel features such savory characters as Wirathu.
I originally didn't think that much of being raised as a Buddhist, but this certainly contributed much to my disillusionment with it.
I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Like every other religion, the PR department plays up the loving and tolerant bit. You won't have Soka Gakai International admitting that they have supported Imperial Japanese militarism in the past, to name one.
As to the Guardian, they are trying to stick it to the military junta government responsible for the name change.
I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot"Criticism of Islam (and there are many things to be critical of) and Islamaphobia are not the same thing."
My problem is that I am growing resentful, suspicious, fearful, hateful, and derisive of Islam by default. I'll still systematically defend it against critics of whom I believe that they don't know what the ''hell' ' they're blathering about.
What's worrying me even more is that I am starting to feel similarly about Judaism. But that's a topic for another thread.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
That's called anti-theism. Welcome to the club
There are indeed cookies and copious quantities of bacon cheeseburgers
There's a difference between out and out exonyms (Germany vs Deutchland) and a transliteration of the local name which is the case with both Burma and Myanmar.

I am certain that very littel thought goes into attacks like this. Mob violence is rarely aligned with some sort of strategy.
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.