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TOPIC: "Swiss Minarets: Only the Tip of the Iceberg" (FPIF 12/16/09)


Diamond

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"Swiss Minarets: Only the Tip of the Iceberg" (FPIF 12/16/09)
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FPIF
Foreign Policy In Focus



Swiss Minarets: Only the Tip of the Iceberg

By Faruk Ekmekci, December 16, 2009

Excerpt:

The changing demographics of Europe have created new political and cultural challenges for the Europeans. The Western European people have their own share of identity crisis, and for a long time they will vacillate between liberal ideals and nationalistic fears. For the Europeans to dwell on the former, we need visionary leadership in European as well as in Muslim countries. If  bigotry in Europe is met with equal bigotry in Muslim lands, the world will head toward an inevitable clash of civilizations.

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-- Edited by Sanders on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 02:39:14 PM

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Platinum

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Oh, yes, the minarets . . .  this:

For the Europeans to dwell on the former, we need visionary leadership in European as well as in Muslim countries. If  bigotry in Europe is met with equal bigotry in Muslim lands, the world will head toward an inevitable clash of civilizations.

What's the matter with this writer? Visionary leadership in Muslim countries? Good luck with THAT. And bigotry is par for the course in ANY Muslim-dominated culture.

These minarets are a sign of Islamic conquest, THAT'S the main problem with them.


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Diamond

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Yes Ebinger. I hear you! Yes, it is most certainly true that bigotry is rampantly observable in Muslim-majority nations.

World-wide, population trends show that non-Muslim populations are stagnant or on the decline while Muslim population is rapidly on the increase. Nations with declining populations are opening doors because it means greater demand for their goods and services. That economic force is at odds with the social and cultural forces that come in with Muslim population. While being Muslim is not inherently bad, the statistical factors cannot be ignored; it brings with it some security issues and problems.. not to mention deep-seated (well earned) distrust of the Muslim population.

I feel that in the long-run, it will take the emergence of a religious leader in the Muslim world, similar to the Pope, who can voice and give guidance to religious followers, rather than they go solo in their quest for religious (and social) justice/peace.

The minarets are simply a modicum of the problem.  Rejecting minarets is superficially rejecting to deal with the problem already at hand. However, I do respect it because it was a democratic outcome from the people of a nation.  They will though soon need to deal with the messages that they have sent out with it.  Muslim nations have shifted their moneys out of Switzerland to Turkey, and there are other ramifications already on their way towards Switzerland.  I just hope US does not become the guardian of Switzerland as well in all this.


-- Edited by Sanders on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 03:19:14 PM

__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010
Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010

Madam Secretary Blog at ForeignPolicy.com
Project Vote Smart - Stay informed and engaged!
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