Unholy Clouds Reflect in a Minaret

As of now, it is illegal to construct a minaret in Switzerland.

I'm not sure what's more shocking: that the symbol of a major religion has been banned in Europe, that it was Switzerland that did it, or that other major religions do not seem to realize the danger this represents to them.


In November, Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved the ban on new construction of the towers. I've read that of Switzerland's 7.7 million people, there are about 400,000 Muslims with 150 mosques but only 4 minarets. It's no shock that the ban was promoted with fear:


It's such an interesting poster, though, because it does tap a fear. But when I take a minute and think, I have to say, I can't remember a missile from a predominantly Muslim country hitting a non-Muslim country. I can think of Western missiles hitting predominantly Muslim countries. Is the fear being stoked that the extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam will copy those who have distorted and defiled Christianity?

Non-Muslim Germans are also concerned about the impact of Muslim immigrants on Germany's culture. A former finance minister said recently about the Turkish and Arab immigrants in Berlin, "I don't need to respect anyone who lives off the state, denies the state, doesn't do anything to educate their kids, and just produces more headscarf girls." Though elected officials there denounce the statement, Germany's Immigration Minister said that she is working to implement an "integration contract" for immigrants to Germany. It will reportedly include requirements ranging from respecting equal rights for women to learning the German language. Like the minaret ban in Switzerland, this German proposal sounds like more fear. Fear of those not like us.

While I don't agree with the minaret ban or what seems to be the intent and content of the integration contract, I do believe everyone, regardless of religion, should be subject to the laws of the land where they live. If someone is doing something illegal, like Christians purporting to marry underage girls in Utah or Muslims maiming young girls in Germany, by all means use law enforcement to stop them. I believe this should include equal treatment for women, of course, and would gladly support applying all discrimination laws to religions (hard to believe those institutions whose missions should embody love are exempt from some discrimination laws). I don't believe the dominant practice of Islam treats women equally, and I don't believe the dominant practice of Christianity does either.

What I'm seeing in these examples from Europe are reactions to fears, sometimes hypocritical reactions, and reactions aimed at appearances that will do nothing about legitimate concerns for safety and equality. I believe a better choice is enforce the laws we have and welcome our brothers and sisters with open arms even if it means less for us (and who cares what language they choose to speak!).

Can't You See What Love Has Done?

One more quick point on this "christian" religious bigotry against Islam. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to find myself on the same side as more thoughtful, experienced and wise people than I am. On Sunday Colin Powell had this to say on the same topic I raised last week:

I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, "Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim." Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, "He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists." This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way.

Oh yeah, and he endorsed Barack Obama for President.

Angel or Devil, I Was Thirsty and You Wet My Lips

I had a disturbing conversation with a regular guy this week. This was not a radical person, or an ignorant person, just a normal guy. He insisted that Barack Obama was a Muslim. Later that day he forwarded me an email he had received as proof. I was shocked to discover this regular guy was relying on a blatantly false email, not just "out of context" stuff, but also outright lies. It is almost pointless to discuss the motivation behind the million or so people who forward, read and believe these lies, or people at Palin rallies who shout "terrorist" or "treason" or "kill him" or make racial slurs. But I am interested in this fixation by many people on whether or not Obama is a Muslim. We have zero evidence he is, but who cares if he was?

I would agree that I am concerned about the "moral compass" of a candidate. I would agree that I am concerned about a candidate's passion and plan for social justice. I would also agree that a candidate's spiritual beliefs are a factor in those issues.

But NO religion, or religion at all for that matter, has a monopoly on social justice or morality. I can appreciate a candidate's spiritual beliefs, but I put more value on a candidate's consistent message and action in areas of social justice.

I would consider the way the candidate holds their beliefs in terms of ability to govern all people fairly, certainly, just as I would a Methodist or a Catholic or a non-practicing person. I just do not understand why I should reject a Muslim for President, simply because that person is a member of the Muslim faith.

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