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religious accommodation-or surrender?

Reader comment on item: Stop the NYC Madrassa

Submitted by gary fouse (United States), Aug 16, 2007 at 02:28

Religious accommodation- or surrender?

In a free and civilized society, should every person be free to practice his or her own religion? In my view, absolutely. On the other hand, should a society accommodate itself to a minority religion to the point that it subjugates its majority religion and its culture in the process? In my view, absolutely not. This is the question that Western Civilization is confronted with in its relationship with Muslim immigrants. It is troublesome to me that several factions of our society wish to virtually surrender to our Islamic minorities in order to buy peace. In other words, freedom from terroristic attacks.

Let me give you one example. In the Netherlands, a nation that has a growing Muslim minority, that liberal nation has seen a rise in violence perpetrated by Muslims. Dutch film producer, Theo Van Gogh, who had the effrontery to produce a film critical of Islam, was murdered, literally butchered on the streets of a Dutch city in 2004 by a Muslim immigrant in retaliation. Indignation? Only in some quarters.

Just this past week, a Dutch Catholic priest, Tiny Muskens, has issued a call for Dutch churches to now refer to God as Allah, solely to appease Muslims in that country.

In another country, Scotland, in the wake of the Muslim terrorist attacks at Glascow Airport, has now passed a regulation that bans workers eating at their desks during the upcoming Ramadan holidays when Muslims are refrained from eating from sunup to sundown. In addition, offices are now expected to remove their food vending machines during Ramadan as well.

Well, you say, that would never happen in the US. Think again. Kansas City Airport has now decided to install foot baths for Muslim cab drivers. Ditto for the University of Michigan at Dearborn in consideration for their Muslim students. Does this fly in the face of the principle of separation of Church and State? Well, yes, but never mind. As you know, universities in the US are all about "Inclusion" and so forth. Of course, if Christians were to ask for a similar concession, they would be promptly refused.

Of course, you and I know that in Europe and the US, there is truly rising anger and indignation among the common folk, not only at Islamic acts of terror world-wide, but also at the arrogance and effrontery of some Muslim immigrants who have resettled in the West and expect us to adjust to their customs and religious practices. Yet, who speaks for us in our governments and universities? At least in Australia, Prime Minister, John Howard, has had the courage to publically tell Australia's Muslim immigrants that they should accept the culture and traditions of the country they have chosen to immigrate to -or return to their countries of origin.

Here in the US, in the wake of 9-11, Muslim groups, such as CAIR are now resorting to legal action against any perceived acts of discrimination against Muslims. The classic example is the lawsuit being filed by the Flying Imams, not only against US Air, but also against any passengers who had the gall to alert officials of suspicious activity by Muslim passengers. If the Muslim minorities in the West want to distance themselves from the majority populations in which they live, they are doing a pretty good job of it.

In my opinion, it comes down to this. Western societies are correct to allow immigrants to maintain and practice their religions. However, there is no obligation to allow these immigrants to subvert our own religions and traditions. We expect immigrants to respect our traditions and not demand concessions from us. Muslims who immigrate to the West are free to build their mosques and practice Islam. They should not be able to demand that we change our customs. So-called "honor killings" cannot ever be allowed in our societies. If we choose to drink alcohol, we will do so. Same with eating pork. They must also understand that freedom of religion also means the freedom to criticize a religion, including Islam. Christianity gets criticized every day in the US. (In Europe, it is all but forgotten.) Why should Islam be immune?

Muslim immigrants need to understand that, while their freedom to practice their religion is protected, they have no right to impose their values on their adopted countries. Those that have visions of converting the West to an Islamic society under Sharia law, should understand that they will only place themselves on the margins of our society. While we should welcome Muslims who wish to assimilate while maintaining their religion, those who do not wish to do so would be better advised to return home.

gary fouse

fousesquawk

Submitting....

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Reader comments (150) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1City of Immigrants [105 words]ElyseMay 15, 2008 00:31128696
Abou this whole madrassa talk [210 words]MwesigwaMay 14, 2008 06:21128621
Oh, that pesky US Constitution [452 words]JeffJun 20, 2008 18:55128621
1That is how Europe had lost their culture. [113 words]ArmageddonSep 4, 2007 01:55107619
Police are not allowed by Allah to search Mosques , Madrassas and Muslim Locality for Islamic Terrorists !! [257 words]RitaAug 31, 2007 16:23107400
Be clear in your thoughts [100 words]NishiMay 1, 2008 12:07107400
where will it stop [31 words]David ShovanAug 30, 2007 00:43107263
Even President Bush is praising Islamic Centers and Madrassas [192 words]Islamic VoiceAug 25, 2007 11:21106962
Islamic Voice's hypocrisy!!! [273 words]JaladhiAug 27, 2007 10:20106962
Isn't it also an opportunity for Muslims? [119 words]JeffAug 28, 2007 20:54106962
We All Need the Truth [211 words]CheyJul 12, 2008 00:33106962
The Differences [77 words]CheyJul 12, 2008 01:00106962
1A Nursery for Terrorists [167 words]Arlinda DeAngelisAug 24, 2007 13:09106906
Islamic laws of great value [169 words]InfidelAug 20, 2007 21:33106593
What worries me... [129 words]HomefrontAug 20, 2007 19:37106583
Love that moniker! [15 words]LafnAug 21, 2007 20:36106583
Continue your good efforts Dan [101 words]Mike KurtzigAug 20, 2007 15:50106576
Khalil Gibran School A Doomed Concept [152 words]SheenaAug 20, 2007 13:37106574
Stop the NYC Madrassa [118 words]BarbaraAug 20, 2007 13:11106573
Stop the NYC Madrassa [80 words]BarbaraAug 20, 2007 13:06106571
Timely comment! [493 words]Nick4693Aug 23, 2007 19:09106571
Who owns Islam... [230 words]donvanSep 5, 2007 16:39106571
religion and academia never served the same purpose [120 words]kantipalaAug 20, 2007 04:21106549
Nice horse,muslims!?! [191 words]Jorge CordovaAug 19, 2007 15:42106529
Some one should come to stop these terrorist barracks [40 words]chinnaSep 18, 2007 13:20106529
On intifada [353 words]Archimedes2Aug 18, 2007 22:04106499
And what is wrong with that... [601 words]AvengerAug 20, 2007 23:02106499
Simple answer [829 words]Archimedes2Aug 22, 2007 03:49106499
Avenger's Smoke and Mirror Message [365 words]Mel LarawayAug 22, 2007 14:12106499
solution to islamic rising [97 words]carlton craverAug 18, 2007 17:04106489
Arabist & Islamist? [115 words]AnonAug 17, 2007 23:12106441
1Teach Islam and Arabic in mosques and not in public schools on taxpayer's money!!! [224 words]JaladhiAug 22, 2007 10:05106441
The future of freedom in the USA [88 words]HarrakAug 17, 2007 14:24106424
the menonites teach the students that the earth is flat? Really? [56 words]dhimmi no moreAug 18, 2007 08:19106424
So go.. [67 words]donvanAug 20, 2007 09:53106424
The Joke of the Constitutional system in the United States [254 words]HarrakAug 22, 2007 00:38106424
The Earth is flat? [11 words]lafnAug 22, 2007 17:27106424
Our Constitution [314 words]LafnAug 22, 2007 17:41106424
I `ve got dreams..dream to remember [81 words]HarrakAug 24, 2007 01:47106424
....even more than that I heard. [51 words]HarrakAug 24, 2007 01:57106424
Flat Earth [61 words]LafNAug 24, 2007 17:07106424
Confused.... [130 words]donvanSep 6, 2007 11:36106424
article incomplete [65 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
mayaAug 17, 2007 11:30106419
Those Poor Oppressed New York Women. [189 words]maura collinsAug 17, 2007 10:10106415
Origins [187 words]David W. LincolnAug 16, 2007 19:42106384
There are Better Ways to Teach Arabic to Americans [96 words]AlexAug 16, 2007 16:27106368
we will kickout all missionaries ......school [84 words]syed mohammad aliAug 16, 2007 13:28106355
what missionaries? [55 words]obilicAug 16, 2007 21:38106355
Stand-up comic [287 words]Nick4693Aug 16, 2007 21:45106355
Spoken like a true man of the caliphate, Syed [287 words]JeffAug 17, 2007 22:47106355
Expell Missionaries.... Har!! [112 words]Another InfidelAug 18, 2007 02:33106355
nobody is actually stopping madrasa [82 words]bosAug 18, 2007 07:20106355
Our dear Syed and Islamic meltdwon [130 words]dhimmi no moreAug 18, 2007 08:29106355
i am not the one who loves saudi royal family [169 words]syed mohammad aliAug 19, 2007 04:17106355
obilic keep dreaming [35 words]syed mohammad aliAug 19, 2007 04:25106355
You got it right - Nick4693 [154 words]JaladhiAug 19, 2007 13:57106355
Time for us too to kick you out of India [21 words]anilAug 19, 2007 14:09106355
Stop the NYS Madrassa: A Response to syed mohammad ali [321 words]Jaisingh ThakurAug 20, 2007 05:02106355
Abiguity rules! [450 words]Nick4693Aug 20, 2007 22:55106355
i am not a paki [67 words]syed mohammad aliAug 21, 2007 12:35106355
i am not having dual citizenship [104 words]syed mohammad aliAug 21, 2007 12:47106355
yes there was 100000 jews in iran, 75000 settled in israel and other places [140 words]syed mohammad aliAug 21, 2007 13:02106355
who stopping you to kick out muslims from india [31 words]syed mohammad aliAug 22, 2007 12:55106355
Our dear Syed and Muslim missionaries aka tablighees [136 words]dhimmi no moreAug 22, 2007 12:58106355
i am not paki [88 words]syed mohammad aliAug 22, 2007 13:02106355
sure i dont want to take order from self oppointed clerics [516 words]syed mohammad aliAug 22, 2007 13:29106355
Mohammed Ali and his closed mind [527 words]Nick4693Aug 22, 2007 22:30106355
you are talking like christian extremist [241 words]syed mohammad aliAug 24, 2007 12:44106355
Me? A christian extremist? [480 words]Nick4693Aug 24, 2007 21:47106355
Apologist ! [149 words]Another InfidelAug 25, 2007 04:02106355
Enough of Tolerance and Political Correctness. [127 words]ColonelAug 25, 2007 11:43106355
sure i am talking about social justice [292 words]syed mohammad aliAug 26, 2007 12:57106355
sure mr colonel political correctness [158 words]syed mohammad aliAug 26, 2007 13:06106355
another infidel [148 words]syed mohammad aliAug 26, 2007 13:17106355
Muslim blindness [147 words]VijayAug 26, 2007 15:54106355
Brick wall! [182 words]Nick4693Aug 27, 2007 05:49106355
syed mohammad ali [496 words]shaynaAug 27, 2007 09:00106355
mr vijay that is a myth [342 words]syed mohammad aliAug 27, 2007 12:42106355
immoral [84 words]syed mohammad aliAug 28, 2007 04:47106355
i am not forcing islam on any one [631 words]syed mohammad aliAug 28, 2007 12:55106355
response to said mohammed [111 words]gary fouseAug 28, 2007 15:20106355
sure i want caliph in islamic world [247 words]syed mohammad aliAug 29, 2007 12:40106355
reply to syed mohammad ali, [543 words]shaynaAug 29, 2007 12:51106355
jesus approved the law of old testament [571 words]syed mohammmad aliAug 30, 2007 13:34106355
Our dear Syed says that muslims must leave Amercia and go where? To Pakiland? [161 words]dhimmi no moreSep 1, 2007 18:00106355
But his name was Qutham and his kunya was abul Qasim [40 words]dhimmi no moreSep 1, 2007 18:08106355
'Ai'sha and Muhammad! [69 words]dhimmi no moreSep 1, 2007 18:12106355
the 6 yr old story again [216 words]razinSep 4, 2007 14:47106355
Yes Raxin, I am willing to say it, now will you do the same about mohammed? [50 words]KlewSep 4, 2007 15:59106355
Our dear Razin and our dear 3A'isha and Abul Qasim and Solomon and other sordid matters [97 words]dhimmi no moreSep 4, 2007 18:02106355
aiesha was not 9 years old here is the contradiction [313 words]syed mohammad aliSep 5, 2007 14:08106355
prophet name is Mohammad peace be upon is ahmad as well [21 words]syed mohammad aliSep 5, 2007 14:10106355
dhimmi who cares what you say [120 words]syed mohammad aliSep 5, 2007 14:15106355
You must pardon me but, wrong [387 words]dhimmi no moreSep 7, 2007 06:47106355
what scholars argue is nothing important [55 words]syed mohammad aliSep 9, 2007 13:26106355
Our dear 'A'isha and her age and bogus Muslim history [34 words]dhimmi no moreSep 10, 2007 17:30106355
no one is converting to islam from other religion [54 words]anilSep 18, 2007 13:38106355
jesus approved the law of old testament? [29 words]peterpedantNov 7, 2009 06:40106355
A Word To The Wise [215 words]Abu NuwasAug 16, 2007 08:34106337
Hi Abu Nawas [87 words]dhimmi no moreAug 16, 2007 19:11106337
To dhimmi [306 words]SimonAug 18, 2007 01:06106337
To dhimmi one example of this guy [180 words]SimonAug 18, 2007 01:24106337
Hi Dhimmi No More [383 words]Abu NuwasAug 18, 2007 13:54106337
Hi Simon [18 words]dhimmi no moreAug 21, 2007 06:39106337
Hi Simon [445 words]dhimmi no moreAug 21, 2007 07:41106337
Schizophrenia [47 words]robert aAug 16, 2007 05:54106331
NYC MADRASSA [46 words]DAVID R. GROESBECKAug 16, 2007 03:18106330
religious accommodation-or surrender? [783 words]gary fouseAug 16, 2007 02:28106328
One thing you might be missing... [100 words]HomefrontAug 20, 2007 19:53106328
Stop the NY Madrasas [77 words]gary fouseAug 21, 2007 22:54106328
More common sense, please! [139 words]Nick4693Aug 26, 2007 00:36106328
response to nick 4693 [25 words]gary fouseAug 26, 2007 15:38106328
will a new yorker accept this [158 words]Donald OAug 15, 2007 22:17106316
Stop Islamic iran funded madressahs [23 words]MASSOODAug 15, 2007 21:44106313
Stop Islamic Saudi Arabia funded presidents [102 words]HarrakAug 18, 2007 21:56106313
We are not here in the third world. [50 words]f.shaAug 15, 2007 21:21106312
Will we ever get the picture? [263 words]Nick4693Aug 15, 2007 20:54106311
Cookoo !!! [203 words]dfwhite19438Aug 15, 2007 20:21106310
Say What? [40 words]BarbaraAug 16, 2007 20:05106310
Another example !!! [65 words]dfwhite19438Aug 17, 2007 19:04106310
Stop the Insanity [75 words]Barbara FreemanAug 20, 2007 18:34106310
Citizenship for Islamists [71 words]LafnAug 15, 2007 19:16106305
Right on! [10 words]Nick4693Aug 21, 2007 06:35106305
re the KGIA taxpayer funded Madrassa Schooling [212 words]Jascha KesslerAug 15, 2007 18:58106303
There is already another madrassa in NYC [19 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
dhimmi no moreAug 15, 2007 18:40106302
dhimmi: I see your frustration with Tabligees [16 words]Janu JannaAug 18, 2007 01:38106302
Dr Pipes between his big reaction on tax funded Madrassas and his silence on privatly funded Madrassas [111 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
HarrakAug 19, 2007 12:39106302
For our dear Janu and his poor logic [5 words]dhimmi no moreAug 21, 2007 06:53106302
Our dear Janu Janna is opening what? [85 words]dhimmi no moreAug 22, 2007 13:05106302
STOP THE NYC MADRASSA NOW [131 words]TIRDAD GHARIBAug 15, 2007 18:25106301
Tolerance For Traitors? [287 words]Bryan TaplitsAug 15, 2007 16:20106298
Are we overreacting or misunderstanding the purpose of the school? [170 words]SophiaAug 15, 2007 19:31106298
We know exactly what Muslims have in their mind for opening this madrassa in NYC - victim of 9/11 atrocity!!! [190 words]JaladhiAug 17, 2007 14:51106298
Teaching Beliefs: What is a Belief Worth? [891 words]M. ToveyAug 15, 2007 16:15106297
Where does Tovey go wrong? [116 words]Jess WilliamsAug 16, 2007 11:32106297
Is Belief in the Truth Wrong? [423 words]M. ToveyAug 17, 2007 02:07106297
Islam is not a "peaceful religion" [80 words]Barbara FreemanAug 20, 2007 18:51106297
GOOD NEWS [33 words]William WheelerAug 15, 2007 15:30106292
down the road [54 words]obilicAug 15, 2007 15:22106291
Amsterdam Bishop [24 words]LafnAug 15, 2007 19:23106291
Brooklyn Midrasas [86 words]Herbert BurackAug 15, 2007 15:13106290
Close this Madrassa before opening it!!! [171 words]JaladhiAug 15, 2007 15:08106289
save the world [57 words]steve blackmoreAug 15, 2007 17:53106289
What Muslims Don't Get [153 words]MarciAug 15, 2007 14:31106286
What Muslims Don't Get [182 words]sheik yer'mamiAug 16, 2007 12:57106286
Stop the NYS Madrassa: A Response to sheik yer'mami [290 words]Jaisingh ThakurAug 20, 2007 05:30106286
Joel Klein is going to get 500 emails from our Masjid in support of KGIA in one day. [46 words]Jim KnowlsAug 15, 2007 13:40106281
My comments as sent to Chancellor Klein [201 words]RickAug 15, 2007 13:29106280
Ask !! [61 words]Philip SaenzAug 15, 2007 22:07106280
GOOD!! AND BAD!!! [112 words]ahmadzafireAug 28, 2007 20:20106280

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