[andyt]

Hyack Hyack:

$1:

"Equality is really what we're looking for," Saqib Ali, co-chair of Equality for Eid, says.

That's really nice, maybe when the Muslim population in Montgomery County or Maryland itself rises above the 1% level to closer to 50% they would have an argument, but nowhere I know of kowtows to the wishes of 1% of it's citizens.

Actually equality is defined as treat the least as the most. Ie it's not a numbers game. So they do have an argument about separation of church and state, that if we're going to have religious holidays, we have to have them for all, or the state is seen to favor one religion above others. Of course the problem is that it wouldn't just be the Muslims that would be entitled to their day, but every other religious group out there. Which is why I'm OK with just eliminating religious holidays. The States already doesn't do easter, just don't do Christmas either.

[andyt]

democracy
[dih-mok-ruh-see] Spell Syllables
Examples Word Origin
noun, plural democracies.
1.
government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
2.
a state having such a form of government:
The United States and Canada are democracies.
3.
a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.
4.
political or social equality; democratic spirit.
5.
the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.

[Unsound]

ALthough I don't think you're neccesarily wrong in technical sense Andy, I think you're missing the part were Christianity is more than just another of a multitude of religions in Canada or most of the western world for that matter. It's also an fairly integral part of our culture. From our founding to the laws and mores that we base much of our civil society on Christianity is probably the single largest influence and I believe that deserves some degree of recognition.

Now that's not to say that it should be favoured in significant ways, ie you have to be Christian to hold office or things of that sort. But something as ultimately meaningless as what we call a holiday, or when we take a day or two off work... if having Eid off is so important stay in a country where that's part of the culture. If I was to move to a country that didn't have Christmas I would just use my vacation days for it and enjoy some relaxing stat days while everyone else was celebrating Dhiwali, or whatever.

[andyt]

I know it and recognize it. I had people here try to challenge the idea that Christianity has played a huge role in the sense of individual liberty we take for granted these days. And it storehoused the knowledge and intellectual approaches that led to the enlightenment. Ie it laid the groundwork for it's own...becoming less important in people's lives.

I don't mean all I write here completely seriously. But I do think we are hoist on our own petard. In an increasingly multiculti society, saying this is the way it's always been isn't going to cut it. I think we're better off just cutting out religion from government altogether rather than trying to accommodate all the religious groups that have a valid point about what makes Christianity so special. My guess is we're heading that way - I doubt the status quo will stand, and the alternative just seems unworkable. Plus I see it as a defense for fundamentalists of all stripes who would try to incorporate their particular beliefs into govt.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

andyt andyt:

Hyack Hyack:

$1:

"Equality is really what we're looking for," Saqib Ali, co-chair of Equality for Eid, says.

That's really nice, maybe when the Muslim population in Montgomery County or Maryland itself rises above the 1% level to closer to 50% they would have an argument, but nowhere I know of kowtows to the wishes of 1% of it's citizens.

Actually equality is defined as treat the least as the most. Ie it's not a numbers game.

Equality isn't based on what someone chooses to be. No one in Canada is forced to follow a specific religion.
But if they truly want to be treated as equals, then they should take an equal part in what Christianity does as well. I've yet to see a mosque open up its doors as a soup kitchen during the week.
I've yet to see a mosque sponsor or operate a homeless shelter or as part of the "Out of the Cold" program.
I've never seen a mosque open up its doors to A.A. meetings or Al-Anon meetings, although to be fair, there's too much religion involved in many A.A. groups.
I've yet to see a mosque open it's doors to Cubs, or Scouts or Girl Guides etc.
I'm not saying there aren't any at all because I don't live everywhere in Canada, all I'm saying is I haven't seen or heard of one yet.

I have zero problems with equality based on race, colour, gender, ethnicity etc, but religion is a choice. If you want religious equality, then start acting like an equal instead of merely enjoying the tax-free status and free land while demanding national stat holidays for what is a handful of people in proportion to the population.

[andyt]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

Equality isn't based on what someone chooses to be. No one in Canada is forced to follow a specific religion.
But if they truly want to be treated as equals, then they should take an equal part in what Christianity does as well. I've yet to see a mosque open up its doors as a soup kitchen during the week.
I've yet to see a mosque sponsor or operate a homeless shelter or as part of the "Out of the Cold" program.
I've never seen a mosque open up its doors to A.A. meetings or Al-Anon meetings, although to be fair, there's too much religion involved in many A.A. groups.
I've yet to see a mosque open it's doors to Cubs, or Scouts or Girl Guides etc.
I'm not saying there aren't any at all because I don't live everywhere in Canada, all I'm saying is I haven't seen or heard of one yet.

I have zero problems with equality based on race, colour, gender, ethnicity etc, but religion is a choice. If you want religious equality, then start acting like an equal instead of merely enjoying the tax-free status and free land while demanding national stat holidays for what is a handful of people in proportion to the population.

https://www.muslimwelfarecentre.com/ doubt if its' the only one.

Islam is actually very big on charity, tho I can't really speak who does what in Canada

But that's got nothing to do with tax free status. You get that just for being a recognized religion. Personally I don't think religious groups should get it, but there you go.

I'm for the govt becoming strictly secular to prevent these sorts of challenges, make it clear to everybody that there's no religion mixed with govt. I want people to be religious on their own time and dime, not because the govt is behind it.

Really, Christians were true Christians only when they were persecuted. Then they got power and it all went to hell. I think we need to move beyond the state validating any particular religion, or validating religion period. That should be an individual decision.

These are just my ideas. I can't see them coming about anytime soon. But when the remains of the Christian hegemony are challenged, I also so don't have much sympathy for the status quo. Time to move on. Personally I think it would make a person's belief more valid to not have it be part of the government, the way our head of state still has to be Anglican. No good, no good at all.