179 replies to this topic

[Shwa]

I thought I had posted this as a topic already, but guess I didn't. However, it is an interesting issue since it touches on all those sensitive bits in society, especially nowadays.

Protesters oppose Muslim prayer in public schools

They waved signs that warned of “creeping jihad” and proclaimed “Islam must be reformed or banned.”

They chanted — “No Islam in our schools”; “No Mohamed in our schools”; “No Sharia law in our country.”

About 100 protesters, many from groups such as the Jewish Defense League, the Christian Heritage Party and Canadian Hindu Advocacy, came to the Toronto District School Board Monday evening to protest its approval of formal Friday prayer services for Muslim students at Valley Park Middle School.

Standing at the back of the crowds, far from the megaphone-wielding speakers, York University students Mariam Hamaoui and Sarah Zubaira had their own signs espousing their right to pray in school.

They came to thank the school board for providing a place for the Valley Park students to pray. Previously those students had left their school to attend prayers at a nearby mosque on Fridays.

So it is not against the law to have prayer in public schools in Ontario, you just can't force anyone into it AND you can't have religious services, but you can accomodate prayers and other services I suppose.

The neighbourhood is almost all Muslim. Should we worry?

[kimmy]

The neighbourhood is almost all Muslim. Should we worry?

The idea of homogenous Muslim neighborhoods isn't quite the "mosaic" we multicultural-loving Canadians were sold on, is it?

I don't think homogenous ethnic enclaves in our cities is a good idea. People become Canadianized by mixing amongst Canadians.

-k

[Machjo]

I thought I had posted this as a topic already, but guess I didn't. However, it is an interesting issue since it touches on all those sensitive bits in society, especially nowadays.

Protesters oppose Muslim prayer in public schools



So it is not against the law to have prayer in public schools in Ontario, you just can't force anyone into it AND you can't have religious services, but you can accomodate prayers and other services I suppose.

The neighbourhood is almost all Muslim. Should we worry?

And what about the Separate Cathoic school?

[Machjo]

What I don't get is how we all go bonkers over a school accommodating prayer, yet have no issue with the Canadian constitution requiring the monarch to be a member of the Church of England, prohibiting the monarch from marrying a Catholic, and granting special education rights to Catholics not guaranteed to other religions, and you don't hear a whisper about that.

[Remiel]

The idea of homogenous Muslim neighborhoods isn't quite the "mosaic" we multicultural-loving Canadians were sold on, is it?

I don't think homogenous ethnic enclaves in our cities is a good idea. People become Canadianized by mixing amongst Canadians.

-k

Ghettoes may have more than one force at play. In order for an ethnic ghetto to be born, not only do people from that ethnicity have to move there, but oft times people from other ethnicities have to move away, and refrain from moving there in the first place. Ethnic ghettoes, except in the instance of new construction, are not created by one ethnicity.

[Army Guy]

I thought pray in schools was removed because it did not cover all religions, along with many other things that have been removed....so why is this case any different.

[jacee]

Look at the makeup of the protesters - Christian Heritage party, JDL, and the one Hindu who represents no one. They are anti-Muslim extremists opposed to Islam, not just prayer in schools. However, the issue is real and will likely lead to accommodation of prayer for all religious groups demanding it. I'm not opposed to that but I have concerns about social pressure on other children to participate because then we're back to schools indoctrinating children which I oppose.

[Army Guy]

Does it matter who was protesting, was it these same groups that protested to remove christian prayer in schools...i think this matter is already been discussed and changed for the majority...if it gets over turned then i think we will have a shit storm...

[Machjo]

Does it matter who was protesting, was it these same groups that protested to remove christian prayer in schools...i think this matter is already been discussed and changed for the majority...if it gets over turned then i think we will have a shit storm...

I doubt very much the Christian Heritage Party was protesting Christian Paryer in school.

[Shakeyhands]

It's not required by the school and voluntary for those who wish to attend. I'm not really sure how I feel about it, does it fall under the heading of reasonable accomodation? Is it reasonable for the students to leave for a Mosque for an hour during the middle of the day?

[Oleg Bach]

Our churches are run down and in disrepair. Islam has the finest buildings ..that are thriving...My son - who briefly attended a school for the first time in an urban setting - was told by a Muslim kid - preparing for prayer during school - on school property in the washroom - ritually bathing his feet said to my blonde haired boy - "My feet are cleaner than your face" - this aggresive and insulting attitude is pervasive in toronto - at least when my kid attended his original school in the country north of the city - they had a Christmas celebration - there were bag pipes - there was OUR tradtion (adoped by assimulated immigrants) such as myself....so - we get pushed out and they take over - Because they view us as infidels and weaklings..we are a push over... I say - If we can not have Jesus or Moses in the school - then certainly we should NOT have Mohamid there either.

[Oleg Bach]

Of course it is an issue - it is class warfare...The Islamics are bound and determined to displace the established inhabitants of this weak and liberal nation...I know of another Muslim kid and his father instructed him to breed the Canadians out of existance - odd part is - The westernized Muslim kid...is a gay as it gets...I wonder what will win - western debachery that not well orgainized or corporate Islam that is totally orgainized and focused?

[Oleg Bach]

Whether we go to church or not - we must explain to our Islamic members that we are NOT infidels and they whether we are seclarist in appearance or not that we hold CHRISTIAN values and are to be respected.

[Oleg Bach]

Most Muslims who are new arrivals live in the poor parts of town and the only Canadians that they are exposed to is our white trash losers - some believe that we are all trash..there must be an educational program in place to explain that Canada is a noble nation.

[M.Dancer]

It's not required by the school and voluntary for those who wish to attend. I'm not really sure how I feel about it, does it fall under the heading of reasonable accomodation? Is it reasonable for the students to leave for a Mosque for an hour during the middle of the day?

The question and only question in my mind is would a similar allowance be made for christians, jews, mormans, scientologists, jevoha's eye witnesses.....

I rather doubt it