When I was in fifth grade, those of us in the “gifted” program spent a couple of days learning about puppeteering. We created our own minarets (mine was called “Andy,” probably in honor of Andy Kaufman) and scripted a puppet show about the LA Summer Olympics and staged it for the “non-gifted” students, who showed their appreciation by beating us up and stealing our lunches.
I’ve never cared much for puppets since. Nonetheless, I can’t say I support the Swiss plan to ban them:
“A majority of the Swiss people and the cantons have adopted the popular initiative against the construction of minarets. The Federal Council respects this decision,” a government statement said.
“Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted. The four existing minarets will remain.”
Apparently this is intended as some sort of rebuke to Islam, for which (as I discovered on YouTube) puppetry is a major means of proselytization.
Nonetheless, I’m guessing that it will be pretty ineffectual. First, it sounds like they can still use the four minarets they’ve already got. This may not be enough to stage “The Sound of Music,” but should be more than sufficient to put on a child-pleasing production of “Mohammed and Aisha.”
More importantly, there’s no way to stop people from following charming instructional videos made by Australian children and making their own minarets at home.
With any luck, the Swiss will quickly realize the folly of arts-and-crafts prohibition and get back to rolling chocolate cakes around layers of creme filling and drenching them with fudge coating.
People like to paint the secular left as “church-burning atheists”… but as I have maintained on many occasions, church burnings are done by theists, not by atheists. Not entirely sure if the Swiss hard right tends towards the religious pandering that the religious right does in this country, but it’s a good bet they ain’t atheists.
Hi all
I am Swiss and I voted against the minarets.
The minarets are just a symbol for the problems we have in switzerland – unfortunately! Hopefully none will say, that Swiss people hate people from abroad. We have around 22% of foreigners in Switzerland and we can not reach everybody’s wishes! It’s okay that the Swiss say “It’s enough now”. That is a sign of fear and not of intolerance. But some of our politicians say, the Swiss people have to understand and respect the other mentalities, the other religions. How many understanding shall we have? Shall we respect the other mentality and religion – or should the people from abroad respect the mentality and the rules we have in Switzerland? It’s up on both sides – but we can not always give – sometimes you need to make a point.
We hope that other countries will respect our decision. 2.7 millions gave their vote and 57.5% have the opinion, that is should be like this – a clear result, we gave our sign.
Regards from Switzerland,
Mario
Mario-
The problem with votes like these is that all anyone can see is the results, not the reasons behind each vote. If one chooses to belive that everyone who voted against minarets is a Christian bigot, then that is what they will believe. The Swiss, just like every other country, must do the best they can and be prepared to modify things as they go- this vote was one such modification and you may to modify it, in turn.
I hope you can continue to send your message about tolerance, but not capitulation. You also seem to see that many people demand respect but aren’t willing to give any in return. Such demands should be politely refused.
Mario, it is perfectly understandable to view the minarets as a symbol of impending threats… I don’t blame you! But you can’t just go around banning symbols you don’t like. If for no other reason, that just further radicalizes the group being oppressed. History has shown us that trying to oppress a particular movement out of existence, no matter how objectionable that movement may be, just doesn’t work.
You ask, “Shall we respect the other mentality and religion?” Hell no! But refusing to give respect to a Stone Age mentality is completely different from banning the symbols of that mentality/religion.
Also, my understanding is that this initiative is being led by the Swiss right wing politicians… Maybe things are different in Switzerland, but do conservative Swiss really fight for secularism?? That would be something…
And by the way, this “sign of fear not intolerance” doesn’t even make any sense. Most intolerance is fear-based, after all… In fact, I can’t think of a single historical example of intolerance that didn’t have a strong fear component.
When I need a Mensa caliber ‘genius fix’, I come here. After spending five weeks in London, sometimes amidst throngs of Muslims, I ‘get’ the ban. While there, I felt the need to conceal my “I love Israel” pin (written in Hebrew) while seated across three Muslims on the Tube who were each holding passports (written in Arabic). I have never felt that kind of palpable fear in the US. It’s a whole different vibe in Europe as Muslims tend not to assimilate and let’s not forget they DO instill terror. It’s one thing hearing/reading about Muslim encroachment and quite another to actually experience it. Not sure if it is that much different than Vermont banning billboards in order to maintain a certain aesthetic (okay, I know it is very different, but I still agree with the Swiss). Great post Joel (as always).
Addendum: per the European Journal (LInkTV): “Ironically, the Swiss — who have just voted to ban the construction of minarets in their country — are the largest producers (Swiss owned/operated Nestlé) of processed Halal products…a billion-euro business.”
Wasn’t this minaret issue a smoke screen? I read that the Swiss equivalent of zoning laws prevented more from being erected anyway, this referendum was just a “message” to all those swarthy foreigners that they’re only being tolerated at best, but never welcomed.