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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts) Mon Mar 25, 2013, 08:05 AM Mar 2013

French back a ban on religious symbols at work [View all]

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French back a ban on religious symbols at work

Public opinion has already taken shape in France’s new secularism debate, with two new polls revealing the vast majority of French people would ban religious symbols, in particular the Islamic veil, from all workplaces.

In recent days a new front has been opened up in the age-old debate about secularism in France - namely the wearing of the Islamic veil and other religious symbols in the workplace.

Two opinion polls published in recent days reveal the French are very much in favour of introducing a ban.

A whopping majority - 84% - of the French people now oppose the wearing of the Islamic veil or headscarf in private workplaces frequented by members of the public, according to a poll published on Sunday by regional daily Ouest-France.

http://www.thelocal.fr/page/view/veil-polls-ban-religious-symbols-french#.UVBKEzei2So

69 replies

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French back a ban on religious symbols at work [View all] The Straight Story Mar 2013 OP

So that would include crosses ? dipsydoodle Mar 2013 #1

Yep: The Straight Story Mar 2013 #2

Especially crosses cap Mar 2013 #7

Yeah, so fucking enlightened that hundreds of thousands march against cali Mar 2013 #18

Thank you for pointing that out el_bryanto Mar 2013 #20

But does it? Quantess Mar 2013 #23

People live their religion in different ways - but one can assume that some who wears the veil el_bryanto Mar 2013 #24

Can such a ban hold up under EU scrunity? Silent3 Mar 2013 #3

Really? The laws concerning secularism in France are more than 100 year old. Mass Mar 2013 #5

This is a lot more than secularism Silent3 Mar 2013 #6

Well, I do not want to work in a place with an obstentatious religious symbol. Mass Mar 2013 #10

I haven't lived in Egypt, but I think forced female circumcism is terrible. Silent3 Mar 2013 #14

Well said. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #28

What constitutes an ostentatious religious symbol in your mind? cali Mar 2013 #56

Kinda down on individual freedoms eh? Union Scribe Mar 2013 #64

Less religion is usually a good thing RedstDem Mar 2013 #4

I think less religion is a good thing too, but people being forced by law... Silent3 Mar 2013 #8

Wonder how this would affect someone with a cross tattooed on the hand for example? (nt) The Straight Story Mar 2013 #9

I dont know. I have not been in France for 4 years, Mass Mar 2013 #13

Well, as a French person, the overuse of Christian symbols in this country bothers me. Mass Mar 2013 #11

Ok, serious question here The Straight Story Mar 2013 #19

Well, gays could feel bullied by religious symbols daleo Mar 2013 #25

Well, understood - but The Straight Story Mar 2013 #31

I don't display any atheist related symbols and I definitely don't want to see any religious ones idwiyo Mar 2013 #12

I'm not a religious person, but crosses/hijabs/star of davids/etc don't bother me at all. octothorpe Mar 2013 #27

Keep your beliefs or lack of thereof to yourself. Pure and simple. idwiyo Mar 2013 #30

I wouldn't allow my lack of belief dictate what others can or cannot wear octothorpe Mar 2013 #32

Displaying religious symbols openly is no different than preaching, IMNSHO. idwiyo Mar 2013 #33

Often the symbols are for the believer. And what about Tattoos of such symbols? (nt) The Straight Story Mar 2013 #42

Keep your religious symbols private. That's not much to ask, is it? Or are we going to start idwiyo Mar 2013 #49

Ah,the oppression thing The Straight Story Mar 2013 #51

Where did I say that I feel oppressed? I did ask though to keep your private stuff private. That's idwiyo Mar 2013 #54

bwahahaha. so well thought out, hon. cali Mar 2013 #59

Symbols are not preaching marions ghost Mar 2013 #67

But a symbol is only a symbol Shivering Jemmy Mar 2013 #58

Imagine 99Forever Mar 2013 #15

Crazy treestar Mar 2013 #16

So, you support prayer in school? Mass Mar 2013 #17

They are talking about work, not school treestar Mar 2013 #21

Private work places are not the equivalent of public schools. cali Mar 2013 #22

Because nobody has ever fought or killed over religion. daleo Mar 2013 #26

Not at work treestar Mar 2013 #60

As long as it's applied to all religions, fairly, evenly, and consistently, I fully support it. sadbear Mar 2013 #29

How can it possibly be? You can tuck a cross beneath a shirt cali Mar 2013 #36

If you can effectively hide it, as in not display it, I don't care. sadbear Mar 2013 #37

blatantly biased. Nothing but ugly dog shit bigotry on display cali Mar 2013 #44

If it affects Christians, Jews, Hidus, Sikhs, Buddhits, etc., too sadbear Mar 2013 #46

Did you even read the fucking op? cali Mar 2013 #50

Of course it is. sadbear Mar 2013 #53

Use a scarf, a hat, whatever. Just don't make it a religious statement. Not that difficult and I am idwiyo Mar 2013 #41

In my religion all hats are religious symbols The Straight Story Mar 2013 #47

Great for you, that gives you a lot of freedom to chose from. Don't see you having a problem idwiyo Mar 2013 #52

why do so many people make dim assumptions based on... nothing? cali Mar 2013 #48

I find... av8r1998 Mar 2013 #34

Hysterical much? Where does it say anything about "BANNING" religion? idwiyo Mar 2013 #43

That is no hysterical. Of course it's a banning of religion when cali Mar 2013 #45

I work for private company and I do not want to see religious symbols. Keep them private, please. idwiyo Mar 2013 #55

do you work in the U.S.? cali Mar 2013 #57

BINGO! If some easily offended poster would like to revoke a portion ... 11 Bravo Mar 2013 #61

Wait what? fat crap? lol... what does that mean? octothorpe Mar 2013 #66

The French are extremely paranoid of other cultures LittleBlue Mar 2013 #35

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author Mass Mar 2013 #40

No yarmulkes allowed? Highly anti-Semitic, surely (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #38

Muslims are approximately 12% of the total French population riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #62

I wish we did that here. Apophis Mar 2013 #63

"Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest." Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #65

Don't like this as law marions ghost Mar 2013 #68

Locking... SidDithers Mar 2013 #69