Minarets in Switzerland

[OakLeaf]

Pax, that's terrific, thanks for that.

[cashmere]

I am truly disappointed in the swiss decision about the building of minarets, this is such a wrong decision and I can only hope it will be overturned with the next vote. I truly hope another group gets together, collects enough signature to have a new vote to overturn this one.
I would nevertheless like to correct some of the opinions offered here about the constitution of Switzerland and Germany. The right to freedom of faith, as is the freedom of speech is firmly embedded in both constitutions. The separation of church and state is in place, at least as firmly as in the US. Citizens who are a member of one of the major churches pay a tax which is collected by the state and disseminated to the respective church. Those who have a different faith or do not belong to any confession/church do not pay this tax. A large percentage of social services is provided by the state. Switzerland is one of the oldest democracies in the world, with a large number of decision made by a direct vote where all citizens can vote. A relatively small number of signatures is sufficient to initiate such a vote and I hope that this will be the way the minaret decision will be overturned. Neither Switzerland nor Germany are immigration countries in the way the US is for historical reasons, and still the percentage of foreigners living in Switzerland is around 20-25%. And 4 different languages coexist... although I would agree that it is not a "melting pot" in the way at least some regions in the US are.
in case you want to read up on the consitutions:

http://www.iuscomp.org/gla/statutes/GG.htm#I
http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/sz00000_.html

I have to admit that I am someone who laughs about all the little things like the one mentioned about the lawn mower, but many of those are born out of the fact that people live rather close together.

happy riding.