Quag
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2012
- Messages
- 35,711
- Reaction score
- 18,642
- Location
- Earth
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Undisclosed
The CAQ (Coalition Avenir Quebec), Quebec's provincial govt tabled its religious symbol ban today
CAQ tables controversial secularism bill, banning public employees from wearing religious symbols at work | Globalnews.ca
I think its silly that the govt tries to tell people what they can or cannot wear except for positions where a uniform is in place (police ex) and a general office attire (no ripped pants type thing).
Aside from the freedom angle I also think it does the exact opposite of the stated aim (I say stated as many believe it is just an attack on certain religions) of removing religion from the workings of the state. If for example you have a teacher that wears a hijab or a kippa it will probably give you a good indication on where they stand on middle eastern issues and thus you can write papers with that in mind. (yeah I know teachers should look at the merits of the argument not their personal bias but come on in the real world....) Or say you are going in front of a judge wearing a kippa and you are Muslim wearing a hijab you dont think that will have an effect (vice versa as well). If you see them sporting their religious symbols you can remove yours if you think there might be a bias (or keep them if you think that would help as well).
Not everyone who is religious wears religious symbols and not everyone who wears religious symbols is religious but in general (aside from crosses on necklaces apparently) most people who do wear them identify with a specific religious/cultural community and telling them to hide that fact will have no effect on their personal beliefs/prejudices. What it will do is alienate certain parts of the population who feel very strongly about their accoutrement.
CAQ has a majority so it will pass and it will be challenged and certainly lose in court but CAQ has stated they will use the not withstanding clause.
CAQ tables controversial secularism bill, banning public employees from wearing religious symbols at work | Globalnews.ca
I think its silly that the govt tries to tell people what they can or cannot wear except for positions where a uniform is in place (police ex) and a general office attire (no ripped pants type thing).
Aside from the freedom angle I also think it does the exact opposite of the stated aim (I say stated as many believe it is just an attack on certain religions) of removing religion from the workings of the state. If for example you have a teacher that wears a hijab or a kippa it will probably give you a good indication on where they stand on middle eastern issues and thus you can write papers with that in mind. (yeah I know teachers should look at the merits of the argument not their personal bias but come on in the real world....) Or say you are going in front of a judge wearing a kippa and you are Muslim wearing a hijab you dont think that will have an effect (vice versa as well). If you see them sporting their religious symbols you can remove yours if you think there might be a bias (or keep them if you think that would help as well).
Not everyone who is religious wears religious symbols and not everyone who wears religious symbols is religious but in general (aside from crosses on necklaces apparently) most people who do wear them identify with a specific religious/cultural community and telling them to hide that fact will have no effect on their personal beliefs/prejudices. What it will do is alienate certain parts of the population who feel very strongly about their accoutrement.
CAQ has a majority so it will pass and it will be challenged and certainly lose in court but CAQ has stated they will use the not withstanding clause.