The source of most truly stupid notions: religion.
To what altitude?
Ironically, pigs are used extensively in research on the gastro-intestinal tract, because of the close similarity between pig guts and people guts. (That's for the edification of the reading public, gerryh, I'm aware you already know it.)
Such loaded questions. What do my beliefs have to do with Canadian politics? Singh is a Sikh and I am a Muslim. We have very contrary beliefs, but that’s not the point. Singh and I are from the same South Asian ethnicity. We are both brown people, we are both living in a highly racist society of White people who are dead against us becoming more politically influential and active. This is why I support Singh in his run for the NDP leadership, which thanks to our community’s vote looks more and more likely. Singh is an Amritdhari Sikh who is turbanned and wears a long beard. As such he will fight for other religious minorities rights to wear our articles and symbols, for example yarmulke for Jewish men, veil for Muslim women, skullcap for Muslim men, etc. Quebec wants to ban our women from wearing the Niqab (face-veil). Singh knows that once this dangerous precedent is set in discriminating against one religious community any other religious community could be next including his. This is why all of us religious minorities, including Jews, Sikhs and Muslims must support Jagmeet Singh in an increasingly xenophobic and racist Canada. I have no other agenda except that our religious rights should be protected. As a South Asian and Indian, I want our community to become stronger politically as this will benefit not on us but all other visible minorities too.
In this sense every politician is a tool for those who vote for them. Religious freedom is enshrined in the Charter. But given the dangerous mood of White Canadian society, especially in Quebec, we need someone who believes in this right passionately to be in the corridors of power. I have mentioned before that there isn’t a single Canadian “culture”. Canada is a country of many nations and distinct cultures, that’s the purport of multiculturalism which is Canada’s unwritten philosophy. Hence there is nothing to “assimilate” into, unless you are talking about White European culture. Of course we don’t want to assimilate into White European culture, and why should we? This isn’t Europe! We will never compromise on this point–ever.
You aren't living in a highly racist society. Canada affords all minorities opportunities to excel. Now, if you said you CAME FROM a highly racist society, that I can believe.
The dangerous mood is in the Muslim community where radicals roam free without fear of being outed.
Your comments make no sense because by definition you cannot “assimilate” into something that is multicultural. Multiculturalism is the exact opposite of assimilation. To be multicultural means you continue to practice and exhibit your culture. As for giving up the burqa, why should our community do so? That is assimilating into a European idea and abandoning our value of modesty. Islamic spirituality, unlike that of other religions, is expressed through wearing more clothing not less. You claim you are not talking about White European culture, but your notion that Muslim ladies should stop wearing the burqa is coming from a completely Eurocentric perspective and notion of how people should dress. We Muslims frown upon White European culture of wearing very less clothing, to the point of being practically nude, yet here in Canada we are not trying to impose our values on non-Muslims, rather, we are only trying to preserve our own values for our own community. Though of course we do value the concept of Da’wa ila Allah, that is inviting people to God (evangelism) and Tabligh (preaching), but this is nothing but a persuasive exercise, not a coercive one. In the political sphere, we are only involved insofar as protecting the interests of our community. Any involvement in politics for something further would not be a community effort but an individual one.
No such concept as “Stealing” someone’s wife. Our Prophet never “stole” anyone’s wife. Yes he married his wife Zainab daughter of Jahsh after her husband Zaid son of Harith divorced her voluntarily. The purpose of veil is modesty. Jewish women also practice veil, especially the Yemenite Jews and those of the Lev Tahor sect of Judaism.
Mohammed(may piss be upon him)murdered men and stole wives. He profited from the slave trade. He lusted after women and was a pedophile. He was not peaceful by any means. Jihadists and terrorists today emulate Mohammed's ruthlessness. There is nothing peaceful about Islam.
Multiculturalism means people can keep their cultural identity while keeping dialogue open with other cultures. It does not mean a melting pot.
