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GENEVA – Swiss voters approved a move to ban the construction of minarets in a Sunday vote on a right-wing initiative that labeled the mosque towers as symbols of militant Islam, projections by a widely respected polling institute showed.

The projections based on partial returns say Swiss swung from only 37 percent supporting the proposal a week ago to 59 percent in the actual voting.

Claude Longchamp, leader of the widely respected gfs.bern polling institute, said the projection contracted by state-owned DRS television forecasts approval of the initiative by more than half the country's 26 cantons, meaning it will become a constitutional amendment.

The nationalist Swiss People's Party describes minarets, the distinctive spires used in most countries for calls to prayer, as symbols of rising Muslim political and religious power that could eventually turn Switzerland into an Islamic nation.

Full Story Link: Projection: Swiss vote to ban new minarets - Yahoo! News

Fascinating. I suspected that Radical Islam would have a negative effect on Islam (the moderate kind), as a religion. That's a shame, because there are plenty (read millions) of moderate Islamics that are kind, decent people.

It's just human nature, though. Just because some blacks start running a crack-house next door to you, doesn't mean all African-Americans are criminals and drug dealers.

But.... it sure does have a tendency to sway your perception.:yh_think

Perhaps the Swiss should outlaw church spires as well.

Shalom

Ted:-6

Ted;1268160 wrote: Perhaps the Swiss should outlaw church spires as well.

Shalom

Ted:-6


That was a point made in related discussions in France. One of the fears was that the Muezzin's loudspeakered calls to prayer five times a day every day was aggressive noise pollution way in excess of a few Sunday church bells - but apparently most modern minarets are symbolic only, just decorative. The decision applied to minarets, not mosques.

Church spires are quite handy things. They were the high point of old villages. If you're into hiking like I am, and are a bit directionally challenged, they are useful navigation points.

Aussie:-6

Spires do make good direction indicators.

Shalom

Ted:-6

Ted;1268253 wrote: Aussie:-6

Spires do make good direction indicators.

Shalom

Ted:-6


ROFL! I had to read that twice... but I got it!!!:D

(Church spires guide you to Heaven, right?!!!);)

Now that adds another meaning to the intent. Look at that multiple valid interpretations just as with the Bible.

Shalom

Ted:-6

You've inspired me!

:sneaky: