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Christophe Malgrain
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 22 August 2006
Location: France
Posts: 232
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 4:42am | IP Logged | 1
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Definitely, Stephen. Secularism is called Laïcité here, and it is the founding principle of our modern society. It was established as a law in 1905, after centuries of religious conflicts between catholics and protestants and decades of struggle between the Church and anti-clerics. Many people will tell you that this law guarantees the right of people to have a religion, any religion, and it's true, but more importantly to me, it guarantees your right to be free from religion, and this is the motive that prevailed in the "war" that brought about this official law of separation of State and Church.
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Christophe Malgrain
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 22 August 2006
Location: France
Posts: 232
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 4:48am | IP Logged | 2
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Speaking about atheists in the US, I know it's impossible for one of them to be elected president, but are they still so distrusted ? I heard about Bill Maher this week. He's a very populat tv host and an open atheist, if I got the information right. I was surprised and happy to hear that.
Edited by Christophe Malgrain on 12 January 2015 at 4:49am
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Carmen Bernardo
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 08 August 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 3666
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 5:00am | IP Logged | 3
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What's going on in the U.S. is what I'd consider a sort of "30 Years' War" fought out in courtrooms and public forums, between those who believe in God (as in the Christian sense) and those who don't. Some of us made the choice to stay aloof, but we're caught up in it regardless of how we express that.
As far as Right-leaning pundits and Christian believers go, there is a war on their faith imposed by court orders obtained by lawsuits brought about by atheist groups, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and individuals who feel uncomfortable with Christian symbols and Scripture posted in public view. It has gotten to where they will believe that all of society's ills can be traced to landmarks such as the Supreme Court ruling of 1960 where prayers were prohibited in public schools. Given that our mass media is used to sensationalize cases brought up against Christians, often in a provocative manner, it has fueled a paranoia on the right that contributes to the breakup of civil discourse in our society.
On the other hand, I do seems to see a pattern where the Christians appear to be getting targeted almost exclusively. It might be the media only focusing on those cases, but I have yet to see where the secular opposition to religious activity and symbolism of all kinds is getting much coverage. And this could tie in to the ghettoization of religious communities here and in Europe. Intolerance breeds a mutual contempt that, depending on the mindset of the group or individual, leads to open hostility and even violence such as what we had last week.
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Michael Penn
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 April 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 12715
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 7:10am | IP Logged | 4
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We hear that despite the huge support from the American people, some of you think the Charlie cartoonists were racists.
***
This morning NBC TV news covered the Paris marches, introducing the subject by stating that Charlie Hebdo published "offensive" cartoons. The other night Salman Rushdie said, cogently, "can you imagine a political cartoon that was not offensive...?"
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Leigh DJ Hunt
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 February 2008
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1570
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 7:13am | IP Logged | 5
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Jeremy, I like your idea of asking someone who lives there. I've found every news source to be biased. Sometimes overtly, in the way they present things. Usually by omission, which stories they push and which they completely ignore. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- Had to laugh about the Fox News statement about how one of our largest cities, Birmingham is entirely Muslim and how the religious police will beat people up for not being Muslim there. Utterly farcical reporting.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 133324
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 7:21am | IP Logged | 6
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Had to laugh about the Fox News statement about how one of our largest cities, Birmingham is entirely Muslim and how the religious police will beat people up for not being Muslim there. Utterly farcical reporting.•• I was surprised, a few years back, to read that Birmingham is now a predominantly Black city. That's happened in less than the span of my own lifetime. A lesson, I think, in how demographics shift, and how quickly.
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Steven Myers
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 10 June 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5682
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 7:25am | IP Logged | 7
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To clarify: there is nothing in our Constitution that requires the President to be sworn in on a bible. Many Presidents were not done so.
Though some people (seriously!) believe the "freedom of religion" means you have the choice of Protestant or Catholic. (Though eventually the Catholics will also see the might.)
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J W Campbell
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 June 2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 353
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 8:15am | IP Logged | 8
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The official census data shows a sharp decline in those identifying as 'White, British" in Birmingham over the last ten years but they remain — just! — the majority, and the largest single ethnic group. (Even adding in "White, other" the total comes in way below the national average.)
There are no standout gainers in the linked data — 'Other Ethnicities" and "Pakistani" are the only increases that leap out on a cursory glance.
Just out of interest, I checked the census data for Leicester, widely regarded as the most 'Asian' city in the UK and even there "White, British" remains the largest single group, albeit a minority unless you add in the other white ethnicities.
(It's a curiosity of English politics that the areas currently polling as most concerned about immigration and thus likely to vote for the (very) right-wing UKIP are also the ones with the smallest numbers of non-white residents and therefore the least impacted by the immigration they're so concerned about…)
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Bill Collins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005
Location: England
Posts: 11296
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 8:43am | IP Logged | 9
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The idiot has obviously never visited Birmingham! We spent a day in the city shopping and visiting the theatre during the summer,it was a pleasant day,and Birmingham is a great city.Check out the annual German market at Christmas!
Edited by Bill Collins on 12 January 2015 at 8:45am
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Stéphane Garrelie
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 05 August 2005
Location: France
Posts: 4226
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 4:23pm | IP Logged | 10
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Next week's cover:
Edited by Stéphane Garrelie on 12 January 2015 at 4:26pm
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Stéphane Garrelie
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 05 August 2005
Location: France
Posts: 4226
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 4:28pm | IP Logged | 11
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Charlie Hebdo Cover Features Muhammad Holding 'Je Suis Charlie' Sign
By the way even if originally it was supposed to be printed at 1 million, as said here, there's such a demand that now it will be 3 millions and many languages... which of course means an english edition of this issue.
Edited by Stéphane Garrelie on 12 January 2015 at 4:38pm
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Joe Hollon
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 08 May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 13699
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| Posted: 12 January 2015 at 9:06pm | IP Logged | 12
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How can I order a copy?
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Topic Closed)
