Thursday, February 19, 2009

Decadent Europe

Will a culturally decadent Europe attempt to assimilate its immigrants, or, in the name of "multiculturalism, make way for an Islamic Europe? Some have asked such questions, wondering if, when or where a stand will be made:
Elisabeth Berger, head of the school, requires all parents of students this year, including those who are Muslim, to sign a form. The form states that students taking the cuisine and service course must learn how the Viennese prepare food and drink as well as how to advise customers on their choices. This goes with a corresponding appearance - that is, a headscarf ban while serving.

And since pork is indispensable in cooking, it is obligatory to prepare and taste it. Furthermore, the form explicitly says that students must naturally at least taste alcoholic drinks. For the Muslim parents Berger's requirements are a 'democratic political scandal'.

The head of the municipal school board Susanne Brandsteidl says this approach is completely justified. Everybody has to keep by the house rules, in this case to the curriculum, and there are equal rights and obligations for everybody.

Brandsteidl supports the school principal with a legal opinion which says that the educational goal of the curriculum should be maintained and it is not possible to exempt students based on their faith. On the issue of alcohol, pork and headscarf, the school board is clear - Pork is integral to Austrian cuisine and makes up a large part of the curriculum. Advising customers includes tasting alcoholic drinks.

The professional image of service in a restaurant requires 'wearing appropriate clothing', or more simply put: a Muslim girl serving in the training restaurant shouldn't be wearing a headscarf.

According to Zaman this will be reported widely, possibly even worldwide.

Islam in Europe


Eowyn said...

truepeers, something just occurred to me, based on this post, and I will be happier than ANYONE if you shoot it successfully down in flames for me, but ...

Here is an entire, dangerous, misguided segement of humanity -- namely, Islamo-nuts -- and BECAUSE they represent an entire segment of humanity --

Hmm. Was going to wonder, thinking-out-loud-wise, whether there was a tiny foothold here, but now, not so sure.

IS there any hope of coming together of ideas of any kind? I mean, on the one hand, we have enlightenment. On the other, barbarism. These are the templates. Me, I seek the ability to find ways to surf, however subtley, in order to find common ground. But it takes a willingness.

Thus far, all I see is brick-wall, refusal-to-admit-reality, willful ignorance. (Hence my completely enjoyable rant-fest on ignorant Muslim men in my latest post. Call the cops :)

For God's sake -- or for Christ's sake, if necessary -- LET'S GET REAL.

If we can. Which, who knows.

truepeers said...

Can we come together, without first conquest of one or another? Who knows. Who knows what people will want, what they will think if events pressure them, and reveal new things to them, in all kinds of yet unforeseen and unimaginable ways.

I think there is a kind of personality who has bought into a totalitarian ideology who you can't reason with in an intellectual sense; but you can still put choices to him, find out what he really wants, how far he will go, if you are willing to engage and combat him. And that kind of information then enters into circulation and changes other minds in various ways.

I know a few Muslims who are open to serious thinking. It's not impossible. It's just not so common; but still, who knows the limits of that thinking, of that Muslim identity, until we go forward and find out.

History is entirely unpredictable it seems to me. Events have their own reality and some things are unimaginable, until they happen. Everyone will find the limits of their own faith and risk tolerance, and then things will happen and we will see what we will see.

I know that's not an answer that clarifies much, but I just don't think we can have such an answer in all honesty.