France Bans Public Prayer

[Martinus]

This article and Zoup's reaction in the Medal of Honor thread give a glimpse into the French mind/attitude, that people in U.S. or even in places around the world that still hold religous processions/rituals in the "public square" are not familiar with.

I don't understand this post. Must be the syntax or something.

[Martinus]

That's a good point.  If you ticket praying Muslims then you'd have to ticket shit dumping farmers too.

Presumably, farmers do not block streets in residential neighborhoods on a weekly basis.

[Barrister]

That's a good point.  If you ticket praying Muslims then you'd have to ticket shit dumping farmers too.

Presumably, farmers do not block streets in residential neighborhoods on a weekly basis.

The impression I get from the media is that French farmers pretty much do protest on a weekly basis...

[garbon]

This article and Zoup's reaction in the Medal of Honor thread give a glimpse into the French mind/attitude, that people in U.S. or even in places around the world that still hold religous processions/rituals in the "public square" are not familiar with.

I don't understand this post. Must be the syntax or something.

Still obvious what he was saying.

[Warspite]

That's a good point.  If you ticket praying Muslims then you'd have to ticket shit dumping farmers too.

Presumably, farmers do not block streets in residential neighborhoods on a weekly basis.

They cause regular enough disruption (even blocking foreign boats in port on occasion) but no one is clamouring for a law against strike actions, no?

[Zoupa]

That's a good point.  If you ticket praying Muslims then you'd have to ticket shit dumping farmers too.

Presumably, farmers do not block streets in residential neighborhoods on a weekly basis.

The impression I get from the media is that French farmers pretty much do protest on a weekly basis...

Yes. Hourly even. 

[Zoupa]

That's a good point.  If you ticket praying Muslims then you'd have to ticket shit dumping farmers too.

Presumably, farmers do not block streets in residential neighborhoods on a weekly basis.

They cause regular enough disruption (even blocking foreign boats in port on occasion) but no one is clamouring for a law against strike actions, no?

Except religious-based public disruptions are unacceptable. Trust me, if it was good little catholics blocking the street every freaking friday or worse, the cops would be on them even more.

[Barrister]

That's a good point.  If you ticket praying Muslims then you'd have to ticket shit dumping farmers too.

Presumably, farmers do not block streets in residential neighborhoods on a weekly basis.

They cause regular enough disruption (even blocking foreign boats in port on occasion) but no one is clamouring for a law against strike actions, no?

Except religious-based public disruptions are unacceptable. Trust me, if it was good little catholics blocking the street every freaking friday or worse, the cops would be on them even more.

Why?

Look - if this is a street-blocking issue then I have no problem with it.  But then due something about blocking the street, not "public prayer".

[Zoupa]

No.

And for the record, all those protests you see "in the media" have been cleared at a departmental level by the préfet. Meaning protesters ask for a permit in advance, which the préfet grants in 99% of cases for social movements/causes.

[Barrister]

No.

And for the record, all those protests you see "in the media" have been cleared at a departmental level by the préfet. Meaning protesters ask for a permit in advance, which the préfet grants in 99% of cases for social movements/causes.

Dude - the line about French farmers was a quip, nothing more.  I thought I flagged it by saying "the impression I get from the media".  Lighten up.

But my other post was serious?  Why are religious-based public disruptions any worse than any other kind of public disruption?

[crazy canuck]

Except religious-based public disruptions are unacceptable. Trust me, if it was good little catholics blocking the street every freaking friday or worse, the cops would be on them even more.

What is it about religious based disruptions that make it any more unacceptable than any other disprutions.  Also, it appears that there would have been no disruption at all if the State and not tried to prevent them from praying.

What is so offensive about people using a public space to pray?

[The Brain]

No.

And for the record, all those protests you see "in the media" have been cleared at a departmental level by the préfet. Meaning protesters ask for a permit in advance, which the préfet grants in 99% of cases for social movements/causes.

So state-sanctioned makes it OK? That's what the Taliban thought.

[Zoupa]

Also, it appears that there would have been no disruption at all if the State and not tried to prevent them from praying.

You mean apart from blocking the damn streets every single week, causing enormous gridlock in your capital?

[Valmy]

What is it about religious based disruptions that make it any more unacceptable than any other disprutions.  Also, it appears that there would have been no disruption at all if the State and not tried to prevent them from praying.

What is so offensive about people using a public space to pray?

In France?  It is incredibly offensive.  I am not sure how much I need to go into that but surely a basic understanding of the past 500 years of French history should make that obvious.  To their credit they do not usually ban them like this though.

[Zoupa]

The french mindset sees religion as something private, that has no place in the public sphere. In most cases people don't even know what religion their political leaders follow.

For example former Prime Minister Jospin is protestant. I only found out last year. It just never occurred to me to inquire what faith if any he follows, I was watching an Italian documentary when they mentioned it.