Posted on 01/18/2003 6:06:59 AM PST by TheConservator
Terrorism has made France consider changing one of its fundamental principles of keeping state and religion separate and accept the proposal for the state to fund the building of mosques in the country.
So far the state is not allowed to build places of worship under a 1905 law. President Jacques Chirac recently welcomed leaders of the new nationally elected Muslim Council to reportedly put the suggestion of state funding.
Mr. Chirac told them that in the past he regretted there was no organised dialogue between Muslim representatives and French authorities. He said he hoped the Islam of France and the Muslims of France would achieve the same status-- with equal rights and duties--as all other citizens.
This move is viewed as a bold scheme to create a French version of Islam so as to prevent the country's second biggest religion from falling into the sway of foreign powers, notably Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh has helped the construction of many mosques all over the world, including the golden-dome mosque in Regent Park in London. Its the biggest mosque in Britain.
A spokesman has been quoted, " One cannot be opposed to the foreign financing of places of worship and at the same time do nothing about it." The minister for property and building law explained, " In 1905, the government thought that Catholics were anti-republican and constituted a menace.
" Today, it is Islam which poses this question. It would be unrealistic not to respond to this concern." The police have been keeping an eye on mosques fearing they might provide cover and shelter to terrorists.
At present there are 1600 mosques in France, much less than in the United Kingdom. Most of these mosques are little more than a room. But money from Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf countries have been pouring in for building Islamic centres and mosques. The Grand Mosque in Lyons cost £3 million, most of that money came from Saudi Arabia.
Of course it is absurd to suggest that cathedrals and churches be converted to mosques. I used that reductio ad absurdum to indicate the absurdity of allowing France to be overrun by Muslims, to say nothing of actually constructing mosques for them.
Freedom of religion is one of the basic freedoms of Western Civilization, and France, more than most, has learned that lesson the hard way.
However, the necessity of limiting freedom in order for it to exist is just as basic and is, in fact, even more important, because without this our freedoms will cease to exist.
To place no restraints on freedom of religion, and to allow France to be overrun by Muslims who have no intention of allowing freedom of religion and who will, in a matter of time, outlaw freedom of religion, illustrates the point.
"The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing panic."Some take this further and say that it doesn't give one the right to burn the theatre down either.--U. S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (1919)
Unless the Western nations wake up soon, come to their senses, realize that even the most basic freedoms must be limited, and halt Muslim immigration--and unless they do it fast--they will either become Islamic theocracies or battlegrounds of opposing religions or both.
It will be one of histories greatest miracles if the Muslim threat becomes a catalyst for the renaissance of Christianity in the West, especially in Europe and North America.
It will be an even greater miracle if this re-energized Christianity reaches the millions of souls in the Islamic world and saves them from their misguided dark night of madness.
And why not?
SOMEONE will bail their sorry asses out.
Indeed... why postpone the inevitable? The French seem determined to commit cultural suicide. The Muslims that they embrace will eventually eradicate all things "French". How do you suppose the vineyards will fare?
The following is a list of coronations held in the Cathedral at Reims, in case anyone cares (the people of France don't seem to):
1223 Louis VIII the Lion
1226 Saint Louis IX
1271 Philippe III
1286 Philippe IV the Fair
1315 Louis X
1317 Philip V
1322 Charles IV the Fair
1328 Philip VI of Valois
1350 John II the Good
1364 Charles V
1380 Charles VI
1429 Charles VII escorted by Jeanne d'Arc
1461 Louis XI
1484 Charles VIII
1498 Louis XII
1515 Francis I
1547 Henry II
1559 Francis II
1561 Charles IX
1575 Henry III
1610 Louis XIII
1654 Louis XIV
1722 Louis XV
1775 Louis XVI
1825 Charles X
***************
Oh, yes... there is something else that sticks in my craw. For years, the French have been loudly protesting against what they perceive as "Americanization" of their language and elements of French culture, such as cuisine. EuroDisney and McDonalds are especially reviled. My opinion on that topic has been that the French were absolutely correct to preserve their uniqueness. Not anymore. If they reject closer ties with the Western nations and roll out the red carpet for the Muslims, they deserve what they will most assuredly get.
About like the vineyards of Shiraz.
Yes, the French are more concerned about the contamination of their culture than its destruction.
Pray that we do not witness the fall of France.
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