Turks set to ease headscarf ban

[dgriffin]

The Turkish parliament is expected to amend the country's constitution to ease the ban on women wearing Islamic headscarves in universities. The issue is deeply divisive in Turkey, where the state is strictly secular, and protests are expected.

A strict headscarf ban has been in force in Turkish universities since 1997. The ban came after the staunchly secularist military had exerted pressure to oust a government it saw as too Islamist.

The proposed changes state that only traditional scarves will be permitted in universities, tied loosely under the chin. Headscarves that cover the neck will still be banned, as will the all-enveloping burka, or chador.

The government says secularism means many girls are denied an education. But the secular establishment, including generals and academics, sees this as a first step to allowing Islam to figure more largely in public life.

Opposition parties have vowed to challenge the changes in the constitutional court if, as is expected, they are passed on Saturday.
Ural Akbulut, rector of the Middle East Technical University, in Ankara, says the changes represent the imposition of religious beliefs into the constitution.

"We say it will damage secularity," he told the BBC. "Once you do that - we believe you damage democracy."

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Any small group of extremists can take over a society where no one cares enough to stop them, be it in the MidEast, Germany or the US. Little by little.

[Swimmy]

Your last comment is very true. It's highly evident right here in our own country. Look what happened in England, the government imposed a total ban on all guns. People turned in their firearms without a fight.

Our local governments and the state legislature are another example. The clip frankcor posted in the 2nd amendment thread shows how a group of extreme gun control advocates, e.g. chuckie schumer, are in a position of power to ignore the majority's thoughts. The credit industry had the bankruptcy code overhauled to make it harder to discharge consumer credit debt. No one fought it, but once many go bankrupt, they'll wish they did.

[Swimmy]

I have a few friends from Turkey. One doesn't see the reason for such opposition. The other is adamantly against it. He so passionate about it that he starts writing in Turkish and I can't understand him.

[frankcor]

LOL! What little Italian I know, I learned by royally pissing off one of my grandparents by doing something stupid.

[Swimmy]

I used to hear my great-grandmother shout finable (I don't know the actual spelling) whenever she screwed up her knitting or she caught me playing with the spinning tool she used to help her crochet.

[frankcor]

It must be something really bad. I remember asking my aunt what it meant and she slapped me.

If it's like most of the phrases we hear from the old country, it's probably not spelled anything like finable. It took me years to figure out what kind of meat that was in the deli case labeled Cappicola or what was in those dairy case containers with Riccotta on the side.

Did you know goomba is spelled compare?

[Swimmy]

Just like how Pasta Fragiole is not spelled how it's pronounced?

[frankcor]

fagioli = fazoole

[frankcor]

OOops, I think we got a little off course here.

My bad.

Turkey presents an interesting situation. Though officially a secular democracy, the strong roles that both religion and the military play in their government are undeniable.

[dgriffin]

My cleaning lady is a Turk. When she's here, I tune my shortwave radio to the Voice of Turkey from Cakirlar near Ankara. That time of day the programming is in Farsi, which she prefers for some reason to her native Turkish. I don't understand any of it, but I'll note her reactions from time to time if I'm home. She's a very emotive listener and frequently will laugh, tsk-tsk and slap the back of her head, a gesture I don't understand. One day she simply sat down, raised her eyes to heaven and put her hands in a prayerful arch as music and voices sounded on the radio. "What's up, Felice?" I asked, wondering what would be the latests tragedy from that strife-torn part of the world. "They're banning YouTube in Turkey," she almost cried.

[Swimmy]

I read about that. Turkey has repeatedly banned and unbanned youtube.

[clarencebunsen]

Because I care, I don't want any of you to be banned for being politically offensive;

"Towel Heads"
Recently I received a warning about the use of this politically incorrect term, so please note: We all need to be more sensitive in our choice of words. I have been informed that the Islamic terrorists who hate out guts and want to kill us do not like to be called "Towel Heads" since the item they wear on their heads is not actually a towel but in fact a small folded sheet.
Therefore, from this point forward please refer to them as "Little Sheet Heads."
Thank you for your support and compliance on this delicate matter.

[dgriffin]

If there is anyone on this forum who is politically-correct-sensitive, I haven't met them yet. I am a Catholic-by-heritage-not-by-practice, so I would be at the opposite end of the spectrum. Have you noticed one of the banner ads on this forum is for Islam Ringtones for your cell phone? I wonder what that sounds like.

[frankcor]

Actually, it'd be kinda neat to have one of those evening chants sung from the Mosque towers. I'd be sure to turn it off in airports, though.

[concerned]

the chant is a call to prayer to allah. It's interesting how that has become such an topic of conversation today. The ringing of church bells originally had meaning as it was structured around each of the Hours of the Divine Office. The original seven seperate hours of prayer. About the only groups that actually say the entire seven hours are cloistured monks and nuns in the Catholic and Anglican Church. Today those hours are broken down to Morning prayer, Evening prayer and Compline( Night ) prayer. Bells ringing at various churches today I guess only ring to announce the time. Sad how tradition has been replaced. I still say a short prayer of thanksgiving for each day whenever I hear church bells ringing at noon. Those bells originally announced the Angelus.

PS Here are the names of the seven hours
Matins, Lauds,Terce, Sects,Noon,Vespers, Compline.

Oh how I remember the old days in a religious community.

www.abbaye-montdescats.com/public/17-Prieres-et-offices.html

Here is a link if you would like to choose an hour and listen.