No Offense, Okay?

Aug 31, 2010 21:38






Are you consistent? That's what I want to know.

There are quite a lot of people who think the  proposed mosque in NYC should not be built because it will be offensive. These people argue that the proponents have a legal right to build it and maybe the Imams have good intentions and all that, but sensitivity requires that the mosque be build elsewhere.

Essentially, the argument is that offending people is not a good move, morally and practically speaking. Regardless of how meritorious your position might be.

If you are one of these people, do you also feel the same way about the recent sign put up in Kiryas Yoel? The one about how necklines should be covered and gender separation should be maintained in all public areas? Do you think that Kiryas Yoel should take their sign down because it is offensive to so many people? If you don't realize how offended people are, read some of the comments in that link. Pretty vehement rhetoric over there.

Or on the flip side: If you are of the opinion that the mosque builders should practice their religion as they see fit and pay no attention to how opponents feel, do you also conclude that the Kiryas Yoel fundamentalists should feel free to put up signs, within legal bounds, without regard for how this affects their gentile or non-observant neighbors?

I'm also interested in the legal bounds part.  How do you think a court of law will see the Kiryas Yoel sign, assuming it is on public property?  Does this expression of freedom of religion conflict with other people's fundamental rights? Does the right to wear bikinis and shorts interfere with the Satmar chassidim's First Amendment Rights? Really ?

islam, law school, chassidim, politics, tznius

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