NationStates Jolt Archive

We are currently working on a prop to reduce religious tensions in school, we'd appreciate any comments.
Schools today are a place of considerable torment, where anything different is persecuted. Many nations have seen fit to implement uniforms, to reduce the ridicule of poorer children, and help different classes get on better. It produces a sense of common kinship, which is a great help to education.
For this same reason, we propose that all religious symbols and clothing (muslim, christian, hindu, no exceptions) be banned in school. This will help children from different cultural backgrounds mingle better in mainstream education, it will prevent secularization and help reduce religious intolerance at a young age.
We may mantion that this is a tried and tested idea.
Any useful comments would be well-recieved.

Good idea. most kids only wear such articles cos their parents do anyway, and those that are serious can be expected to make the sacrifice for the greater cause. If you need help getting this Prop to the UN ill put it through for you if you like.
REP

The Republic of Global Peoples has a very clearly defined line between religioun and government, and currently the only religious content at any publicly funded institution is purely for academic or tolerance-teaching puposes.

However, to ban all forms of religious expression, such as a Muslim headcovering, Jewish skullcap, or Christian crusifix (provided such items do not interfere with the dress code or uniform regulations of the school) is not within the powers delegated to the representatives of the people of the RGP. Such a measure would diminish from the Constitution of the RGP, which assures freedom to practive religion in a peaceful manner.

Implementing uniforms is an effective way to highlight personality over material things (uniforms are standard at all RGP schools grade K-9.) Banning religious symols from the publicly-funded schools themselves is one thing, but to try and ban it from the private citizendry is infringing on the basic civl rights of the RGP. Therefore, the RGP would not support such a measure.

The government has direct control over the school as an insitution, but not over it's occupants as people. That is what civil rights are about.

Phillipsania cannot lend its support to such a measure. It infringes upon certain internal rights of our nation, as well as jurisdiction issues with the UN.

Humbly,
Marquis Gerould
Chancellor of the Second Estate
Kingdom of Phillipsania

Greetings:

The RCO cannot support such a measure. We are a Catholic nation, that does not have a separation between church and state. Indeed, our schools are deeply intwined with the various dioces of our nation. You are effectively banning our nation's whole system of education by doing. Shall our teachers also not wear their reverse collars or habits while teaching?

Indeed, the RCO finds this type of resolution humorous. It seems that some nations believe all other nations are like theirs, and should therefore have the same institutions. Surely, these nations would not want local schools run by the local Catholic diocese? Of course not. Certainly, the RCO would never dream of even bringing about such a resolution. Why, then, should other, more secular nations act so hegemonically towards us?

One other question - the representative from Mistwalkers says that this measure "will prevent secularization." How, exactly? Isn't the removal of all religious symbols and clothing the height of secularization? Is not this bill demanding secularization? How, then, will it prevent secularization when secularization is its aim?

With Respect,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Voegelin, Royal Commonwealth of Oakeshottland.

Jasotamia had decided to veto this resolution on the following grounds.

Live and let live

We do not like this idea for the following reasons:

1) Wearing a ‘religious symbol’ does not force somebody to convert.

2) We should not hide our differences. If a Christian takes off a cross they are still a Christian. Instead we should celebrate our differences and teach children that it is okay to be themselves.

3) Your proposal seams to be blaming the ‘victims’ of bullying instead of the closed-minded bully. Perhaps better education is necessary so these people will understand why people where the symbols of their religion.

4) Our country has a strong population of Muslims. If it was a choice between Hijab and school some would choose Hijab. It is part of their religion and identity. Unless they are causing considerable damage we would not stop people from getting a good education .


Desdemona,
UN representative,
The Black New World

In our country, all religions are tolerated and the freedom of religion is protected by our laws. So any school that feels like using any religious symbol of their choice in their classes shall be permited in Hazatak. No one is forced to follow anyone´s religion, as no one is forced to go to a place where another religion is practiced.

I do not support a ban on religous items in school. Students have the right to show who they are and what their heritage is. Cultural diversity is the only way to root out racism becuase you cant hide who you are forevere so whats the point in doing so? We embrace diffrent caltures no matter what it is as long as it does not involve taking some one's life. :?

President Jerome Thomas

Fair enough. But the poll suggests a third of nations are in favour. dont be shy, post comments if you support this prop!
REP

Oh dear, I was afraid this idea would skip across from the real world and become an "issue" so to speak, :wink:

Sadly, I cannot support this proposal, while I am an athiest, I cannot allow what would constitute the limitation of an individuals free speech and right to, not to mention the fact it propogates conformity and has a range of future negative impacts for the affected generation. When I am feeling a little less light headed I may return and list these further, and might I add, I noticed the comment of a third saying they would support this proposal, well so what? Two thirds would still shoot it down.

* The Rep of Komokom picks up a rubber stamp and brings it down forcefully on his copy of the proposal,

{ NO }

Appears on the page, a signal of what is to come he hopes,

- The Rep of Komokom.

The Holy Empire of Gethamane cannot abide by such a law, for reasons that should be evident in our title.

However, for those of you who don't get it (and judging from some other threads, I'm sure there are some of you), the HOLY Empire of Gethamane is a religious state. The Government is religious, and a vast majority of our populace is Naucist (our official religion). While we will not expressly discriminate against those of other religions, we will also not bow to them and create secular schools to placate them.

Furthermore, this resolution implies that there is a significant amount of religious intolerance in schools. According to our last Census statement, and our Minister of Education, that statement would be simply untrue in the Holy Empire of Gethamane. As it is not a problem in Gethamane, as well as reasons previously cited, we suggest that a resolution of this sort would interfere with National Sovereignty.

For this same reason, we propose that all religious symbols and clothing (muslim, christian, hindu, no exceptions) be banned in school. This will help children from different cultural backgrounds mingle better in mainstream education, it will prevent secularization and help reduce religious intolerance at a young age.

The DSH will not be making any efforts to support this proposal; in our opinion this potentially conflicts with the Religous Tolerance resolution, by instead of educating children on religous diversity, this proposal would be effectively removing the right to freedom of religous expression.

We also wonder if this would conflict with the The Child protection Act, specifically "States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present resolution to each minor within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the minor's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status." We wonder if forcing a minor to conform is not an abuse in itself? It sounds (from our perspective) that forcing a minor to remove any religous icons would be maltreatment under the Act?

Away from the purely technical arguements, we also note that some nations might not be as diverse as others - it seems foolish for the UN to enforce a global ban on religous icons in education when some nations might be almost entirely from one ethnicity.

Even if a nation is more diverse, surely it is a benefit to be celebrating this diversity rather than trying to force everyone to be the same? We totally support the sentiments from the honourable delegate from The Black New World on this matter

At any rate, You don't need to remove a persons rights to wear religous icons or clothing; you need to introduce some degree of education on alternative faiths into your educational system to promote religous tolerance. Our education system has had a long practice of promoting diversity and tolerance in the young and we would be happy for your education minister to visit our nation to exchange working practices.

Regarding your straw poll...we would note that all Member states who have voted in favor of your draft proposal have not yet formulated a significant arguement to support your proposal, whilst those who have voted against it have outlined their objections in great depth. With all due respect to those Member states who have voted, it seems that they have not spent the time reviewing the draft from all angles, and have simply voted without weighing all the factors involved. We would suggest that this third of votes is just another symptom of that silent majority of the UN who never discusses and blindly votes for anything placed in front of them.
_________________________
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/hirota.jpgThe Democratic States of Hirota (DSH) (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/target=display_nation/nation=hirota)
http://www.nationstates.net/images/un_member.gif For the region of cm4rums (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/32808/page=display_region/region=cm4rums)

My nation is primarily atheist, and as much as I would love to see the day that religion is no longer a world problem I cannot support this resolution for it interferes with something we hold far more dear than any religious standard, freedom of self expression. We do not agree with forcing our citizens to wear uniforms in school or not, and we will not agree to force them NOT to wear something that is important to them as an individual, regardless of its implications it is THERE choice.

This is frankly ridiculous. For many Muslim women the hijab is a critical part of their religion's teaching of modesty. For Sikh men the injunction is even stronger - do you expect them to remove their turbans along with the other religious symbols their faith dictates they always carry? This essentially amounts to gross and insensitive religious intolerance in the area where tolerance is more critical than any other.

Naturally, we are confused as to why anybody still in lower education would be a member of a faith already, but it is not our place to dictate in this matter.

Thackeray Sung
Ministry of Personal Development

The freely-elected representatives of a government pass legislation banning the display of religious symbols. The legislation applies to all religions… not discriminating against any particular faith. This is continuing a political tradition that is over two centuries old.

Maybe… people ought to mind their own business.

Father-Prelate Miro Snotgrass
Holy Order of the Pips
Universal Church of the Mo-Town Experience

It is the opinion of the Community of Dinner4JC that such a legislation would be againist the rules of the UN. Being that some forms of government are based on the idea of a unified church and state. Since you cannot pass legislation to harm a form of government, I don't think you can run this legislation.

The Communal Leader of Dinner4JC

The Principality of Meoton, while noting the good intentions of the resolution's submitters, must conclude that such a resolution would infringe on the inalienable rights of the individual to practice thier religious beliefs. The mere wearing of simple religious artifacts, unless purposedly and intentionally outrageous, inflamatory, or demeaning, should not be banned by any free thinking society. To do so would be moral and ethically wrong.

PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE SYNDICATE OF THE CONFEDERACY OF VERTOSA...

If you want to ban religion from schools or any other place, then atheism shoul also be banned.

Whether you are relligious or not, you still expect other people to respect it. As a evangelcal Christian myself, i am bound to say it...

But whether atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Jedi or Kilingon... each has a right to believe what they want, and express themselves.

On top of this, religious symbols play an important role in our heritage from a historical point of view, not just religious.

We vote to KEEP, if it ever comes before the UN

How does banning religion promote religious tolerance?

1) Schools ban religious apparel.
2) A student is found wearing a cross necklace.
3) School administrators suspend the student for wearing religious apparel.

Does that feel like it supports freedom of religion to you?

And what about glasses? Should we ban those, too? Kids make fun of other kids, the oh-so-standard "Four Eyes" routine; by what I can only call French logic, glasses are divisive apparel which must therefore be banned.

Good point on the glasses, and, :

Oh no, we should go further then that, clearly clothes and even bodies are factors which threaten us with evil "individuality". Why not simply design and cllone people to be all the same, hey, we could even get started on making them all think the same too... like, N.S. - U.N. meets with and copulates with resulting in off-spring from George Orwells 1984...

- The Rep of Komokom. :wink:

Our schools sell T-shirts in school colors with an optional logo or icon of any of our tribes, plus available iron-iron pictures featuring any of our 648 cults and sects having 5 or more members.

The kids love 'em, they sell well and help support the school budget.

We make no attempt to match the choice of garb with the sect and tribe listed in the student's records.

Recent sales indicate an upsurge of interest in the Tribe of Naked Table Dancers, and the Cult of the Burning Skull.

Maybe they just like the art?