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February 10, 2012
Integration official rejects call for school crucifix ban
Published: 26 Apr 10 10:29 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100426-26785.html
Germany’s Integration Commissioner Maria Böhmer on Monday rejected calls by Lower Saxony’s new social minister for a ban on crucifixes in schools, saying they were part of the country’s national identity.
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Böhmer’s remarks came in response to calls by Aygül Özkan – who will become Germany’s first woman Muslim minister at the state level this week. The minister-designate told Focus magazine over the weekend that schools should be secular areas.
“Christian symbols do not belong in state schools,” she said, adding that she also supported a ban on headscarves in educational institutions.
Özkan told the magazine she had negotiated with Lower Saxony's state premier Christian Wulff, also from the CDU, to incorporate responsibility for integration into her new job, taking it from the Interior Ministry.
Böhmer told Deutschlandfunk that she approved of Wulff’s decision to add Özkan to his cabinet, calling it “really trend-setting.”
The 38-year-old intends to shake things up in the state, and has also called for fellow Turkish-Germans to make more effort to integrate.
A successful manager, Özkan joined the CDU in 2004 and quickly rose through the regional ranks of the party to reach the Hamburg city council in 2008.
The debate over religious symbols in schools came as federal and state integration officials planned to gather in Oldenburg on Monday.
DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)
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Your comments about this article:
Perhaps, there should be an age limit - say 16 - before which no religions or cults can target with such advertising
Maybe the crucifix defines you, but it doesn't define me.
The only time I want to see a cross in a bank is when Lloyd Blankfein or John Paulson is literally hanging from it.
Here comes the next witchhunt: Citing two Deutsche Bank traders, reports that the German bank is guilty of an identical transgression that Goldman (and to a much lesser extent, John Paulson) is in hot water for currently: i.e., DB arranged a deal for IKB designed by JP. Look for DB's stock to drop as expectations for a Wells Notice hit fever pitch. The reason one has not come yet is because, as we reported this weekend, Robert Khuzami has recused himself from investigating Deutsche due to his long tenure there as a lawyer (presumably supervising CDO issuance). The reason one most likely is in the making, is that, as we also reported, Greg Lippmann, or the head Deutsche CDO trader mysteriously departed last week. Look for much more weakness in fins over the next few days.
is beginning to fell pressure from the Real Conservative Germans.
Take a look around everyone. The truth is, the principals of every nation on earth are based upon a particular religion.
And even though America has seperation from church and state, it is still nonetheless a very Christian nation.
You simply must be strong and stand for something, otherwise someone from the outside will come along and takeover.
If you read the Federalist Papers or any of Thomas Jefferson's writings, you just might get a clue that America was never meant to be a "very Christian nation." Quite the opposite, actually. Hence the ratification of the First Amendment, to protect the people FROM the establishment of religion. Any religion.
But as logic is not your strong suit (neither is American history, apparently), this concept might be difficult for you to wrap your head around.
The evangelicals are now free to flame away.
Maybe they should tack up a HEADSCARF on the wall as well..that way everyone is covered.. * or Not COVERED which ever... :0)
To paraphrase Einstein, "I am an atheist, and a militant one". I have all the rights to live away from religion.
Here is a message for all people. "The less emotional you are, the more logical and intelligent you will be." If all of humanity understood this, then surely we would an entirely different world.
If you were to look on our capital building in Washington DC, you would see sculptures of Christian religious symbols! And just in case you didn't know "In God we trust" is on is stamped all over the American currency. People may say one thing, their actions nonetheless represents the truth. And the fact is, you can't go far in this country without seeing a CHURCH!
There are churches all over the place in every country. That does not give any church the license to interfere with government. Your christian evangelism under the guise of the logic of a 16-year-old is -- shall we say -- both disingenuous and sophomoric.
A Muslim woman's appointment as the first state minister with Turkish roots was meant to be a coup for Germany's conservative Christian Democrats. But Aygül ?-zkan ignited a firestorm by stating that crucifixes should be banned from classrooms. German commentators say the incident has damaged Chancellor Angela Merkel's party.
Yes, it really is true. Anger is one letter from danger.
Humans can only reach the zenith through non-emotionalism.
Non-emotionalism is God and He is very conservative.