Prayer Rooms

March 23, 2007 @ 09:03

Here's a story that I'm surprised hasn't been burning up the talk radio lines. It's a story that appeared in yesterday's Star, and a story I think might rub a few people the wrong way.

I find it fascinating that an issue could be made of prayer space at a university. Call me crazy, and point to my agnosticism but under what obligation is a university to provide prayer space to anyone?

Space is money and to tell you the truth it would bug the hell out of me if it cost money to provide space for anyone to pray at school.

Here we are in a time of exploding tuitions, under funding and inadequate equipment and supplies at all levels of Ontario education and there's a group complaining about not having enough space to pray?

Not only that, but these students want the schools to adjust their schedules to recognize Muslim holidays and they'd like a wider selection of halal foods in school cafeterias.

It's one of those tough situations for school administrators because in Ontario, in Canada, you're not allowed to say no. Forget that it might be an imposition on the vast majority, or that many might feel that a learning institution is no place for prayer, you can't say no because it makes you look intolerant and that often leads to the use of the "r" word and we all know what happens when the "r" word raises its ugly head - everybody runs for cover.

And I imagine that's part of the strategy here. Make enough noise and drop enough accusations and doors will fly open. Doors to prayer rooms. Just what we need.

Category: Politics

29 Responses to "Prayer Rooms"

Jamie
March 23, 2007 / 09:55

Fred be careful here.
The â€œgroupâ€ requesting this might be the same â€œgroupâ€ somewhere in Brittan that decided they should change the three little pigs to the three little puppies so as not to offend the Muslims in the school.
The group responsible for this was actually some nervous nelly who had taken political correctness too far. The Muslims in the community had not requested this nor where they offended.

So I ask again, who is this â€œgroupâ€? Is it some political correctness group of wack- jobs, or is it a group of Muslims?
Either way I would tell them to piss off, unless they want to pay for it themselves.

Rick
March 23, 2007 / 10:29

I have no problem with multiculturalism, and I will respect their right to pray, and their right to do it in their space. If they come to this country, they should expect that there will be changes to the way they go about their daily lives. If they don't like it, tough ... They are free to build their own private learning institutions, and do what they want.

Trish
March 23, 2007 / 10:31

I don't see any harm in providing a room for prayer or halal foods. That's the least they can do for Muslim students. However, the larger issue is that giving in to these demands and more will attract more foreign students from other countries. The fees for foreign students are much higher than those for canadian students - and universities want that revenue.

Sweet Pam
March 23, 2007 / 15:58

Universities should remain secular. It is a mistake to cater to any public interest group.

Jimmy
March 23, 2007 / 18:36

Freddie, I am sick and tired of all of this pandering. If I want a special wanking room, complete with school provided porno will I get it. No, I think not. But, wait, porno and wanking ARE my religion. Racist bastards for not catering to demands!!

brian
March 23, 2007 / 19:59

You know Jimmy's right but I don't think he would be allowed to go to a Muslim country and practice his religion of self-gratification... no matter what he decided to sport...

Ardian
March 24, 2007 / 00:21

Just wonder when hospitals have prayer rooms then why univeristy can't have?

Also just wonder who is real canadian, if you are not immigrant then you father will be or his father or so on.....

this country was build by immigrands so it looks me ok to respect some specific group needs .....

Kelly
March 24, 2007 / 16:07

Only in Canada . . . .

Bob O'Bobby
March 26, 2007 / 19:00

I grew up Jewish in a small town. Jewish and kosher. We had a kosher butcher but it was an hour and a half drive for kosher bread.

My responseibility, no one else's. I never asked for kosher foods in the school, I packed my own everyday. I would have been embarassed to ever think about it.

Johnny
March 28, 2007 / 02:18

I curse the day the words "Politically Correct" were first uttered. We've been doomed ever since.

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