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Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz
Yeah, I don't entirely disagree with you, and I also agree that we should strongly embrace secularism (I think the catholic school system shouldn't exist, and I went there).
That being said, I don't think that should include banning outward religious symbols.
As for whether or not it's racist? It's going to disproportionately impact people who's religion includes some sort of outward display, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, groups that probably have a solid argument that they are being targeted for racial/cultural reasons.
Sure it also means a Christian teacher can't outwardly wear a cross, but that teacher, isn't required to do so by her religious beliefs, and can pretty easily just tuck it into their shirt if they want to. It's pretty tough to hide your turban under your shirt.
Sure this law applies to everyone, but it doesn't exactly affect everyone equally.
I'll 100% eat crow if/when a teacher gets fired for wearing a christmas sweater, but I don't think that's gonna happen any time soon.
I know I'm not telling you anything you don't know. I just think outright banning any religious symbol, especially when it's pretty much only going to apply to minorities, isn't the way to go about moving towards a more secular society.
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Oh yeah, this is definitely a bad law. But bad things happen in lots of places to lots of people, and the City of Calgary can't fix everything. I think it makes sense for them to focus on the problems where they have control.
If you want to pick a provincial government that's doing a bad job to fight there's one based out of Edmonton that affects the city quite a bit more...