Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Best country in the world moves even further left
Norway has again won the award as the best county in which to live. The list ranks nations by an index combining wealth, education and life expectancy. Norway was already a very social democracy. After this week's election, Norwegians continue to move left and to choose a country where wealth benefits all... no one is left behind. The winning party is called the Red-Green Alliance for heaven's sake (Possum Lodge fans should know the joke here - I'd vote Red Green anytime - a little duct tape could save this country...)Just in case anyone thought it's free-market neo-cons or nothing...
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Teacher told to drop Star of David
A municipally employed teacher in Kristiansand has been prevented from wearing a Star of David around his neck. Kristiansand Adult Education Center, where the man works, ruled that the Jewish symbol could be deemed a provocation towards the many Muslim students at the school, Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reports.
Related stories:
No plans to ban hijab in Norwegian schools -
Hundreds protest head-covering ban -
Teacher Inge Telhaug said he feels this is a violation of his freedom of speech.
"I can't accept this. It is a small star, 16 millimeters (0.6 inches) that I have around my neck, usually under a T-shirt. I see it as my right to wear it," Telhaug told NRK.
Telhaug teaches immigrants Norwegian language and culture at the education center. Telhaug is not Jewish.
"I see it as the oldest religious symbol we have in our culture, because without Judaism there would be no Christianity," Telhaug.
The principal of the school, Kjell Gislefoss, feels that the Star of David can also be interpreted as a political symbol for the state of Israel, and is afraid the star can provoke and offend students, for example immigrants from the Palestinian territories.
"The Star of David would be a symbol for one side in what is perhaps the world's most inflamed conflict at the moment. Many have a traumatic past that they have escaped and then we feel that if they are going to learn Norwegian then they can't sit an at the same time be reminded of the things they have traveled from," Gislefoss said.
Telhaug has hired a lawyer and refuses to give in.
The head of the Education Association in Kristiansand, Heidi Hauge Uldal, called the school's decision "unacceptable". Uldal said her group did not want to go the way of France and forbid all religious symbols in schools, a topic that is currently becoming relevant in Norway as well.
A municipally employed teacher in Kristiansand has been prevented from wearing a Star of David around his neck. Kristiansand Adult Education Center, where the man works, ruled that the Jewish symbol could be deemed a provocation towards the many Muslim students at the school, Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reports.
Related stories:
No plans to ban hijab in Norwegian schools -
Hundreds protest head-covering ban -
Teacher Inge Telhaug said he feels this is a violation of his freedom of speech.
"I can't accept this. It is a small star, 16 millimeters (0.6 inches) that I have around my neck, usually under a T-shirt. I see it as my right to wear it," Telhaug told NRK.
Telhaug teaches immigrants Norwegian language and culture at the education center. Telhaug is not Jewish.
"I see it as the oldest religious symbol we have in our culture, because without Judaism there would be no Christianity," Telhaug.
The principal of the school, Kjell Gislefoss, feels that the Star of David can also be interpreted as a political symbol for the state of Israel, and is afraid the star can provoke and offend students, for example immigrants from the Palestinian territories.
"The Star of David would be a symbol for one side in what is perhaps the world's most inflamed conflict at the moment. Many have a traumatic past that they have escaped and then we feel that if they are going to learn Norwegian then they can't sit an at the same time be reminded of the things they have traveled from," Gislefoss said.
Telhaug has hired a lawyer and refuses to give in.
The head of the Education Association in Kristiansand, Heidi Hauge Uldal, called the school's decision "unacceptable". Uldal said her group did not want to go the way of France and forbid all religious symbols in schools, a topic that is currently becoming relevant in Norway as well.
Just for the record, Norway is about 8% immigrants and does accept people from all over the world. And guess where the largest immigrant group comes from? Pakistan.
Have look here http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/10/innvbef_en/
Doesn't mean it's a perfect society, but there's a lot for America to learn from countries that have more concern for all than simply 'dog eat dog'...
Have look here http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/10/innvbef_en/
Doesn't mean it's a perfect society, but there's a lot for America to learn from countries that have more concern for all than simply 'dog eat dog'...
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