Athée Canadien
Canada’s first Muslim mayor
By Ian
You know what’s not a big deal but almost seems like it should be: today (or yesterday depending where/when you’re reading) was the first time Canadians elected a Muslim as mayor.
Even more shocking, it was in Calgary, Alberta.
I’ll even admit that I’ve been rooting for him as I’ve learned more about him.
He’s got a vision for my hometown, and has rallied young people in a city known for pathetic election turnouts.
While I would probably disagree with him about religion, no where in his platform does it say he wants to build mosques on every corner or force the women of Calgary to where Niqabs. He is exactly what we as atheists should want from a politician: he may have his faith, but it has little obvious influence on his politics.
Today I congratulate a Muslim for winning in the heart of Canada’s Redneck Bible-Belt.
And hey, since non-existent hell has apparently frozen over, maybe the conservative Rob Ford will win even in Toronto (sometimes feeding the trolls is too tempting).
| Print article | This entry was posted by Ian on October 19, 2010 at 2:31 am, and is filed under Islam, Politics, Secularism. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |
Comments are closed.
about 1 year ago
Holy smokes. This is fantastic. This gives me good reason to be optimistic :)
And I didn’t know you were from Calgary, Ian. What part did you grow up in? I went to St. Francis for high school.
about 1 year ago
I grew up just North of town and went to school in Airdrie. So not “technically” my hometown, but the city I was born in.
about 1 year ago
Do you really not think that his religion is going to influence a big number of his actions in office? I sure do.
about 1 year ago
Religion influences most things that people do. Will this come out in his policies? Wants for the city? I highly doubt it.
about 1 year ago
If you frame the question “does your belief in God influence your daily life,” almost every theist will answer yes, but that doesn’t mean he’d enact policy that would be any different than most of mine. We may have different core assumptions, but that doesn’t mean he can’t use logic or reasoning or understand that to work with people of different ideologies and belief systems that you have to leave your faith at the door and work for the common good.
about 1 year ago
*aaaaaaaanggggggeeeeeeerrrrrrr*
ROB FORD IS A TOOL.
Additionally: Google any picture of him and it looks like he is being choked by his tie. ANY PICTURE.
Great news on the Muslim, though.