The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Moonliner]

Wikileaks.

In general I support they efforts they make to bring some openness to what governments do behind closed doors but they've really screwed the pooch this time.

Originally Posted by CNN

More than 250,000 secret U.S. diplomatic cables are now available in full and unfiltered online, exposing scores of U.S. diplomatic sources and informants that were meant to be protected often for their own safety, according to the website WikiLeaks.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm very curious as to the wording of the French law banning prayer in the street. I haven't looked very hard to find it, and I imagine if I do it will be in French anyway.

[innerSpaceman]

It's because there are two mosques that routinely have overflow crowds spilling out onto the streets on Fridays, with those streets becoming impassible to traffic.

I don't find it any more or less objectionable than Pennsylvania's law that banned texting while walking. I think both address a certain problem, but both unnecessarily infringe on basic rights.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I know why they did it. But I'm still curious about the actual wording. It it's, "No religious service may spill out of its designated building in such a way that it disrupts free use of public rights of way" then I have little problem with it. If it's "No mosque service may spill out of its designate building in such a way blah blah blah," I begin to have a problem with it. If it's, "No personal displays of religious prayer may be done on public streets," I begin to have a large problem with it and would seriously wonder about equity in enforcement. if it's, "No Muslim may pray in public," I have a humungous problem with it.

The wording matters.

[Alex]

Do they mean literally in the street or just outside (such as on a sidewalk, pathway, public lawn, etc.)?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Outside.

[Alex]

Then the First Amendment absolutist in me doesn't approve (aware, of course, that France doesn't have a First Amendment).

Especially since, when I was there the French were perfectly good at finding all sorts of ways to obstruct the free flow of pedestrian and vehicle traffic without resorting to prayer. (And there seemed to be plenty of outdoor prayer around Notre Dame.)

[innerSpaceman]

We saw lots of outdoor drug deals around Notre Dame, but no prayer.

[katiesue]

Wouldn't blocking sidewalks or traffic already be covered already under some existing law?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

We saw lots of outdoor drug deals around Notre Dame, but no prayer.

I was there (unplanned) during Sunday Mass. That may have shifted the balance.