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Because it might offend Muslims, of course. Interesting to note that Aftenposten lists as a "related story" one with the headline "No plans to ban hijab in Norwegian schools." Apparently the hijab offends no one. From Aftenposten, with thanks to all who sent this in:
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.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.
Good for you, Telhaug.
Posted by Robert at October 9, 2005 7:46 AM
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This is a rather old story, and I'm not quite sure why it has come up again.
Posted by: Fjordman![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 9, 2005 8:34 AM
Well then, Fjordman, how did it all turn out? Did he win the case or not?
Posted by: CGW at October 9, 2005 8:44 AM
To be quite honest, I don't know. I almost forgot about the case. I'll check it out.
Posted by: Fjordman at October 9, 2005 8:50 AM
By this logic, any 'dual-use' symbol, with both religious and political meaning, could be banned. I suppose the cross would logically be banned next -- as it has been in the British prison system. Norway's flag, like that of England and the rest of Scandanavia features the cross. Surely these flags should be revised to avoid giving offense?
Posted by: Jeffrey A. Liss at October 9, 2005 10:26 AM
Here it is. This "news if over a year old--June 2004. It seems to me that the age-old rhetorical technique of "gunnysacking" is in evidence here. Incidentally, I hope Telhaug wins his case, although I can't help thinking there's something more to all this: why would a non-Jew wear the Star of David? Would someone of the Jewish faith wear a cross?
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_2_36/ai_n6175446
at October 9, 2005 10:43 AM
Well more recently Islamists in Scandinavia are known to be fighting to ban Christmas celebration in public kindergartens. Because - surpised, anyone? - it "offends" Muslim children. You see, all the talk about Santa Clause may confuse their little veiled heads; so it threatens the absolute authority of Allah (must be really a paranoid god to be threatened by Santa Clause, but should one wonder, knowing that he is also threatened by little pigs and big pink teapots?).
"Multiculturalism" in today's Europe means more and more that non-Islamic (or should one say, pre-Islamic?) practices are banned, gradually, one by one. If Santa Clause and piglets go now from schools and day care centres; soon perhaps music, song and dance will follow, and then all the other books, all those pagan fairy tales and heretic pictures with living beings on them... Can anyone see the end of it?
Posted by: rahel at October 9, 2005 10:52 AM
muslims need to be offended! All of this jihad offends me and violates my rights.
Posted by: Truth at October 9, 2005 10:59 AM
I thought Islam was a religion of peace and tolerance? Tolerance only if it fits the minds
of some Muslims.
Can you imagine, banning "pig" artifacts because it offends Muslims. What is more insulting is that some went along with their desires instead
of saying, "learn to tolerate others" This is something Islam cannot and will not do > hence
the "mess" in today's world.
I proudly display my Defeat Jihad Bumper sticker
on my car and maybe I should get a "pig" as a hood ornament...LOL.
at October 9, 2005 11:26 AM
I would drop the Star of David if Principal Gislefoss would reciprocate and drop dead.
Wouldn't you?!
Posted by: Shy Guy at October 9, 2005 11:46 AM
"The Star of David would be a symbol for one side in what is perhaps the world's most inflamed conflict at the moment."
Why not ban symbols from both sides? What absurd reasoning. Spineless Dhimmis! And to think, Scandinavians were once the terror of Europe! I guess everyone with a spine left.
Quijybo
Posted by: Quijybo at October 9, 2005 1:35 PM
"The Star of David would be a symbol for one side in what is perhaps the world's most inflamed conflict at the moment."
-- from the article above
"The world's most inflamed conflict" is a good deal larger than that particular theatre of Hot Jihad, where open warfare is the vehicle of choice, that in which the "Palestinian" Arabs are merely the shock troops, whose own lives, and their quality, are inconsequential, and the real battle is to deny Infidels the possession of any territory once held by Muslims, or for that matter, where Muslims now exist in sufficient number not to deny outright the Infidel possession, but to whittle away at, and weaken the hold of, those Infidels over what they thought was theirs, but not all those now living in their lands agree.
Posted by: Hugh at October 9, 2005 2:02 PM
I am going to assume the teacher has an affinity for Jews, Israel or both. Perhaps he is a Christian Zionist. Anyway, I think he should get a bigger star!
Posted by: Claire at October 9, 2005 2:45 PM
They do take offence at the slightest thing: I was on the bus and I asked, innocently,"Who put the ramadan in the Ramadan-a-lamma-danna-ding-dong song?" Well, I got nowhere with that, but eventually the whole bus crowd broke into song with "Mohammed, Mohammed, banana fanna foe foe fammid, fee fie foe famimid...." Yup, some idiot complained, and now I'm banned from the bus.
Posted by: sonofwalker at October 9, 2005 4:03 PM
The cresent moon shape is often carved in the door of outhouses in North America. Will this old tradition be outlawed for outhouses?It allows the light of the moon in so that you can do what you need to do? Anyway the cresent symbol in Islam is the symbol of genocide every day I see it I remember that the Muslims murdered one and a half million Armenians in Turkey. Certainly all minorities ought to be offended as Turkey hoies ti join the EU.
Posted by: mark52 at October 9, 2005 11:30 PM
I wonder if Kjell Gislefoss realizes that the name of his school (Kristiansand Adult Education Center ) is probably offensive to the Muzzies as well. (After all there were those crusades and all just recently.)
at October 10, 2005 8:42 AM
There will be no end to the things that upset and offend Muslims! From 'Stars of David', the Christian's crucifix, pigs, photos of them, and ornaments, pig farms, alcohol, wineries, etc. You name it, and it's gonna offend some Muslim somewhere! We have got to draw a halt to this ludicrousness; otherwise, the West will become unrecognizable. Indeed, it will be Islamized!
Fie on these intolerant people!
Posted by: Mark at October 10, 2005 10:06 AM
I am offended by the 'star and crescent' symbol
displayed on the New orleans police dept. cruisers..
I DEMAND AN APOLOGY!!
http://www.co.new-castle.de.us/defaulthome/home/fileuploads/images/carsatno.htm
at October 10, 2005 3:27 PM
Sonofwalker, I really don't know whether to believe you about the song on the bus, or not. But I am truly amused at the possibilities. It's the kind of thing my wife could really get into. I think I'll try to instigate this. Mohammad, Mecca, Allah (Allah Allah bo ballah). Yeah.
BOT: I hope Teacher Telhaug wins his case.
Posted by: texan
at October 12, 2005 12:07 AM
I think we should direct our ire more at the vast bureaucracy imposed down by the years by multiculturalist directives from Governments who have instituted a Kafkian, Orwellian fear machine of political correctness. Nulabour has created a parasitical state backed corporation of official busybodies whose only job all day is to snoop on ordinary citizens, monitoring their speech and actions,instructing them how to interract in all walks of life and to worry about pigs causing offence to someone. Not since the days of Cromwell has there such been such puritanical, authoritarian fervour aided by an oppressive state machine clamping down on the freedoms of our unfortunate citizens. But you ain't seen nothing yet. Just imagine when the religious hatred bill goes through and the flurry of activity and yet more jobs for useless, nosy bureaucrats. We are already vigilated constantly in the street by cameras. I wonder when the Orwellian nightmare of vigilation inside our homes will become a reality.
Posted by: londongirl at October 12, 2005 4:59 AM
I think we should direct our ire more at the vast bureaucracy imposed down by the years by multiculturalist directives from Governments who have instituted a Kafkian, Orwellian fear machine of political correctness. Nulabour has created a parasitical state backed corporation of official busybodies whose only job all day is to snoop on ordinary citizens, monitoring their speech and actions,instructing them how to interract in all walks of life and to worry about pigs causing offence to someone. Not since the days of Cromwell has there such been such puritanical, authoritarian fervour aided by an oppressive state machine clamping down on the freedoms of our unfortunate citizens. But you ain't seen nothing yet. Just imagine when the religious hatred bill goes through and the flurry of activity and yet more jobs for useless, nosy bureaucrats. We are already vigilated constantly in the street by cameras. I wonder when the Orwellian nightmare of vigilation inside our homes will become a reality.
Posted by: londongirl at October 12, 2005 5:00 AM
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