A Commentary on the Swiss referendum and direct democracy
If you look at the facts, holds it any wonder,. There are four minarets in Switzerland so far. Two more are planned. HOW TO READ it in the media. The federal Muslims mostly from the former Yugoslavia and should be relatively moderate and well integrated. A total of 400,000, with a total population of 7.5 Millionen.Von significant Problems are not reported.
The SVP has stirred up with their populist poster campaign successfully irrational fears and hatred. The minaret was used here only as a pretext and occasion. The right-wing populist call it a "political symbol" of an alleged Islamization. However, it is rather that the campaign, the minaret of a political symbol has made. A symbol on which people could vent anger at Islam in shabby way.
How can a religious symbol will suddenly become a political symbol? Why, conversely church towers are not a political symbol of a mainly Christian elite that rules the country? In Switzerland there are no terrorist cells and no fundamentalist preachers of hate. As a minaret can therefore be a political symbol? And specifically for what? Why four minarets are seen as a sign of the threat, thousands of hate brochure be posters around the country but not?
The right-wing populists argue in their spiritual poverty so that Christians in Muslim countries enjoy no freedoms on their religion. That's right. And bad. And I would in such an authoritarian and repressive country does not want to live. 57% of the Swiss based, but now the example of these countries.
there because our pride can not cope in the Enlightenment and the introduction of non-negotiable fundamental rights for all people? Have we in the West does not claim to have us in a measure higher standard? In Europe we currently live in one of the freest societies in the world. How people can now come up with the idea to restrict this freedom? Why is geared to companies, the concept of freedom from the Middle Ages come to seem?
Direct democracy is exposed to many dangers if they are abused. It is not fortified enough when sow hate preachers like Blocher (in Switzerland) or Strache (Austria) in the population fear and hatred. In Austria, referenda, such as carried out in Switzerland, not possible. Hannes Swoboda (Austrian MEP) twittering after the Swiss vote: " am saddened by the vote of the Swiss citizens against the minarets How would such a vote come first in Austria .?". Significant.
In Ireland, a year ago, the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum abglehnt. The No campaign made use of this brazen lies and sparked fears in the population (also thanks to a weak Yes-campaign). Referendums on specific issues are often misused for deeper agenda and influenced by populism. The people may be the sovereign. But a sovereign does not always know what he's talking about. And a sovereign often has poor advisers. Even so it is better to limit referendums on regional issues.
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