Stories about Islam and the West:
Life insurers eye trend in new products
Islamic compliant insurance is the latest product to emerge from a global boom in financial services offerings that are in line with shariah law.
Financial Post, November 23
Islamo-fascists? Islamists? Jihadists?
We must choose our words carefully when talking of those who want to kill us
Globe and Mail, November 23
Muslims, Jews to host program for homeless
A synagogue and a mosque that share a parking lot in Thornhill will begin next week to work together on Toronto's annual Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold Program.
National Post, November 24
New York court says border inspections of Muslims constitutional
U.S. immigration authorities acted constitutionally when they subjected dozens of people returning from an Islamic convention in Canada to screening tactics usually reserved for people suspected of being terrorists, an appeals court said Monday.
Associated Press, November 26
Canadian Muslim barred from Air Canada flight files human rights complaint
A Canadian Muslim who says racial profiling was behind Air Canada's decision to deny him a ticket to board a flight three years ago filed a formal complaint Tuesday with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. While attempting to purchase a ticket in Vancouver to fly to Victoria in May 2004, Shahid Mahmood said he was flagged as a security threat, despite his valid government ID - and the fact Air Canada did not yet have a Canadian "no-fly" list.
Canadian Press, November 27
NDP supports show-your-face bill
Mr. Van Loan said it is unfortunate that the Muslim community has been forced to debate a right that they had never asked for, but noted the controversy has inspired a wave of mischievousness that must now be addressed.
Globe and Mail, November 27
Minister supports hijab decision
Alberta's minister of recreation said Monday he backs a referee's decision to ban a 14-year-old Calgary girl from playing soccer while wearing a hijab. But local soccer and Muslim associations plan to ask the provincial body that governs the sport to reverse its stance and allow religious headgear
Calgary Herald, November 27
Experts reject hijab safety risk
Choking threat to players remote, professors say
Calgary Herald, November 28
Earlier: Stories about Islam and the West
Other stories from the past week:
We must make time for goodness
The most important inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski is the one we need for ourselves. What's gone wrong with our country that we weren't able to muster a Good Samaritan for either him or his mother? How could Zofia Cisowski pace the Vancouver airport for six hours, going from kiosk to kiosk for help finding her son, who was less than 100 metres away, then drive away in the seventh hour, thinking he must simply not have arrived?
Lorna Dueck, Globe and Mail, November 21
In praise of Roger Maris, the anti-Bonds
Where have you gone, Roger Maris? Baseball should turn its downcast eyes to you. The indictment last week of Barry Bonds, baseball's single-season and all-time home run record holder, has shone a light once again on the sport's steroid problem. Most fans have long concluded that Bonds used steroids, it being the simplest explanation for the fact that he got stronger and much bigger as he aged. The federal indictment accuses Bonds of lying to a grand jury about the subject.
Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, National Post, November 22
Faith group honours Asper, Lakhani families
The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews honoured the Asper family of Manitoba and the Lakhani family of Toronto last night for their contributions to "the fabric of Canadian culture and society." The two eminent families were presented with the Human Relations Award at the organization's 60th annual anniversary gala before more than 650 guests at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto.
National Post, November 23
The designs behind Judgment Day
For all its boasts of being the land of the free, America still has its fair share of rigid institutions and sacred cows - with religion in public school topping the list. While the concept of daily prayer was removed from the American education system decades ago, the rules governing the teaching of evolution are hazier and appear to hail from another century. Incredible as it seems, Darwinism is still a dirty word in some corners of the United States.
Globe and Mail, November 23
Controversy still surrounds HPV shot for girls
Toronto is above average in participation rate, said Dr. Ian Gemmill, medical officer for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health. The median for the province is 51 per cent, with a range of 40.7 per cent up to 70 per cent, with two out of three regions reporting, he said. At the lower end of the range is Halton Region. "The uptake has been 45 per cent," said Dr. Bob Nosal, medical officer of health for Halton Region. "Out of 3,050 girls eligible, 1,352 took it." The rate is 35 per cent in Catholic schools and 49 per cent in public schools, he said.
Toronto Star, November 23
Earlier: Stories about Catholic schools and sexuality issues
Fundamentalist case blurs line between abuser and abused
Warren Jeffs was a tyrant but those carrying out orders were also victims
Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun, November 23
Earlier: Stories about the polygamous cult at Bountiful
Thriving in rhyme: the spiritual side of hip hop
A Vancouver poet/performer promotes a vehicle for self-expression, social criticism and creating sacred community
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, November 24
Deal to build Bell tower at church riles residents
There's a long-standing relationship between churches and bells, but a deal between a church and Bell Mobility to build a 35-metre-tall communications tower on its property is ringing hollow with its neighbours. A small group of protesters gathered outside the Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church after worship services yesterday to object to a 20-year lease agreement between the church and Bell to build a relay signal tower, saying the community wasn't told about it until long after the deal was made.
Toronto Star, November 26
My mom's started saying grace at dinner but the rest of us don't believe in God
Should we do it anyway?
Micah Toub, Globe and Mail, November 27
Taking back the campus
Last week, I wrote about the "new anti-Semitism" disguised as anti-Zionism, and identified the university campus as ground zero for the dissemination of Israel-hatred into the general culture. To-day's column focuses on strategies pro-Israel students are adopting to deal with the problem.
Barbara Kay, National Post, November 28
November 29/2007
