I'm currently debating this on FB, which is actually very unusual for me (I tend to keep politics off FB). So, I'm curious what the thoughts are here.
Here is what I commented on FB that pretty much sums up what I think:
I think that any religious law in general has no place in either state or federal government or judicial decisions. However, 755 unfairly only prohibits Sharia Law and singles out the Muslim religion. Many other religions have legal systems (Jewish Talmudic Law, for example) and we aren?t amending our constitution to prohibit the use of those. 755 is unnecessary and reeks of bigotry and fear.
Re: SQ 755?
I'll be SO embarrased to have this in the constitution if it passes. On the flip side, though, all the Average Joe has heard about Sharia is "An eye for an eye" so if Sharia is unusable, maybe the death penalty can be thrown out as a form of Sharia? Though exactly which sect's interpretation of Sharia we'd use is up for grabs.
I just can't even believe this is a legitimate concern. Don't most laws have a basis in some of these ancient laws, codes, and religious beliefs? And do we really anticipate the 3 radical Muslims (out of the few thousand, most of whom are black, not Arab) in the state will somehow take over the state government?
I did just read an interesting article on how, even if it passes, it may be unconstitutional since one branch of government would essentially be telling another exactly what it could or could not consider while doing its job.
One of the issues that continues to plague our nation is our biasness and outright idiocracy concerning the Muslim faith (let alone our own...). To think that this could be passed and even more astounding, is actually on ballot is outright disgusting to me.
This is a time within our nation's history that I am outright ashamed of our bigotry and "patriotic" refusal for change.
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I think this sums it up, "Supporters of the proposalacknowledge that they do not know of a single case of Sharia being used inOklahoma. They also admit that the state has not suffered at the hands ofIslamic terrorists, although in 1995 Timothy McVeigh, who was not aMuslim, blew up a building in Oklahoma City and killed 168 people,including 19 children."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325986/Oklahoma-U-S-state-ban-Shariah-law-banning-use-Islamic-code.html
?What's Sharia law have to do with Oklahoma??
Found this interesting too.
I was listening to NPR today and they were saying that if this passes it could also make international companies NOT want to come to Oklahoma.
I was just checking out the results. I voted No for this and was surprised 70% have voted Yes. This just seemed like such bigotry.
Have I mentioned how much the Tea Party scares me: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/09/angle-two-american-cities-under-sharia-law/
This is really unfortunate.