Quebec Charter of Values
Religion and Democracy:
A look at the purposed Quebec Charter of Values
Lee H. Scott
6783130
PHIL 2860
Due Date: 12/06/2013
“Before the feelings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, and joy are aroused it is called equilibrium (chung, centrality, mean). When these feelings are aroused and each and all attain due measure and degree, it is called harmony. Equilibrium is the great foundation of the world, and harmony its universal path. When equilibrium and harmony are realized to the highest degree, heaven and earth will attain their proper order and all things will flourish.1”
This quote is taken from the mean in Confucianism and outlines some fundamental ideas of balance and centrality which are both essential to maintain and grow a mosaic, multicultural society.
The topic of this essay concerns the current proposed law in Quebec regarding the ban on people wearing and displaying religious symbols in government, publicly funded institutions and places of work by the people employed at said places. The Provence of Quebec, governed at this time by the Parti Quebecois, has put forth Bill 60, named the Quebec Charter of Values. Essentially Bill 60 will restrict the wearing or displaying of all religious symbols by people who are attending school or working in the public sector. For example, if a Muslim nurse wearing a hijab was employed at a hospital in the province, she would be required to take off her hijab and any other visible religious symbols before she entered the hospital to start her shift. The bill would apply to judges, police, prosecutors, public daycare workers, teachers, school employees, hospital workers and municipal personnel. The government of Quebec states that; “The purpose of this bill is to establish a Charter affirming the values of State secularism and religious neutrality and of equality between women and men, and providing a framework for
A look at the purposed Quebec Charter of Values
Lee H. Scott
6783130
PHIL 2860
Due Date: 12/06/2013
“Before the feelings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, and joy are aroused it is called equilibrium (chung, centrality, mean). When these feelings are aroused and each and all attain due measure and degree, it is called harmony. Equilibrium is the great foundation of the world, and harmony its universal path. When equilibrium and harmony are realized to the highest degree, heaven and earth will attain their proper order and all things will flourish.1”
This quote is taken from the mean in Confucianism and outlines some fundamental ideas of balance and centrality which are both essential to maintain and grow a mosaic, multicultural society.
The topic of this essay concerns the current proposed law in Quebec regarding the ban on people wearing and displaying religious symbols in government, publicly funded institutions and places of work by the people employed at said places. The Provence of Quebec, governed at this time by the Parti Quebecois, has put forth Bill 60, named the Quebec Charter of Values. Essentially Bill 60 will restrict the wearing or displaying of all religious symbols by people who are attending school or working in the public sector. For example, if a Muslim nurse wearing a hijab was employed at a hospital in the province, she would be required to take off her hijab and any other visible religious symbols before she entered the hospital to start her shift. The bill would apply to judges, police, prosecutors, public daycare workers, teachers, school employees, hospital workers and municipal personnel. The government of Quebec states that; “The purpose of this bill is to establish a Charter affirming the values of State secularism and religious neutrality and of equality between women and men, and providing a framework for