Originally Posted by jseal

Gentlefolk,

Intolerance comes in many guises, and is not native to any land or sect. Consider, if you will, the French State’s ban on the Islamic headscarf and (nominally) all other overt religious symbols from state schools.

When people who wield power - be they religious, or in this case secular – feel threatened, they feel obligated to protect their domain. That their behavior may be as damaging to what they claim to be defending as the actions of their supposed foe is of no consequence. They must not be seen to be weak.

This does lead, from time to time, to peculiar behavior.