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Sylvester, Rachel
2 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Great Britain debates the implementation of sharia law
Rachel Sylvester, a columnist for the right-wing daily, writes that Britain is not a secular state and has a deeply Christian history. "This weekend, Dr Rowan Williams discovered the true implications of his observation. Marx once described religion as the opium of the people; the archbishop has found that it has the potential to be a form of intellectual cocaine, which will keep the nation up and arguing all night. Dr Williams's suggestion that the introduction of sharia law in some parts of Britain was 'unavoidable' did not just challenge the legal system; it also raised questions about the relationship between Church and State. ... This is not just about the rules governing mortgages and divorce. It is about the nature of British identity. ... Britain is not a secular state like France or Turkey. Its history and culture are based on the link between Church and State. It is odd for the archbishop to deny that."
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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Integration, » Crime and Law, » United Kingdom
British National Party exploits 'quality-of-life' grievances
Columnist Rachel Sylvester reacts to a report, by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, claiming that a quarter of London voters are toying with the idea of backing the extreme-right British National Party in local elections in May. "The truth is that support for the BNP is not really a protest vote against a racially mixed society: it is a cry of rage about the quality of life in some of the poorest areas in the country. ... The BNP is exploiting a growing sense of frustration with genuine problems: the lack of affordable housing, the increase in low-level crime, the failure of inner-city schools, the loss of a sense of identity among white working-class men following the collapse of traditional industries. ... The rise of the BNP should shock the mainstream political parties out of their torpor. But it must not be allowed to change the direction or the tone of British politics. That really would be a victory for the extremists."
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom
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