Major Canadian city elects Muslim Mayor.

[Baron Von PWN]

It was positive because it was never an issue. Many people were ignorant of his religion until the day after the election when the papers reported on it.

Oh crap! After? Well then I guess it wasn't so positive after all if they didn't know until after!

It is positive because nobody in the know saw a reason to bring it up, for good reason, the religious affiliation of a candidate is largely irrelevant. The papers only reported on his religious beliefs after it became evident he was Canada's first Muslim mayor.

And false. We all knew he was Muslim before he was elected, the papers simply didn't report on it. It's not like it was a big secret that he's Muslim.

I have read various people online saying they didn't know, either way it speaks to it not mattering.

[GabonX]

Last monday October 18, 2010, Calgary AB Canada elected a new mayor.

Tuesday the media was reporting how unusual it was that he happens to be a Muslim, a Canadian first. I don't know but presume some radicals would likely feel he is just another western infidel as he has lived here for a long time and has a degree from Harvard.

Discuss, I look forward to high levels of crazy talk mixed with some level headed discussion from persons like BaronVonPwn, enjoy.

Idk, maybe its a sign of change! That not everyone judges by the colour of one's skin? It's a good thing.

Not really interested in jumping into this topic, but I did want to make the point that "Islam" and "Muslim" are not "skin colors"..

Islam is a political system, a religion, and an ideology. A Muslim is a person who follows Islam, which is not and has never been a physical characteristic.

[notyou2]

[2dimes]

It was positive because it was never an issue. Many people were ignorant of his religion until the day after the election when the papers reported on it.

Oh crap! After? Well then I guess it wasn't so positive after all if they didn't know until after!

It is positive because nobody in the know saw a reason to bring it up, for good reason, the religious affiliation of a candidate is largely irrelevant. The papers only reported on his religious beliefs after it became evident he was Canada's first Muslim mayor.

And false. We all knew he was Muslim before he was elected, the papers simply didn't report on it. It's not like it was a big secret that he's Muslim.

I have read various people online saying they didn't know, either way it speaks to it not mattering.

Really denom? I agree it wouldn't have been a secret. However I never heard a word about him being Muslim and in fact wrongly assumed he was a non practicing Sikh. The first I heard of it was someone on face book talking about it the day after. Later when I went to grab groceries I saw it on the cover of "24H". I initially thought it was one of those rumours going around like the e-mail saying Obama is muslim before seeing it in that paper.

I doubt it wasn't out there but I did not hear anyone say it or read it anywhere until the day after.

I'm honestly slightly surprised that no one tried to make it an issue. Probably because of all the discussion on here. To say a person is Muslim doesn't really tell you much about them anyways, Islam today is very diverse.

[Timminz]

This is nothing! Toronto just elected Tommy Boy.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/ ... z13TNv5HDG

[2dimes]

Whoa, he looks like a guy that has no problem eating a couple of KFC double downs for lunch.

[denominator]

Oh crap! After? Well then I guess it wasn't so positive after all if they didn't know until after!

It is positive because nobody in the know saw a reason to bring it up, for good reason, the religious affiliation of a candidate is largely irrelevant. The papers only reported on his religious beliefs after it became evident he was Canada's first Muslim mayor.

And false. We all knew he was Muslim before he was elected, the papers simply didn't report on it. It's not like it was a big secret that he's Muslim.

I have read various people online saying they didn't know, either way it speaks to it not mattering.

Really denom? I agree it wouldn't have been a secret. However I never heard a word about him being Muslim and in fact wrongly assumed he was a non practicing Sikh. The first I heard of it was someone on face book talking about it the day after. Later when I went to grab groceries I saw it on the cover of "24H". I initially thought it was one of those rumours going around like the e-mail saying Obama is muslim before seeing it in that paper.

I doubt it wasn't out there but I did not hear anyone say it or read it anywhere until the day after.

I'm honestly slightly surprised that no one tried to make it an issue. Probably because of all the discussion on here. To say a person is Muslim doesn't really tell you much about them anyways, Islam today is very diverse.

It very well could be just that everyone I talked to/know was aware of it because of how involved we were in the election here. I myself am a UofC student, and my girlfriend goes to MRU, so while she's never taken a class with Nenshi she got a lot more inside information than the general public or even myself.

I too was surprised that Nenshi or any of the other candidates didn't try to play the Muslim card (or the woman card, in the case of Barb Higgins) throughout most of the election - except when somebody vandalized Nenshi's campaign office and Nenshi himself said that he suspected the attacks were because he was Muslim.

[jay_a2j]

KFC double downs

Mmmm mmm mmm

[2dimes]

Huh, that was the one on 16th.

"I've received a couple of emails suggesting people should be afraid of having a Muslim mayor," Nenshi said,

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/ ... z13ZfiCDZ9

I don't know if he had anyone in there but we noticed he took over that building on Macleod Trail across from the Stampede that Kent Herr was using before he decided not to run.

[2dimes]

I have to admit I find of funny that he got those dumb e-mails. Makes sense though, I would think if anyone recieved it that knew him they'd forward it to him so he would be able to see it.

[ballong]

... If he's the first, then it is a big deal, imo. Much like Obama being the first (half) Black US President. Kenedy being the first Catholic, etc.. Granted, the scale is smaller, but the point is the same.

except that religion doesn´t seem to have a major impact on how people vote in Canada?
Muslim, catholic countries and the US have an obsession with religion that spreads into politics.
Many civilised countries don´t care as much about your personal religious faith in the case of you even having one.

[2dimes]

Yeah, we usually only care about religion when it gets out of hand.

It has been a complete non-issue in his case.

I predict he will win a second term today by a fair sized majority of those that actually vote.

[2dimes]

I voted, not for Nenshi.
Religion was not a factor, I don't care if he was Catholic never mind moderate Muslim. He is a better mayor than I originally expected. Maybe counsel prevented him from doing much of the incredible things he promised. Reality and lack of funding limited him also.

I predict he will still be mayor tomorrow. I'm ok with it, I'm just not a supporter. I basically think he wants way more privatization than me.

I don't agree with the sun totally but here's what the published yesterday.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/10/20/fi ... l-election

Our current time is 16:05 cc time. Come 22:00 cc time this should be live.
http://globalnews.ca/news/903195/live-c ... and-video/

[2dimes]

22.18% voter turn out so far. 45 minute until polls close.

[notyou2]

So you voted against the giant blue hula hoop?

[2dimes]

No, since I have no idea who did that. Mr Nenshi said it was someone else for sure.

It's pretty close to my brother's place. So there has been plenty of joking about it.

[notyou2]

It was a citizens committee of 5 that made the final decision from a few options.

[2dimes]

The bridge broke my spirit. I don't have any energy left to hate those things.

[2dimes]

57.2% for Naheed so far a predictable blow out.

[2dimes]

He was declared with 162 votes, then it just kept building.
http://election.calgary.ca/?DCSext.w_wa ... ction-2013

If you watch the video in this link he talks about his watch and the cities diversity.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/10/22 ... ge-margin/

[Metsfanmax]

And also, it really shouldn't matter what religion a politician is. Can he govern? Is he competent? Those are more important questions.

If a politician has a religion, is that really a good sign for his competence? ;-P

Do muslims have a particular colour to their skin? I'm just asking because I didn't mention anything about that. You wouldn't be prejudice and make an assumption would you?

clapper could have done a Google search and looked up the information on this mayor...

[2dimes]

He's certainly competent at spending lots of money, raising taxes and getting re-elected.

The blatantly obvious point should be, you can be one of the most popular mayors of a very American style Conservative city even if you're a Muslim.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/10/18/li ... on-results