Word: referendum
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Recently, a Swiss referendum called for a ban on the construction of minarets, religious structures used for prayer at mosques. The vote was supposed to “not [be] a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture,” according to proponents, but instead to make a statement against some of the more distasteful practices of Islamic fundamentalist groups, such as genital mutilation. But this egregious and discriminatory measure is not an effective censure of objectionable behaviors. It is an unacceptable solution that discriminates against the 400,000 Muslims who currently reside in Switzerland and flies...
...owns more than 40% of the wealth. But measures like a minimum-wage hike irked the political and business élite who fear Zelaya's ties to firebrand Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Zelaya overreached in June when he defied a Supreme Court order not to hold a referendum asking if a constitutional-reform assembly should be held. But instead of trying him legally for that crime, Zelaya's foes committed their own - flying him off to exile at gunpoint. (They rationalized the move by insisting Zelaya was plotting to lift Honduras' own ban on presidential re-election, though...
...made-up referendum might make people feel better for five minutes, but my job is to put together a plan that lasts five years...
DAVID CAMERON, leader of Britain's Conservative Party, announcing that if he becomes Prime Minister after next summer's elections, he will not hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which was ratified Nov. 3 to bolster the European Union...
...former NBA star and steel magnate, who was elected to a full four-year mayoral term earlier this month. That a majority of Detroit's incoming city council will be fresh faces - including one of the police officials who triggered Kilpatrick's departure - can be viewed as a referendum on the former mayor's regime. Meanwhile, federal authorities are investigating other aspects of Kilpatrick's alleged activities. Respected lawyers hired to deal with Kilpatrick's mess are now fighting for their own careers. "I put my family through an incredible year of tremendous pain," Kilpatrick told reporters last month, clearly...