NEWS Investigative Reporter, J.J. McCullough, OP Contributor Whats in a Name? This week, Steven Commons asks, “How do cities come up with street names?” It’s easy to assume that cities don’t give much thought to street names. Indeed, before researching this question for myself, I always just assumed-that low-level city bureaucrats simply wrote ran- dom names like “spruce” and “ivy” on blank spaces on maps. The actual process, however, is far more complicated. According to Leslie Gilbert, New Westminster’s assistant director of planning, naming streets in this city is a complex and tightly regu- lated process. It takes many months and requires the assent of many political bodies before a street can officially receive a title. Shortly after a new street is proposed, the city’s Heritage Commission meets to propose possible names. This ten-member body—composed of councilors, business leaders, and other civic- minded individuals—is supposed to carefully chose a name deemed acceptable according to the city’s official street name “Terms of Reference.” According to this weighty document (passed by the city council in 1997), street names in New Westminster must specifically opnewseditor@gmail.com edge historic places, events, people, or other “special characteristics” of the community. The commission gives its recommendation to the local residents’ association, who in turn forward it to city council for a vote. The whole process may sound like a bit of a formality, but Gilbert says naming streets if often quite a contentious matter, and can actually provoke a lot of debate. As is often the case in politics, the influence of money plays a large role. While community groups may enjoy naming their streets after recently deceased neighborhood grocers, or local flaura and fauna, housing developers would much rather streets be given memorable, generic names that are easy to market. In the end, it’s still the city council that holds supreme veto power over any recommendations, thus making the elected politicians the people who ultimately get to decide whether a new community is located on “Pleasant Hill” or “Skunkweed Lane.” Got a question that needs investigating? Email “relate to” the area in which the street is located, and thus acknowl- watt_mamu@yahoo.com Anti-Muslim Cartoons Spark Worldwide Protests Sarah Colgrove, The McGill Daily (McGill University) TORONTO (CUP)—Cartoons depicting Muslims as “extremists” and “terrorists” have been re-printed in sever- al European newspapers sparking a wave of protests to the comics (first printed in 2005). Protests and rallies are being held in Pakistan, Palestine, and in Muslim communities around the world after the offensive depictions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed were reprinted in newspapers in Norway, Italy, France, Spain, and Germany in the last month. The original 12 drawings were first published in October by the [y//ands-Posten, a major Denmark newspa- per, after it appealed for Danish cartoonists to contribute depictions of the prophet Mohammed for a future issue. Sketches included the prophet wearing articles of clothing in the shapes of explosives, and a Muslim boy named Mohammed insulting the newspaper for being “anti-Jihad.” During the initial outrage seen mostly within the Muslim community in Denmark and neighbouring European countries, the newspaper’s cultural editor refused The Netherlands Push to Ban Burga Brent Morley, OP Contributor to abide by local Imam’s requests and issue an apology. Originally, they cited Freedom of Speech for their decision. “Religious feelings cannot demand special treatment in a secular society,” said Flemming Rose of Jy//ands-Posten, in a statement made last October. The newspaper has backed away from this position after the cartoons were re-printed, first in Norway in January 2006, leading to a new debate. Justifying their actions by citing it as “freedom of speech,” the mainstream newspapers across Europe have picked up the anti-Muslim illustrations and re-printed them over the last two weeks. Now, as protests and opposition to the cartoons continue to spread, some newspapers such as the France Soir, have backed away from their original positions, The cartoons have been criticized primarily by Muslim organizations and academics as serving no political or social purpose, and for inciting hatred. The Dutch parliament has voted in favour of a proposal banning the traditional head- dress worn by Muslim women known as the burqa. This proposed legislation falls in line with similar laws created in France and Belgium. Lawmakers claim that the laws are designed with the intention of helping Muslims better integrate into society. There has been some debate as to whether it is constitutional to enforce such a law, howev- er, as like Canada, the Dutch have a clause similar to our War Measures Act, which states that freedoms can only be suspended should public safety be threatened. There is mounting public concern that the Dutch parliament is making mistakes similar to those seen with the Canadian persecution of Japanese-Canadians during WW IL. Anyone defying the new law will be jailed unless they agree to remove their burqa. According to BBC International, only about 50 women in the country wear the full garb, further adding to the speculation that new law is both merely symbolic and rooted in racial persecution. Many Dutch nationals have voiced opposition to the proposed law, claiming that the banning of traditional religious garb will not only marginalize both moder- ate and fundamental Muslims, but also politicize the garment itself. The ban most likely will not extend to religious temples but looks to include all public places.