Good for the Goose, Good for the Gander!

I read a newspaper article from Australia today that got me thinking about women's rights and what is socially acceptable in society.

First of all. I believe that forcing a woman to wear a Hajib --->
is a gross insult to women. It is demeaning, misogynistic, and a huge road block to the emancipation of the ladies.

Equality for women is the first, and some would say the most important step in bringing Islam out of the twelfth century and into the twenty first!

By the same token we do have to respect religious and cultural characteristics amongst various groups, and this means a certain amount of sensitivity and discretion from the more liberal and progressive cultures.

While on the one hand we want to free Muslim and Asian women from the cultural shackles they are bound with, we should also be aware of offending the sensibilities of various groups with an attitude that is too free and open.

In Australia, Conservative MP Fred Nile says he wants topless bathing banned in NSW to protect Sydney’s Muslim and Asian communities.

The Reverend Nile has rejected allegations that prudishness is behind a bill he has prepared to ban nudity, including topless sunbathing, on the state’s most popular beaches.

Australia’s reputation as a conservative but culturally inclusive society was at risk of erosion by more liberal overseas visitors, he said:

“Our beaches should be a place where no one is offended, whether it’s their religious or cultural views,” he said.

“If they’ve come from a Middle Eastern or Asian country where women never go topless - in fact they usually wear a lot of clothing - I think it’s important to respect all the different cultures that make up Australia.”

The practice was at risk of raising the ire of Muslim men in particular, Mr Nile said.

“I don’t want to have any provocations or disturbances on our public beaches,” he said.

Acting Premier Carmel Tebbutt and the NSW Opposition Leader, Barry O’Farrell, have both said that topless bathing is an issue for local councils, not state governments.

But Mr Nile said he believed most politicians would come around once all the issues were considered.

“I think if you survey Australian women you’ll find a lot of women would be uncomfortable if it became the custom [to be] topless at the beach,” he said.

“Australia’s always been a conservative country as far as beachwear goes.

“Once being topless is accepted as lawful the next question will be why can’t women go totally nude on a public beach and I don’t think Australians want to go down that pathway.”

That's what it all boils down to kids, a little bit of sensibility and sensitivity.

Your humble scribe;
Allan W Janssen

Allan W Janssen is the author of the book The Plain Truth About God (What the mainstream religions don't want you to know!) and is available as an E-Book H E R E ! and as a paperback H E R E !

Visit the blog "Perspective" at http://allans-perspective.blogspot.com