AUSTRALIA: Pool visitors told to cover up for Ramadan

yes i sadly do think islamophobia is involved you are probably right that people would not care if it was another religious group. the odd thing is that the muslims in this case do not want the dress restrictions and the non-muslim groups are trying to push the dress restrictions on a basis of 'not offending muslims.' that is very wrong of the non-muslim groups to say they are 'not offending muslims' by going against the wishes of the muslims, who don't want dress restrictions. i don't understand. i think they may be trying to make muslims look bad- they obviously aren't listening to the actual muslims. i don't know, i am not familiar with all the groups, these are just my theories. strange world. peace to you. peace to the world.

What if the dress code went the other way and said "You aren't allowed to wear clothing that covers over 50% of your body" and forced Muslims to wear strapless dresses, short skirts, bikinis, etc?

I wouldn't be surprised if non-Muslims didn't attend the event. All this does is create a separation between two groups by forcing one to appease the other. If non-Muslims are expected to respect the beliefs of Muslims then, why aren't Muslims expected to respect non-Muslims? It's a double standard.

And so, what if?

What if a nudist club wanted to have a party at this public pool, and for some reason the pool administration approved?

Would you care?

Sure, Muslims would not attend, but so would a lot of other people who have a problem with nudity. It's an event FOR Nudists. It's a PRIVATIZE party.

Again- who cares?

The people who want to attend would attend, and those who do not, would not. It's an event FOR Muslims. It's a PRIVATE party.

This is NOT appeasement, and it DOES work both ways.

You are simply ASSUMING it does not work both ways because of YOUR bigotry.

And your point is what?

That a religion of 1.5 billion people, the second largest religion on the planet, should be judged by the actions of radical Fundamentalist terrorist groups?

Or is it that we, who live in nations like the US and Australia, that pride ourselves on freedom, tolerance, liberty and human rights, should abandon our core principles and stoop to THEIR level?

When was I being a bigot? Because I was being realistic in assessing that this sort of action causes a bigger separation between groups? Are you blind to all the comments on this posting?

The problem with people who spout off about "Freedom, tolerance, liberty, and human rights" is they tend to call others "Bigots" when they use their freedom to voice their opinion.

-Snip--FAMILIES in Victoria are being ordered to cover up before attending a public event to avoid offending Muslims during next year's Ramadan.--Snip--

Public event. Not private.

--Snip--"The applicant intends this to be an event where people of all races and religions and ages may attend, use the Centre's facilities and socialise together," VCAT notes.--Snip--

All races and religions and ages may attend. Not just Muslims.

Did you even read the article?

I read the WHOLE article. You obviously stopped half way.

"The ban on skimpy clothes will apply between 6.15 and 8.15pm on August 21 next year, a time when the pool is closed to the public and normally used by a Muslim women's swimming group."

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
This is a party for RAMADAN.

Yes, all religions and ages MAY attend this party for RAMADAN.
Not general open swim time- IT'S CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
But yes, anyone can join this PARTY FOR RAMADAN.

And now, let me point out this bizarrely stupid statement of yours:

"The problem with people who spout off about "Freedom, tolerance, liberty, and human rights" is they tend to call others "Bigots" when they use their freedom to voice their opinion."

No, we don't call people bigots for voicing their opinions.
That's like saying that people object to 9/11 because people flew planes- and forgetting what they flew the planes into.

We call people bigots for saying things that are bigoted.
See how that works?

We LOVE freedom of speech- because we use our freedom of speech TOO!

You are free to say all kinds of stupid things, and I'm sure there will be many more to come- but your freedom of speech does NOT mean we all must sit quiet and listen.

I never once said you couldn't voice your own opinion. But, my question still stands: When was I being a bigot?

"Force Muslims to dress a certain way, expect bomb threats."

1.) None of any of this was a bout force.
2.) You portray all of the people in the second largest religion on this planet as all being fundamentalist extremist terrorists. That is bigotry. It is just as if you had said "tick a black guy off and expect to get shot".

Each comment you make is only a partial reply- should I take that to mean you now understand you were wrong about the rest of the post?

Do you realize you are getting all riled up over nothing? No one is being forced to cover up to respect anyone else's religious traditions.

It's a private party. The only people there would be Muslims, or the invited guests of a Muslim group.

I'm sick of rightwing racist idiots taking over all of Australia. It used to be such a moderate country where everyone was accepted and could have a go... now it's slowly being taken over by radical conservatives. Thank goodness labor was re-elected!
And thank goodness events like this can still be held.

They're not. It's the dress code for two hours during a party.

This whole thing is a bad scare campaign by the usual racist morons.

A slippery pen a sword it became, and so came the noose running close after it.

I have to agree with you on that dead on observation.

...actually, it's VCAT, a Victorian Auzzie organisation who has approved the ban...and Not the Vic Islamic Council VP...and in this regard I do take my hat off to Sherene...

Of course you do.
Always go for the position that shows the lowest level of reading comprehension.

notice this paragraph:

The ban on skimpy clothes will apply between 6.15 and 8.15pm on August 21 next year, a time when the pool is closed to the public and normally used by a Muslim women's swimming group.

Notice the phrase "pool is closed to the public".

Yep. Family events should involve total nudity.

Sounds like you must have some crazy family reunions.