There have been a few hysterical editorials about Harvard's decision to close off its gym to men for a few hours a week in order to accommodate Muslim women who are forbidden from being viewed by male eyes whilst in workout clothes.
Personally, I think it's probably not that big a deal one way or another whether Harvard extends this special favor to the Muslims on campus. If everyone's fine with it, then, fine, do your thing. However, if lots of people are being inconvenienced by the women's-only hours, then I think that the Muslim women will just have to figure something else out. If you want to practice a religion with all sorts of crazy restrictions, you're free to do so--and you're certainly free to ask communities and institutions to make special exceptions for you to accomodate your lifestyle.
But those communities and institutions are also free to decline making special exceptions to accomodate your religious idiosyncrasies.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
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3 comments:
While I agree with your points, I disagree with your use of "crazy" in regards to their customs. Cultural sensitivity please?
I take your point--a free-standing claim of a Muslim custom being "crazy" probably won't do in today's charged political atmosphere.
So lemme make it not free-standing: I regard pretty much any overbearing orthodox custom of a religion to be "crazy" in the sense that it's completely arbitrary. It doesn't matter whether it's Jews not using electricity for a day, the Amish not using electricity ever, or--as in this case--Muslim women covering themselves from head to toe in the company of men.
Dude, your lack of cultural competence amazes me. "Completely arbitrary"?!? WTF. It may seem arbitrary to you, but it is full of meaning and reason to those who believe in and practice these customs. Don't call them crazy, don't call them completely arbitrary, because they are not. In the cultures from which these practices arise, they are perfectly legitimate and rational, just as I am sure many of your practices would seem "crazy" or "completely arbitrary" to others. When you use this language you only expose your own cultural close-mindedness. If you wish to make a rational argument against such practices, while taking their cultural history and attitudes into account, go ahead. But don't just throw around words. Please.
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