I've not read articles by Andrew Bolt before (that I can remember), but it didn't seem too provocative.
As for the scenarios he listed, I agree with the judges ruling to ask male journalists to leave. The journalists being there or not have no bearing on the case being tried so I don't have a problem with that. However he probably should have asked all journalists to remove themselves so as not to discriminate.
However community festival organisers asking for a dress code? That's just ridiculous. We lived in Broadmeadows for nearly 10 years and went to the Ramadan festival many times and no one cared one way or another what you wore. In fact some of the Muslim girls who lived around Broady would go out wearing mini-skirts and little midriff tops with their head scarves on.
Really, it comes down to the fact that they chose to come and live in this country and they should respect our culture just as much as we should respect theirs.
I know what you mean, and yet I find it so hard to find language to express the concept of having a little cultural/religious give and take in the way we interact. It seems to always sink towards a feeling of assimilation rather than integration or acceptance.
I found the festival/pool scenario made me think twice. I'm really not sure if I'm comfortable with anyone being dictated to regarding their swimming attire. Just as I wouldn't want Muslims to be forced to wear bikinis, I'm not sure non-Muslims should have to cover up at an Aussie swimming pool.
Unless you're forcing a situation on someone (like in the courtroom) we should all of us, regardless of our religious/cultural mores, be allowed dress as we see fit. The girl on the witness stand feels like a different set of circumstances to the others outlined in the article.
Ah, here you go - each to their own; I think that's the closest I'll get!
They seem like reasonable, common-sense compromises, worked out case-by-case. Which must be galling for folks like Bolt who want Muslims and non-Muslims to be at each others' throats. (My own attitude is one of civil indifference. :)
At the pool, we're obliged to cover our breasts and genitals all year round. I think we could probably cope with covering our knees and shoulders as well for two hours on a single evening. :)
Although I think the pool at our gym should institute a new dress rule whereby some of the men are obliged to wear paper bags over their heads.
I know, I know, compared to other countries we're not quite as blatant in our Muslim vs. Everyone media stance (thank goodness!), but reading articles like Bolt's do upset me. I think it's mostly because we're focusing on how we're 'other' rather than what brings us together and unites us.
I have Muslim friends who are so proud of being Australian, just as proud, if not more, than they are of following Islam. Some wear a veil, some don't. I just think that the minute we start dictating to people about things as personal as a dress code ... well, it's a little Orwellian, isn't it?
I think it's mostly because we're focusing on how we're 'other' rather than what brings us together and unites us.
Definitely a better way to look at the issue. B|
(In re media stances, I was referring to overall party politics -- the opposition and anyone who agrees with them is evil and bad for humanity and we know this because they're stupid and we don't like them, and they smell bad too; THINK OF THE CHILDREN! -- as well as the fear-mongering that comes up whenever a group has a chance to unite by creating a common enemy out of another group, religious or otherwise. There's waaay too much of that here and it drives me up the freaking wall.)
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As for the scenarios he listed, I agree with the judges ruling to ask male journalists to leave. The journalists being there or not have no bearing on the case being tried so I don't have a problem with that. However he probably should have asked all journalists to remove themselves so as not to discriminate.
However community festival organisers asking for a dress code? That's just ridiculous. We lived in Broadmeadows for nearly 10 years and went to the Ramadan festival many times and no one cared one way or another what you wore. In fact some of the Muslim girls who lived around Broady would go out wearing mini-skirts and little midriff tops with their head scarves on.
Really, it comes down to the fact that they chose to come and live in this country and they should respect our culture just as much as we should respect theirs.
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I found the festival/pool scenario made me think twice. I'm really not sure if I'm comfortable with anyone being dictated to regarding their swimming attire. Just as I wouldn't want Muslims to be forced to wear bikinis, I'm not sure non-Muslims should have to cover up at an Aussie swimming pool.
Unless you're forcing a situation on someone (like in the courtroom) we should all of us, regardless of our religious/cultural mores, be allowed dress as we see fit. The girl on the witness stand feels like a different set of circumstances to the others outlined in the article.
Ah, here you go - each to their own; I think that's the closest I'll get!
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Just as I wouldn't want to force a Muslim to uncover, I wouldn't want to force an Aussie to cover up.
It's questions such as those that pull me down from my perch of live and let live, because any kind of dictatory policy annoys me ;)
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Although I think the pool at our gym should institute a new dress rule whereby some of the men are obliged to wear paper bags over their heads.
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And right.
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I have Muslim friends who are so proud of being Australian, just as proud, if not more, than they are of following Islam. Some wear a veil, some don't. I just think that the minute we start dictating to people about things as personal as a dress code ... well, it's a little Orwellian, isn't it?
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Definitely a better way to look at the issue. B|
(In re media stances, I was referring to overall party politics -- the opposition and anyone who agrees with them is evil and bad for humanity and we know this because they're stupid and we don't like them, and they smell bad too; THINK OF THE CHILDREN! -- as well as the fear-mongering that comes up whenever a group has a chance to unite by creating a common enemy out of another group, religious or otherwise. There's waaay too much of that here and it drives me up the freaking wall.)
In other words, what you said.
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