Are men really so weak, that the sight of an ankle arouses then till their out of control?
Basically, if you are guest in that country you should abid by the law of the land. A well versed and considerate tourist should take the time to read up on the country and avoid insulting the people of the country and their religions. Sadly, not all do.
Basically, if you are guest in that country you should abid by the law of the land. A well versed and considerate tourist should take the time to read up on the country and avoid insulting the people of the country and their religions. Sadly, not all do.
Nothing in the article indicated that this had anything to do with tourists. Did I mis something?
Julian,
My understanding is that these were not tourists but Pakastani women in their own country. This is just an example of the religious fanaticism that exists in the Islamic world, even in “moderate” Muslim countries.
No, you didn’t miss anything from the article I was talking generally and should have put visitors.
I just re-read the article and it does not state that the runners were Pakanstani residents or visiting athletes. So, until there is more detail, I guess we are both correct 
Julian,
My understanding is that these were not tourists but Pakastani women in their own country. This is just an example of the religious fanaticism that exists in the Islamic world, even in “moderate” Muslim countries.
It would be nice if they could elevate thier treatment of women to a “higher level of substandard”, like the one set by the Southern Baptist convention.
C’mon Julian. Why would western women ever go to Pakistan to run a marathon. These are not western women running in Pakistan but are natives.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/pakistan/Story/0,2763,1457570,00.html
“Why would western women ever go to Pakistan to run a marathon”.
For the same reason that we travel to take part in races in other parts of the world. Is it impossible that one could be holidaying there, hear of the race and enter? I understand what you say, but think they you are making assumptions, I carefully read the guardian article and there is no conclusive evidence either way.
Believe whatever you want to believe, but I’m 100% positive these are native women. I actually saw a report on this on CBC that stated that fact.
You’re downplaying the challenges that Muslim female athletes have in their own countries.
I’m doing nothing of the sort, but thank you for advising me of my intentions. I do like how people can speak for others, cool trick that one ;-)Perhaps you could e mail me the entry list? I believe that is the only way you could be 100% certain all female competitors were native to Pakistan.
Also, let us not forget the title of the thread, perhaps you would like to take issue with the originator too. Oh, that was you! Why warn female runners when one wonders “Why would western women ever go to Pakistan to run a marathon.” Nice circular, contradictory arguement you present.
Can you imagine how these guys would react to Lori bowden in her paint-on suit?
J
Why are you being so difficult?
Having a bad day in the office today Julian? Sheeeessshhh.
Not being difficult, nor am I at work. I have listened to, and acknowledged CG’s side of the debate and I have supported mine with a logical statement. Thus far he has not acknowledged my point of view nor shown evidence to prove otherwise. That is all there is to it.
Well, the fact is, that although you raised a valid point in your first post, it’s not at all relevant to the discussion at hand. This has to do with Muslim Pakistani women being harrassed, beaten, and arrested for running in mixed-sex races. Here’s a recent acount from the Gulf Times of Qatar - note that the people mentioned by name are not foreigners.
ISLAMABAD**:** Pakistani police baton-charged men and women at the start of a mini-marathon in Lahore yesterday, after they defied a ban on the two sexes running together.
A Reuters photographer said police also beat and arrested protesters from Islamist parties who had planned to attack participants in the race.
“When people started running the police baton charged them, beat them and arrested them, pulling people by the hair, pulling women by the hair,” Ali Dayan-Hasan, a Pakistani researcher for Human Rights Watch, said from a police cell where he was being held with more than 20 others.
Dayan-Hasan, who was observing the race, said up to 50 people, mostly women, had gone just a few metres before the police charged. He presumed the others detained were taken to another police station.
Among those arrested was group of female rights activists who attempted to lead a rally demanding for women the right to run in marathons alongside men…
Pakistan’s internationally known human rights activist Asma Jehangir was also arrested, witnesses said.
Among others who were detained were Iqbal Haider, a leader of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party, and Gulnar Tabassum, who works for a private NGO providing shelter to homeless women…
The incident is the latest in Pakistan to pit conservative Islamists against more liberal elements in the predominantly Muslim country…
I would love to hear your opinions on this situation if you care to share them. Whether or not there might have been a few foreigners at these races or not isn’t really germaine to the conversation.
Thanks for posting that, JHC.
You raise some interesting points although I cannot see how you can say “Whether or not there might have been a few foreigners at these races or not isn’t really germaine to the conversation.” Why would Greg tell female runners to stay away from Pakistan if he was talking about residents? That would be illogical to tell female Pakistani runner to stay away from Pakistan, would it not?
“Here’s a recent acount from the Gulf Times of Qatar - note that the people mentioned by name are not foreigners”.Can you identify a person’s nationality from their names alone?
"I would love to hear your opinions on this situation if you care to share them. "
Your last two posts would suggest that isn’t so.
I have nothing more to say on the subject.
For some reason this is going right over your head. I’m sure this race in Pakistan was for Pakistani women, not westerners, but that’s not the bigger issue. You’re totally missing the big picture.
Do you remember Hassida Boulmerka who won gold in the 1500m for Algeria. She had her life threatened by Islamic fundamentalists and had to leave the country she won gold for to seek exile in Italy.
A number of the middle east countries refused to broadcast female events at the Olympics.
A number of Islamic countries ban all female sports activities. There is a movement within the Olympics to ban these countries that send only male athletes as a form of “gender apartheid” as a human rights issue.
The point is the extreme difficulties female athletes face in Islamic countries.
In Pakistan this race was not illegal. It was disrupted by a group of very violent Islamic extremists. Technically it was them breaking the law. Not the women in a running race.
Why would Greg tell female runners to stay away from Pakistan if he was talking about residents?
Rhetorical statement? Makes for a catchy title? And I dont think it was cerveloguy who started the thread anyway.
Can you identify a person’s nationality from their names alone?
No, but the bolded text below helped me figure it out…
Pakistan’s internationally known human rights activist Asma Jehangir was also arrested, witnesses said.
Among others who were detained were Iqbal Haider, a leader of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party, and Gulnar Tabassum, who works for a private NGO providing shelter to homeless women…
Your last two posts would suggest that isn’t so.
Not at all… I’m simply not interested in arguents along the lines of “no one can prove that there weren’t foreigners at these races”, even though no media report mentioned foreigners (certainly the western media would) and even though for sure at the very least some of the women being beaten and arrested were Pakistani, making it a certainty this is not simply an issue of ignorant Westerners not respeting local customs. Which is not to say that if one of the women from the Hottie Thread showed up in a skimpy track suit that she wouldnt get the same or worse treatment.
I have nothing more to say on the subject.
I hope you reconsider.