No Retreat

Just to clarify the issue, I don`t believe any of the women were planning to run in shorts.

I didn`t see any reference to dress code in the MMA objections. Original objection was against women running in a `mixed` marathon.
Later objections were simply against women running in public.

prashant123,

If you can`t deliver us security, YOU will just have to carve out another nation which will safeguard the supremacist rights of the bigoted mutant Hindu freakazoids. Normal, and respectable Hindus (read: the vast, vast Majority) will stay behind with the real India.

We stayed behind becuse we believed in the idea of India, or at least were not swayed by the smoke and mirrors of TNT. Are you saying the pakis were right?

Vertex..too bad man. My heartfelt sympathies. But..that is why Pakistan was created. Why not go there ? Not just you , but the whole lot of you. No more hindu freakazoids to worry about then....

Prashant123,

It doesn`t take much apparently, for example living in the wrong neighborhood when an alleged incident involving Musilms half way across the country.

---

MaheshG2,

Have no idea. But then, liberal Muslims weren`t the ones being burnt alive.

``Would you still be arguing in a similar manner if all men are ordered to wear only salwar kameez? ``

Sure, why not?

---

``In all sports there are also dress code. So, no one was going to run in a bikini.``

At the last olympics they were pretty much wearing bikinis. Nominal difference...

``Its a sad for women rights and liberties that people were waiting outside the stadium to shoot if athletes might venture out.``

Very true! And for this reason, the police should have cracked down HARD.

``Don`t know about that. This could apply more to us Indian muslims....say the wrong thing and you can see your family burnt at the stake by a mob of Hindu freakazoids.``

Could you please elaborate on what sort of `wrong things` would a muslim in India would have to say to risk getting burnt at the stake by a mob of Hindu freakazoids ?

``Don`t know about that. This could apply more to us Indian muslims....say the wrong thing and you can see your family burnt at the stake by a mob of Hindu freakazoids.``

Could please elaborate on what sort of `wrong things` would a muslim in India would have to say to risk getting burnt at the stake by a mob of Hindu freakazoids ?

In all sports there are also dress code. So, no one was going to run in a bikini. Its a sad for women rights and liberties that people were waiting outside the stadium to shoot if athletes might venture out.
Its an extremely pathetic move by MMA.

Don`t know about that. This could apply more to us Indian muslims....say the wrong thing and you can see your family burnt at the stake by a mob of Hindu freakazoids.

Are you saying liberal Muslims are safer in Pakistan than in India?

In public spaces, most societies regulate what one can and can`t wear. Period.

Would you still be arguing in a similar manner if all men are ordered to wear only salwar kameez?

Kulharee,

``(1) what the hell in the world India has got to do with this?````

LOL, you tell me, you`re the one bringin it up.


``What gives anyone any right over what kinda shorts one wears for running?``

In public spaces, most societies regulate what one can and can`t wear. Period.

``I doubt that anyone will run naked or in shorts that show butt crack.``

Ahem..er...are we now officially on the slippery slope?

``It is funny you want to take poll in a place where opinion are expressed by holding gun to one’s head.``

Don`t know about that. This could apply more to us Indian muslims....say the wrong thing and you can see your family burnt at the stake by a mob of Hindu freakazoids.

``Next time you see someone running with shorts that you don`t like, go and hide in your nearest Mosque.``

Why?

Re: # 15

excellency,

......... a marathon is a sports event - they even have it in the olympics ........ for those of us who have tried running a few miles, it is an amazing feat of human endurance - there is nothing more fascinating than the last few miles of a well contested race .........

............ mullahs should stick to greco-roman wrestling with young boys from the madrassas - a sport they have mastered ........

It is really a joke that in this day and age, adult women are not able to run in a bloody marathon. Pakistan really should look at where the nation is headed if things this inane are causing a nationwide commotion. For god`s sake its not like women are starting nudist camps around the major cities are they....bloody running..if that gets the mullahs all hot and bothered...f*** them could and should be the national attitude from the ``silent majority``

#11 by Romair

``As long as it is the religious and anti-religious women fighting it out between each other, regarding what women should do, things will be ok for women``

This would be a workable solution. Perhaps a Parliamentary Committee on Women`s Affairs comprising women legislators from PPP, MMA, PML-Q and other parties should decide on such matters. This will ensure that a consensus decision is made, instead of a decree from the MMA or the President.

The MMA may be wrong on the religion column, but their stance on the marathon is correct. Our society is very conservative and takes pride in these conservative Islamic values. We should accept those aspects of Western culture that are compatible with our religious and cultural values... and reject those that don`t. This is the essence of an Islamic society.

Why was Punjab govt even thinking of holding an outdoor marathon with women athletes in Gujranwala, D.G.Khan and Sargodha!! Lahore is much more liberal than rest of Punjab. But smaller cities of Punjab are very conservative.

Is the marathon supposed to be a sports event? Or is it a symbol of ``Western liberalism``? If it was the former, then it could easily be organized inside a stadium. But if this marathon was a symbol of Western liberalism, the MMA was justified in opposing it.

##10 by Kulharee on April 25, 2005 12:10pm PT
Re: # 9

And stop acting as a self appointed spokesperson of muslim men and muslim women.

>>>>>>So wise.I hope ``vertex` reads this before he/she continues to make an a&se of himself.

Re: # 12

Vertex

---

Not really…. Eskplane two things to me: (1) what the hell in the world India has got to do with this? (2) What gives anyone any right over what kinda shorts one wears for running? I doubt that anyone will run naked or in shorts that show butt crack. At least not for a while. It is funny you want to take poll in a place where opinion are expressed by holding gun to one’s head. Next time you see someone running with shorts that you don`t like, go and hide in your nearest Mosque.

Beena Ji… In the midst of all this friendly debate between the civilized and the 7th century Bedouin Arabs, I forgot to say how sad it made me to read your article. It is beautifully written and it communicates hope.

Kulharee,

``Well Vertex, if you are concerned about nuisance in “public” places or spaces, can you please have those morons stop blaring nonsense out of speakers so loud so early in the morning? Nashay ka satyanass kar daytay haiN.``

Well jee, if it pisses you off so much I don`t know. I kinda like it then...the fact is, loud public pronouncement of faiths (yes, even in the wee hours of the morn) are typical in India from all faith groups. That battle, if it ever was fought, was settleed a long time ago.

``Where did you see me defend anyone or not defend anyone? You can defend whom you want and all you want. I just wanted to tell you that Pakistani women who want to run, or compete in any athletic activity, shouldn’t (don’t) need your or anyone else’s permission.``

Apparently they do, and as for the shouldn`t bit...I agree to a degree. I won`t be supporting nude marathons anytime soon. And to be honest, I`m not a libertarian so it`s useless to get on a slippery slope with me. Basically, I support the right to impose a dress code, although I despise the lengths the ignorant mullahs would go. A happy solution for me would be to a) have the marathon on private property and b) have the police kick the snot out of all the MMA protesters.

``And stop acting as a self appointed spokesperson of muslim men and muslim women.``

Take a poll bud, and find out for yourself. I`m merely speaking the obvious.