I wrote a blog about this and it got deleted. I’m still bitter about that, so this will be short.
Coworker asked me about this the other day. Almost a month later, I’m still not so sure why this would cause such a stir. In particular given that: “The policy only applies to one gym, a facility mainly used for intramurals. Because of its location at the edge of campus, it is the university’s least used gym…”
Ok, so…?
Also ridiculous, this gem from a Muslim student who doesn’t even use the school facilities to work out: “The majority should be willing to compromise…I think that’s just basic courtesy.”
Hmm, of course, the new democracy.
Yes, it’s a cool idea. Yes I would love Muslim women to have their own time in the gym. But I don’t really see the controversy since Curves has been making money from this idea for awhile. And really I’m sad since the article seems to infer that no women, Muslim or other are using these hours. Claim your space ladies!
But I have to throw in that I feel completely capable of working out in a coed gym in sharia-compliant clothing. Big shout out to my PSUMuslimah gym buddies who sweated it out together to get healthy (it is the sunnah btw).
It IS possible to be covered and work out at the same time. And not only is it possible, it’s down right American. I refer you to a classic:
~Asiyah~
Yeah, here’s some more commenting on that if you’d like:
http://eteraz.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/harvards-gym-closing-mistake/
Personally, I can’t say I was thrilled by the whole thing, but it seemed pretty insignificant to me to get real press coverage. Kinda like the jewish student at PSU about 2 years back who got his 5th year senior art exhibit pulled at the last minute. It was kinda of a lot of controversey over something relatively dumb and unnecessary.
Ok, I realize that eteraz had a similar opinion to mine. But from the 1 paragraph or so I was able to read of his stuff, it just seemed ridiculous. I had to stop at the eunuch/homosexual comparasion. Eunuch is a man who has been castrated. A homosexual is someone who has sexual desire, usually reserved for someone of the same sex. Usually.
This reminds me of that argument that idiot men who want to get laid have for saying that their girlfriend was ok with being his “slave.” Ipso facto=halal. NO! No.
huh? Ok, first of all, I put that link there not just for his opinions, but also the many people who responded to his post. Hence why I referrenced “commenting.”
I also totally have no idea what you mean regarding “idiot men.”
Finally, weren’t you the one to tell me that just because I don’t like everything that someone says doesn’t mean that I should disregard them entirely? Waaaay back when when there was some book in the PSU prayer room that claimed in its foreword that Egypt was the pinnacle of Islamic thought in this day and age? (and I was all like “how can I take this book seriously?”)
dammit. i did say that.
gah.