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British Swimmers are told they must wear burkinis

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Gromit | 14:04 Mon 17th Aug 2009 | News
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Several councils across Britain are running muslim only sessions, and modesty clothing such as the burkini are compolsary.

Under the rules, swimmers � including non-Muslims � are barred from entering the pool in normal swimming attire.

Instead they are told that they must comply with the "modest" code of dress required by Islamic custom, with women covered from the neck to the ankles and men, who swim separately, covered from the navel to the knees.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/pol itics/6034706/Swimmers-are-told-to-wear-burkin is.html

Should swimmers be segregated in a public swimming pool? What happened to integration?
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My wife and I have always wanted to go swimming dressed as a pantomime horse. When we phoned and asked for a special session to be set aside for us and other like minded people, they said - and I quote - 'Of course not, there's no demand for it, please stop bothering me'. You couldn't make it up.
sp1814

You deny that special arrangements to facilitate such segregation and control is divisive and breeds contempt and hatred, by stating.

Not in my house it doesn't.</i.

Oh you are so tolerant when it fits in with your own agenda sp.

I wonder if you would be so tolerant, if a heterosexuals only, or a white's only session were introduced?

Perhaps for not three hours, but for only 90 minutes say.

90 minutes???

Still say 'what's the big deal' sp?

Please explain why this is any different, except we are willing to meet you half way, by only asking for 90 minutes?





AOG

Of course it fits my agenda.

Just as it fits the agenda of the dailymailers to howl at non-stories such as this one.

If there is a need for specalist sessions at a sports centre, and it makes money, then so be it.

My local gym has a women-only session in the pool on Tuesday nights. This is because many women want to exercise without blokes.

Fair enough. No bother with that at all.

Then in my other local pool they have kids only sessions.

Fair enough. No bother with that.

The problem with the dailymailers is that they are as intolerant of anything that isn't white, straight etc etc. They are literally no better than Muslim extremists in that respect.

Perhaps the local pool should hold Muslim/Mail session where everyone could sit around the edge of the pool screaming at anyone who isn't like them?
Why do you keep harping on about the Daily Mail and "dailymailers", sp?

The link provided by Gromit was to an article in the Telegraph.

Without looking too hard I saw that The Sun, The London Evening Standard, and the Daily Express also covered the story. Even the Guardian covered a story in the same vein from France (albeit with a different outcome).

This type of story is not the sole preserve of the Daily Mail "hang 'em, flog 'em or repatriate 'em" brigade. Many many people from across the political divide, from all backgrounds and who might otherwise be indifferent to such matters are sick to the back teeth with every minority faction in the UK having special arrangements made to cater for their unusual needs which the majority are simply not afforded.

All people resident or visiting the UK should be covered by one set of rules. If they don't like them they should either try to get them changed via Parliament with the consensus of the majority of the electorate or they should move to another country where their foibles are more readily catered for.
My local pool has swimming sessions for hire for parties. The motivation is about income generation rather than being forced to pander to some minority group.

As someone who swims every day I think coveralls should be more widely used for those people of more ample proportions. If men in this country can impose on women and prevent them from swimming with breasts uncovered I think women should be able to stop men showing of fat stomachs.
New Judge, may I congratulate you on your contributions to this post, I totally concur with your views, if only I was able to put things so succinctly. silvergran.
"Many many people from across the political divide, from all backgrounds and who might otherwise be indifferent to such matters are sick to the back teeth with every minority faction in the UK having special arrangements made to cater for their unusual needs which the majority are simply not afforded."

The last time I checked, children, pensioners and those with disabilities are in a minority. Would you disagree with concessions provided for those particular minorities or is it only certain minorities you are mumping about?
Question Author
Thanks all for your contributions to this thread.
sp1814

Still have not seen you state:

'If there is a need for a heterosexuals only session'.

Fair enough. No bother with that at all.

or,

'if there is a need for a white's only session'

Fair enough. No bother with that at all.



TCL - To be fair, children don't choose to be young, pensioners don't choose to be old, and the disabled haven't chosen to be disabled.
On the contrary, religious nutters have usually chosen to be that way. The question is, why should the sane amongst us pander to their self imposed nuttiness.
(I do count wanting to wear a burka as being slightly nutty by the way - especially when swimming).

To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand it's a few hours a week so who cares, on the other, I don't like the idea of religious segregation being facilitated by local authorities.
^^ That sums it up. I don't think it's the time allocation that's really a problem - it's the principle of conceding to a demand by the religious for religious segregation.
New Judge

'dailymailers' is my own generic term. It's a synonym for 'Little Englanders' which I find slightly offensive.

I have to say, anything that promotes the interests of minorities is good news. The only people who seem to complain are the straight, able-bodied, white males.

This group complain at being treated like underdogs, but they enjoy more cultural, physical and economic advantages than any other group in the entire country.

When there isn't a single racist, sexist, homophobic person left in the UK, then there will be no need to put in measures to combat their regressive bigotry.

Of course, bigots are a tiny minority in this country, but unfortunately, they're incredibly noisy.

They're like crickets. You can't see them, but they make a racket like no-one's business.

And by the way, how on earth can everyone in the country be treated exactly the same?

Are you saying that Jews should have to convert to CofE?

Are you saying that vegetarians should be forced to eat meat?

No - we're all different, and we make accomodations for each other...apart from the dailymailers who are intolerant of anyone who isn't them.

(In that regard, they're exactly like fundamentalist Muslims!)
AOG

This isn't a Muslim-only swimming session is it?

It's a 'please wear a burkini session', which is completely different.

So to compare it to a 'whites only' session is a bit spurious.

But to answer your question, of course I would find a whites only session or a heterosexuals only session outrageous!!!
SP, no it isn't a Muslim only session, but it is a 'wear a burkini' only session because that's what the Muslims want the rest of us to do.

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