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Subscribe to RSSAfter a hard-fought battle in the name of her faith, Muslim weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah is now able to compete without violating her religious beliefs. Abdullah discusses her victory with msnbc's Thomas Roberts.
Kulsoom Abdullah will get her chance to prove how strong she is at the U.S. weightlifting championships in July after she proved how tough she is as an advocate.
Abdullah, 35, who was born and raised in Georgia and boasts a PhD in computer networking from Georgia Tech, qualified for the championships, but she was ruled out because, as a Muslim, she refuses to compete without wearing her hijab.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported yesterday that after a challenge from Abdullah, the International Weightlifting Federation approved new guidelines that give women "the option of dressing in attire that doesn't leave their legs and arms exposed."
The barrier came to national attention this week after msnbc.com's Kari Huus spotlighted Abdullah's dilemma.
"I think it would just be nice that in any sport, if there's a lady who covers her arms and legs … they could still be involved," Abdullah told Huus. Turning to her chosen sport, which is male-dominated, she added: "With the dress code (as it is) Muslim women might think it's not something they should do."
Abdullah said yesterday that she was "really happy" with the ruling, telling the Journal-Constitution:
"The one advantage to all of this is that it raised a lot of awareness. I hope it will help with other sports that other (Muslim) women participate in."
Leave a Comment:
While I agree that there are coverings that will let the judges see if the arms and legs are locked, for a successful lift, the hajib is a CULTURAL outfit... not a religious requirement!
So...I could wear that in America, and no one would necessarily think I was muslim... ? Hmmm.
Cassandra, you miss the point. Take the Cross for instance. It itself is not a "Christian" tool, yet it's use has made it correlated with the religion of Chritianity. Same type of concept.
this is wrong if she is a true muslim can she even lift weights does she drive does she cover her ankles listen these people and i say it like a racist they make me this way they want everything there way i wish the iaranians do get nukes and they blow up pakastan and they retaliate and blow them up and then they all get blown up the world will be a better place for all our american children
Huh?
One word Skit... punctuation!!! Now go back to school and learn somethng.
iaranians and pakastan? Sheesh. I think I lost brain cells by just attempting to decipher Skit's post.
So? What you have is a modest woman, why is that bad? Why make a big deal out of the fact that muslim women want to cover themselves from neck to toe and wear head coverings as well? Just how is that hurting anyone? She isn't asking for anyone else to cover up. People of all genders and religions should be able to participate in activities the same other Americans.
This is so stupid.
Hey, my religion says I must where a unicorn mask. Think they'd allow that?
If her idiot hijab would keep her from competing, then she shouldn't compete. How can a phd be so ignorant?
Well its like Spanish - Do you think it should be a second language encouraging others not to learn English! I am ambivalent about this but your logic is not good. Some people think naturalism is their religion- How about a nude weight lifter? LOL The others are correct - this is not religious it is cultural - rules? to hell with them! - now lest move on to multiple wives?????
I see nothing wrong with multiple wives. Or multiple husbands, or a combination thereof. Whatever floats your boat.
Same with the hijab. It doesn't matter whether the Qur'an (which is not the sole source of Muslim teaching, by-the-by) says that a specific kind of dress is obligatory. This woman believes that it is, and has a right to have her personal convictions respected subject to very specific limitations of public policy. As it's not hurting or endangering anyone, it's her right, and I applaud the Federation for taking this step.
Some of you people need to get down off your high horse and grab a dose of reality. This woman made a reasonable request. That she be allowed to remain covered while participating in this sport. It harms no one, nor does it give her any advantage over someone else competing. Why the hostility? I'm white, I've spent 13 years in the Navy so far and hold a particularly bad view of Islam, yet I see no unreasonableness in her request.
@twiddly
Your comment is actually the one that's childish and ignorant.
actually it is a religious dress not cultural...you are misinformed
the "awra" or the modest parts of the woman, are everything except the face and hands...so if you think about it, the hijab is just as religious as it is cultural, as it covers all the sacred body parts....
hi·jab/hiˈjäb/Noun
1. A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women.
2. The religious code that governs the wearing of such clothing.
Just another Muslim dumb-ass, abusing our system, as they cannot do it in theirs........rules are rules... not suspect to religious beliefs
@ daryl-218...thank you for bringing up the facts of cultural rules that are NOT RELIGIOUS laws...A lot of people mistake cultural for religious when it comes to arabic culture and Islam. That is why we have the "terrorists" fear related to Muslims....I myself am an American Muslim. I grew up Catholic but converted a few months back.....people need to be informed and educated before they make stupid assumptions....
This is the stupidest thing I have ever read. I am sorry but antiquated holy books should mean nothing to us. So what if I had a divine revelation to wear a bead string of lucky charms my holy leprechaun told me I must wear at all times. This is how a claim as hers sounds to me. Absolute stupidity.
@ wildeduck, do you get pleasure out of calling a Muslim a "dumb-ass"...it is our religion to accept all God believing religions.....and as a Muslim I would never call any member of your faith a "dumb-ass"...I hope you find peace in your life and heart, not the hate you so openly display....Allahu-Akbar.....by the way I am a former Catholic and have no ill-will towards anyone....and I am proud to be an American!!!!
If I remember correctly from history class, our four fathers came to this country to escape religious persecution...so why are we as a whole so hateful of others that look to our country for fairness when it comes religious fairness....
free·dom of re·li·gion
a civil right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
freedom of religion The right to practise the religion of one's choice, or to be a non-believer.
I'm guessing you're unaware that MANY cultures and religions wear head coverings?
Orthodox Jewish women wear head coverings in public. You may not notice, because most choose to wear wigs. The men wear yarmulkes.
Amish women, as well as some Mennonite, wear caps (some called koppa). Amish men also wear hats.
It should be noticed that BOTH cultures stress modest dress.
Moving further afield.
Shiks wear turbans. Traditional women also wear turbans and have the option for scarves as well.
http://sikhism.about.com/od/culture/tp/Traditional_Dress_of_Sikhs.htm
I put in the link because I found this quite interesting.
So, I guess the answer to your question is yes ... you can cover your head in America and not necessarily be considered a Muslim.
.amazedbystupidity...Dude I am not superstitious and I have no religion, it is the bane of civilization! and yes she is a Dumb-ass, bringing religion to a sporting competition. You just converted good for you 72 virgins coming your way... I have spent more time in muslim countries than most people and respect their way of life, not changing a sporting competition to accomodate anyone.
Religion & culture cannot always be separated. While Christians speak of the Christian Church (& Christianity is largely belief-based), Jews speak of the Jewish People (& Judaism is largely cultural & mitzvah-based). For Islam, culture & religion are largely intermingled too. Some might argue that Hinduism is more of a life philosophy than a religion. Similar issues can be raised regarding other worldviews. Of course "religion" is an English word, but using it indiscriminately & universally for Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. confounds discussion because these different religions/cultures/worldviews/philosophies differ in their very natures, not just in the details of their practices or the details of their beliefs or the details of their 'membership' standards.
Steve,
I have multiple wives and reside in the USA. Check out the laws on it you will be amazed. At the Federal level there is no law prohibiting it. At the state level there are laws that prohibit the act of MARRYING someone who is already married. If you go overseas you can marry 50 wives and move them all to the USA completely legal because there is no law at the federal level prohibiting it. There is a case here in Chicago from a few years back of a man with 20-wives all brought into the USA legally.
It is just so taboo to Catholic Religion because they cannot fleece the "marriage certificate" market on a legal level. Yes, in many countries that are dominated Catholic...Philippines for one...the Baptismal Certificate and Marriage Certificate are legal documents for Passports.....
Sorry for hijacking the thread...just saying.
I think Skit may have lost some 2..
Ok, lets look at what Islam REALLY says about a woman's clothing.
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).
A LATER Islamic scholar determined that a woman's "ornaments" was everything. Not just her "bits & pieces " (draw their veils over their bosoms)... So bare boobies are out!
The head covering comes from the Judeo-Christian passages that state a woman should cover her head when at pray or proselytising.
The hajib is STRICTLY A CUSTOM! It should be given NO religious accreditation!
Beth - don't be obtuse. Of course some women wear some of the things you mention - which are not a "hajib", and it is blatantly obvious those are not "muslim". Unless, perhaps you cannot tell the dif between a hajib and an Amish bonnet, which surely, anyone could. And obviously they are an expression of the various religious sects.
Just like if I wear a small gold cross, most would be led to think that rather than my culture, such as it is, that religious guy Christians believe in may include me in their minions. Now, you can say my culture is Judeo-Christian - certainly it has been influenced by that - but I would tend to think of my American culture as influenced by many cultures, the "melting pot" so out of disfavor these days. Multiculturalism can really be fun - if whatever the culture is, enjoys having fun. (A bunch of guys sitting around drinking tea in the casbah while the woman folk sit at home tending the youngin's is not my idea of a good time, not too inclusive - nor fun unless you are a guy. Maybe having the guys out of the way is the ladies' idea of a good time?)
The muslim folks are often very busy shutting out others, and they may get what they wish for - and mainstream isolation and more distrust. Just because they want to say "it's cultural not religious" does not make it so, but maybe they can convince themselves of that, if they say it often enough. Maybe the ladies should just gather and put these religious restrictions to a vote. Oh wait, they can't.
I'm so glad I am not chained to the Bible, so to speak. And halleluiah for the Reformation taking Western Europe out of the Dark Ages.
...not subject to religious beliefs.
Wildeduck - your reference to "another Muslim dumb-ass" would seem a trifle less ironic if you knew the difference between suspect and subject.
Amazedbythestupidity - I'm not sure that a definition in a western dictionary necessarily constitutes a religious law or rule, and as definition #1, indicates (A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women), the custom is not universally observed.
So, without examining the verses of the Koran, and I admit I am too lazy to do so, we cannot say for certain that the wearing of a hijab is absolutely required by the tenets of Islam.
Freedom of religion should not constitute a blanket authorization for any and all behavior simply because they have a religious justification. If my religion demanded human sacrifice, for instance, I'm guessing that I would not be free to conduct my sacred rites, at least not openly.
The question here is, does the wearing of the hajib, together with the her covered legs, arms and torso, in any way compromise the ability of the event officials to judge her athletic performance, or was somebody at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) simply get their back up because her weight-lifting apparel breaks sharpy with tradition, or worse still, react to the overt Islamic appearance of dress.
Again, I plead ignorance here. I would guess that it was more of the later, and seeing some of the comments here about "dumb-ass" Muslims and such, it does seem that cultural prejudice is at work.
Well, she's won her battle. She'll compete on her own terms, and apparently the IWF is happy or at least satisfied. Good luck to her.
Is there no end to Muslims whining about everything under the sun? sigh...
Cassandra -- I'm not being obtuse (I suspect you don't know the meaning of the word). I'm merely pointing out your thinly disguised bigotry ... and showing how ridiculous your OP really was.
amazedbystupidity
American Muslim ? And I am an American Episcopalian ??? You are American who just happens to be Muslim ( mind you I have no ill feelings towards anyone from any religion) what I am basically saying is, there should be no need to have to say American Muslim, or African American, or Irish American or what ever. But, I do understand why you said it, because too many in our country have almost forced you into making that distinction, which I feel you or anyone else should NOT have to make.
getalifevirginia-892326
Is there no end to some people constantly whining about Muslims ?
Cassandra - People assume many things based upon one's dress and appearance. The core point is you are not necessarily a Muslim because you are wearing a head covering, even if it looks like a "hajib", and just because your head is bare, does not mean you are not a Muslim.
Good for her and the IWF. There is no reason to have the ban.
No surprise here. Once again the world capitulates and bends over backward to kiss up to the genocidal cult of Islam. Hitler must be kicking himself for not calling his National Socialist party a "religion".
@sunshiney, please don't be ignorant about two points:
1. 99% of Muslims are peace-loving. It's just the 1% that are horribly violent.
2. It's not just Islam that can be extreme with their rules. Orthodox Jews have their extreme rules. Certain devout Christians have their extreme rules. The problem is with religions that teach that its way is the only correct way. Most religions share this viewpoint, and fundamentalist Christians are no exception!
I know! A private athletic organization having to slightly modify its rules in response to a considerate request is the WORST thing that could ever happen. Someone schedule a warcrimes tribunal!!!
Meebs - how about posting credible citations for your statment that 99% of Muslims are peace-loving? How, exactly, did you arrive at that number?
As an avid atheist, I take great pride in being able to state that I fully support this woman's aims. If she chooses to wear an outfit that will make her imaginary sky fairy happy, and still allows for the judges to evaluate her performance in the sport, then by all means, let her wear it. This is not "capitulation"; that would involve forcing all women to compete in the outfit, which is *not* what happened.
Meebs...Keep dilluding yourself.... Read the Koran (Quran) before making such ignorant comments and you will see that the scripture itself calls for the "killing of infidels."
Meebs I think you have it backwards MOST muslims are radical. If you don't include muslims in america, I would venture to say 75% or more condone shira law in its harshest form. That means cutting off of limbs, stoning, hanging, torture, rape and honor killings. This is what most muslims think is ok.
Hi daryl-2183015, I live in the present with the rest of the world. Yes, we all know that, and in America, those violent actions of the past are not tolerated by the Christians, Buddisht, etc and the Government. With that said, you are free to make a case to the folks who run the Olympics to go back to its roots of competition in the nude. I'm pretty sure the Pope won't have you beaten to a bloody pulp. But the world moved on and no longer wants to see nudity in their daily lives. I'm not responsible for the actions of my ancestors, grandparents, or parents. I refuse to look the other way when a chunk of people from the religion of peace is out there making life a misery, the other chunk pretending to oppose that misery, and a tiny fraction is truely condoning those actions. Those of us who live in present will not live like the victims and agressors of the past. So you can keep on bring up the past and living inside of that cave of yours.
For you ignorant commentators out there that are making this story into a big religious debate; I sense a bit of racism because an educated female athlete fought the white system and won. It is true in the Quran it doesn't say exactly by word how a woman should dress. So should they go out in the public in the nude? The Bible doesn't say how Christian women should wear. Do they go out in public in the nude. I doubt it. The Quran does say a Muslim woman should dress modestly. It does say you should cover above ankles and wrists. Now most Muslim women wear what they believe to be modest. Unlike what most believe Islam gives women the choice of how to dress and wear. So if this women is comfortable wearing her hijab and it does not interfere with lifting weights I don't understand the proble. Actually I do know the problem. The haters out there can't stand a Muslim making the system understand that Islam is not against weightlifting. If this woman's clothing does actually interfere with her competeing, then I will be on the side of not letting her compete but if it doesn't then it shows how people are out there just putting her religion down because of their hate. So all you haters out there keep trying all you want. We are here to stay.
Ali,
How about saying that while Islam is not against weightlifting, it IS against Sharia and the killing of Infidels.
Your post would be much more credible then.
Oh, that wasn't on topic? Well, it should be standard procedure for every "peace loving" muslim to automatically denounce extremist Islam when they speak in any form. Then you might be believed and noticed!
Actually, I'd like to see how the OP came to the conclusion that allowing another authorized sports uniform means "the world capitulates and bends over backward to kiss up to the genocidal cult of Islam."
Hell, it's because of some of you conservative prudes who've FORCED changes in cheerleader uniforms because you think they are "too sinful".
ABC I agree 100% with references. I can give you a credible reference from myself. After serving in Iraq 1998-2003 I have 52 stitch marks and 20 staple marks that say his facts are false. Also have about 200 "souls" gone to Allah, or wherever, that were sent there by me because I was being shot at. Not that I am proud of this fact to brag but just to say...people are people and when the chips are down ...they are all about survival of the way THEY WANT THINGS TO BE.
too many idiots not enough paintballs.....
Ali abukhdar , how about the next time you feel like stoning a woman , give her a joint instead ..
Mark - thank you for your service. What you describe about your wounds is exactly my point...where are the 99% peace-loving Muslims that Meebs claims exist? Meebs has apparently been drinking the Kool-Aid that the media serve when they want us to believe that Muslims are peace-loving. Tell that to the victims of 9/11 and all of our military that have died or been injured in the last decade and in previous decades.
The Koran *teaches* peace in the same way the bible does (and yes I have read both), but both have some pretty shady parts. To that point, as far a 99% of Muslims being peace-loving, that does sound a little unrealistic as I doubt 99% of people subscribing to ANY religion are peace-loving despite what the various books teach. However, quoting war casualties as evidence of a violent mindset is a poor argument. Especially when I am sure they think that 100% of US soldiers are definitely NOT peace-loving (and probably feel that the same ratio applies to the US populace as a whole in the same way that we Americans judge all Muslims by terrorists). Combatants makes for a poor statistical sample. Plus, it is all very anecdotal.
wow, I am amazed at the fear our government has put upon us as Americans....Muslims are not violent, just God fearing and obedient.....why is it that if your car breaks and your mechanic tells you how to fix it, you listen to them as they are professionals, but when God tells us how to keep our bodies and lives healthy, we have to argue and say He is wrong or too strict or call His religion a "cult"....We have changed Catholicism to adapt to modern times so why are Muslims being persecuted for trying to "adapt" in their own way? I feel as Americans we have forgotten the main reason our four fathers came this country..to escape religious persecution, and to be honest from what people are saying on here that is exactly what you all are doing: persecuting..... I am baffled at the hypocritical people that call themselves Americans and or educated at that........
All the power to Kulsoom Abdullah!!! So proud of you!!
Rubber Dingey Rapids Bro (Four Lions)
Just how far will the babbling, drooling idiots go to promote their "multiculturalism"? I think I need to start a religion that demands total nudity, human sacrifice, sporadic use of large caliber guns and free use of drugs. As long as I am a "strong believer" it should be OK to demand that the whole country go along with my demands, including taking my goodies on airplanes.....
Please stop the world, some of us are getting sick of this ride!
WychDoctor George
You dont know what you are talking about. this is not about a country or immigration issues. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MULTICULTURALISM. 54 Muslim countries belong to the international body weighlifting. so they have every right to request accomodations to their religious belief and customns. LAWS ARE MADE BY HUMANS and humans are fallible. ironically it didnt come from muslim countries, it came from a American-born citizen who happen to be Muslim.
Deal with it.
When the anti-Muslim sentiment escalates out of control and they are sent to camps like happened after WWII with the Japanese....you and them can deal with it.
Japanese didnt have oil.
Tolerance and understanding wins again..Take a note from this Teabaggers.
Peter -
Nothing like the tolerance above to start name calling.... but hey, thats LIBERAL TOLERANCE.....I will listen to you only if you say what I WANT! hahaha...
EPIC FAIL!
Way to show your tolerance by referring to a group of people using a derogatory word. Epic fail indeed.
Peter, you may want to take note of your feelings. That way when that big bite in your a$$ comes you can refer back to your "tolerance" agenda.
Peter (Face Palm) You use a slur in a statement talking about tolerance. You sir might be the poster-child of the AAUB (Average American Uneducated Babbler). We are now prepared to listen to your drivel on the three PhD degrees you will claim to have.
Why is this country bending over backwards for beliefs of a persecuting and intolerant religion? In fact, they are just cultural beliefs! Hijab has nothing to do with the actual religion. This whole thing is a disgraceful mess. And it is just the beginning. This is a bad sign of things to come.
Sunshiney
Hitler was CHRISTIAN (but i dont blame chrsitianity) and so is the US militray who killed over 250000 mulims and displaced over 7.8 mil since 2001. The culture of genocide is certainly YOURS. Facts are Facts.
Hitler was not a Christian. There are videos of Hitler speaking to his zealous followers about how they should be denouncing Christ.
Hahahaha....You beat me too it xATSx.......why trouble yourself with facts when you have a LIBERAL Agenda to push....lol
Here are pics of hitler attending the chruch and religious ceremonies.
http://nobeliefs.com/nazis.htm
If you didn't want a war with the United States then maybe you shouldn't have killed 3000 people with planes.
Really? The US military has killed over 250,000 muslims? I would be willing to bet that the Taliban and the muslims in Somalia and Gaddafi and the Iran/Iraq war, etc... have killed more muslims than the enemy combatants that the US and coalition forces (who are in a war) killed.
How about all the Iraqi, Egyptian, Indonesian, Lebonese christians that have been displaced by muslims forcing them out of their own homelands by killing them and their families in the name of Allah and some 'heiferdust' beliefs? Care to tell the Iraqi christians that are left that things will get better for them once the US military leaves?
SirYesSir, your facts are ignorant and more than likely, way off their mark. R-tard.
Jodeman
I always try to back up my claims with sources and links. unlike most people here.
224,000 people have died directly from warfare and 7.8 million people have been displaced
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43573008/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/cost-us-wars-least-trillion-study-finds/
LOL, such a stupid comment by SirYesSir. It is right up there with Jews that claim that 6 million Jews were killed in the European camps when there were only 250,000 Jews in Europe and a max of 3.9M Jews worldwide. Must have been busing them in from the future to fit the Jewish Liberal Agenda.
Too many idiots not enough paintballs.
siryessir, of the 224,000, over 150,000 have been killed as a result of suicide bombers. Detonating bombs in markets, night clubs, restaurants. Almost half of the ' displaced" people are Kurds who fled to the north. Most of the rest are Sunnis who know the Shiite reprisals are coming.
Saddam Hussein killed over 800,000 muslims. Hell, we should have waited another 10 years. then when we took him out, there would only have been a million or so Iraqis left.
Daryl, I think it's safe to say that if Hitler changed his religious rhetoric with the political winds, he didn't have true Christian conviction and was only using religion when it pleased him. Now back to the topic at hand....
Good call on the hijab. As long as religious dress does not interfere with her ability to compete and the the ability of the judges to appraise her, it should be allowed. It is her personal religious conviction, and she's not forcing anyone else to comply. Too many crazy laws against this kind of thing in Europe, as if merely wearing a religious symbol in public was an assault on everyone else's freedom of conscience.
The US Military is christian? I was an atheist. Stop looking at the world in black and white you moron.
StuffAndThat
You called me moron?? YOU sould be banned for violating the code of honor.
I wasnt talking about low ranking soldiers , i was referring to top commanders in the military.
Mark, you are a MORON. There were 10 million Jewish people living in Poland ALONE in 1935. You are clearly a Nazi and a Hitler supporter. Maybe you and Ahmadinejad can get together to discuss the lies of the holocaust. You make me sick.
Hay for one thing muslim or islam is not a religin it is a cult with that said there woman are made to wear those things because the men don't want any other man seeing there womans flesh or see in there eyes. So you better look out if obama gets elected again you will half to teach your kids to speak islamic lang. and they will have to learn the koran and you will be subjt. to shera law. I know you all don't think so but do you want to bet your life on it,If not write my name on the ballet next nov. and every thing will change all his imoral deeds will be undone. Thanks Richard Miers. There is only one GOD.
First off, the spell check app is a wonderful thing...secondly, if Obama "gets elected again" I will have to teach my children to speak Arabic? that's a damned shame... not unlike the conservative claim that if Clinton was elected, he would send the G-men to take all our guns away, what happened with with that claim?, they must have missed me then.
Here is a fine example of someone who has no idea how to think on his/her own...of course you have to grow your own brain before you can think for yourself.
We already cater to and have to speak spanish. That's okay. Don't mind having to press 1 for English and 2 para Espanol. NOT!
Why do you mind so much? Did you push '2' by accident and were unable to get back to the main menu...
Honestly, the capacity for communication is a good thing. It is arguably one of many traits that set us (humans) apart from the rest of the animal kingdom...
I'm sure some Canadians are just as frustrated by dual French-English labeling of retail items.
Hmmm...
Political correctness once again triumphs over the rules. Is it any wonder that many hate Muslims and wish the whole 1.5 billion ceased to exist?
So rules should be established and NEVER revised in response to a considerate request for change?
That would be an affirmative Don. Not considerate. ME me me.
we keep chaing rules to be polite, what happen to the majority ruling effect. this country is going to the dogs real fast and i guess all would still be standing in line as the dust from a bomb blast fell on you and your love ones. the muslem way has no other way for any other kind of religon to be standing.
this should have been left alone and if she didn't like it then she should have quit, for whats to stop the next one not wanting to be bare headed when its driver lic time, because this sets it up with a good lawyer to take it over. well another butt kissed and less rights for other people.
Wow..after reading some of the comments, I have to say, I am very discouraged..Should we tell nuns they cannot wear their habits because their heads are covered...When a jewish man wears a yamaka, should we make him take it off. What about jobs that require we cover our heads, should we tell our bosses no, because I don't believe in that (eventhough it is for sanitary purposes). The bottom line is, this is a country who's foundation is that of religious freedom...read your history books..If you cannot come to the United States to practice your beliefs in peace, then where can you go..not all muslims are fanatics...I know several..they want to live peacefully and raise their kids just like other American, in harmony with others. I know several who let their children go to Catholic churches with their friends, so that they can understand the other religion...Some of my friends have converted to other religions. I know one particular family who's members have gone on to marry Catholics, Jews, Buddhist, Hindu's and many other religions...There is only one God...how you choose to acknowledge him is your business, not the media's...
The International Weightlifting Federation is not a country.
June, members of the Sikh religion tried years ago to fight mandatory motorcycle helmet laws not for the general public but just for themselves....because they would have to violate their religious beliefs by removing their turbans in order to wear a helmet.....your thoughts on this?
Wow, June - You had me agreeing with you until that last sentence...I've got way more than one god...and goddesses, that I choose to commune with.
There always seems to be that catch phrase amongst xtians. It implies that there is freedom of religion...as long as it's one of the Abrahamic religions.
For those who keep saying that we are now doomed, on a slippery slope to whatever, etc. = it's been almost 24 hours now since she had her request granted by the rules committee...and I'm not been converted to being a muslim, or heard anything about any invasion, or society collapsing - so when is all this 'doom and gloom' thing supposed to happen? I'll have enough time to finish this big old bowl of ice cream, won't I? I really hope so; it's got sprinkles on it, ya know.
what is next? stop the weight lifting match so she can stop and pray? give the muslims an inch and they will take a mile. you watch the law suits now over them wearing their bomb hiding get ups.
Funny how everyone on here seems to have a strong desire to preserve the status quo of weightlifting regulations all of the sudden. So tell me, were you guys up in arms when they decided the change the color scheme of the plates some years back?
It would only be a problem changing the plate color if it was done exclusively to satisfy an irrational religious objective.
And BTW "modesty" usually does not entail bringing international attention to oneself. Just saying...
...Only three countries in the world still use "standard" measurement... The US, Myanmar, and Liberia.
IMO the US should get with the rest of the world and stop bitching that it's "too hard" to figure things as factors of ten.
(There is no emoticon for me rolling my eyes at you...)
"Elite weightlifter"??? From what I read in the earlier article, she's not even very good!
"Male-dominated"??? Maybe at the professional level but if you check out the high school and college-level competition, women are WELL represented, both in numbers and ability.
One of my peeves about the sport is that the state tournament didn't even get a mention in the local paper a few months ago. Now we have someone who get's national coverage because she didn't want to play by the rules.
arent the teafreaks and the rethugs who always whine about the UN and international laws and how the US shouldnt play by their rules?? if this woman was a teafreak, a rethug or a hateful Evilgelical , they would have backed her 100%. at least this woman took her claim to the international body using legal channels and she won. THIS WOMAN IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN and wants to represent her country in the olympics.
HYPOCRITES.
I stopped reading after teafreaks. If you can't type 3 words without resorting to namecalling, then you have no argument.
Don't be offended because you are a tool for the big money that fuels the political machine... The only difference between the two parties is that Democrats at least (appear to) feel the slightest secret shame over their w-hore-ish-ness.
If one kills millions of innocents in genocide, and calls oneself a Christ-ian, one could not be further from the teachings of Christ and is no Christian (Hitler denied Christ in his actions).
The U.S. military is a secular organization of the U.S. government (which is, in fact, a secular institution).
And good for the young woman to be able to compete and not compromise her modesty, as she sees it!
HOLY GOD THEY'RE LETTING A MUSLIM LIFT WEIGHTS IN A HIJAB
Jesus Christ and I had a very long talk about this, and He thinks that we ought to do something. I've written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, and he agrees with us that this treachery must be stopped. Plans are in place for another Crusade (we lost track of the numbers, so this's called the International Christian Crusade to Preserve the Rights and Freedoms of Certain American Citizens But Not Others), and we've consulted with various fortune tellers who tell us that our odds are good. Fear not America, we will save you from this terrible curse of having a woman wear her religious covering that does not impose any interdictions on you personally while she competes in a sport that none of you watch! And Jesus, let me tell you, has some pretttty strong opinions on this country going down the drain. According to Him, Obama is not only a scheming military Islamist Nazi Communist who attended a radical Christian church, he also likes romantic comedies. [/sarcasm]
You people need to grow up-if someone as sarcastic as I am has to tell you that, you're in a bad spot already. Frankly, I don't care if you can't handle the idea that someone believes in a different set of ideals than you do. You just have to get used to it. Whether you like it or not, you've got to share the world with billions of other people who may just live their lives differently than you. Declaring war on the rest of the earth is just going to get you killed, and I personally do not want to suffer the fallout of your intolerant ways just because it makes you feel good to be a bully. I can't see how a country that reveres people like Martin Luther King Jr. could turn around and be so crudely intolerant to another demographic of people.
Bottom line, GET OVER IT. Muslims EXIST, whether you like it or not. And since you can't kill them all, as much as you would like to, you have to learn with them peacefully. If you can't do it out of a sense of morality, do it out of necessity.
I couldn't have said it better..lol...!!
Sadly, this post will not be well up-voted, precisely because it is written in long, grammatically correct, and thoughtfully considered sentences. Most readers won't get past the first three lines.
I think the change to the rules is a reasonable one, if this had been a question of a Jewish competitor asking for a change and it being granted, there wouldn't have even been media coverage.
Human, how do you know that for certain?
Lebanse, I agree, but please tell your message to both sides. And if you don't believe there are two sides to this, then address your message to all intolerant people as a whole.
"Whether you like it or not, you've got to share the world with billions of other people who may just live their lives differently than you."
aye, there's the rub.... the very people you are misguidedly defending are the only ones living in the world today who actively seek and destroy those who live their lives differently from them.... denying that islam poses an even greater threat to the world than nazism, fascism and communism is akin to hiding your brain under a burka... and, please, don't blather about "peaceful, loving, moderate" muslims... if they indeed exist, and make up the vast majority of muslims, why are the terrorists winning? if they remain silent, they are complicit...
we cannot "get over it"... we cannot "learn to live with them peacefully"... they won't let us
Hey Leb - That sure is a catchy title of that crusade....kind of just rolls off the tongue, ya know?
Fifi - Don't worry, I'll protect you from the big scary American Muslim female weightlifter. 'Cuz I'm pretty sure that she's got one of those most dangerous weapons of all tucked up under that hajib....a brain. And I'm really unclear how she is 'actively seeking and destroying those who live their lives differently' from her. And as for "If they remain silent, they are complicit..." --> EXACTLY why I am posting this message...
...
Hey Leb - That sure is a catchy title of that crusade....kind of just rolls off the tongue, ya know?
Fifi - Don't worry, I'll protect you from the big scary American Muslim female weightlifter. 'Cuz I'm pretty sure that she's got one of those most dangerous weapons of all tucked up under that hajib....a brain. And I'm really unclear how she is 'actively seeking and destroying those who live their lives differently' from her. And as for "If they remain silent, they are complicit..." --> EXACTLY why I am posting this message...
...
she looks like she is wearing sweats and a hoodie
I don't see a problem being clothed unless it distorts the judges to rule fairly.
Liberals love to be "fair" in thier minds
its only fair to put your head on the chopping block when islam wants to kill you. Please Please liberals do so to save the USA from itself.
How will it cause Islam to kill me if this woman competes in a hoodie?
There are so many posts on this thread calling Islam a cult. I think people should take the initiative to study Islam before start saying these horrible things about Islam.
Muslims believe in only one God and worhip only Him, who is the God of Prophet Jesus, Moses and Abraham and all the previous messengers (peace and blessings be on all of them). Muslims also believe in the holy books that were revealed to Moses, Jesus and David. If you study you will find that Islam is very similar to Judaism and Christianity.
It is unfortunate that there are terrorists that exploit Islam and commit horrible crimes in the name of religion. But their claims are just excuses to justify their actions with no basis in Islam. Islam strictly forbids harming civilians. As Muslims we believe that saving one life is like saving the whole humanity and at the same time, killing one innocent person is equivalent to killing the whole humanity. God's creation (human life) is sacred.
Islam literally means to cause peace and it is submission to the will of the only God. Please study and ask questions from Muslims before making judgments.
Are you sure that Islam doesn't mean to "cause pieces" ... as in blowing up people and things and chopping off heads and strapping suicide bombs to innocent children ??
The IRA, which was Catholic, killed loads of Protestants. Who returned the favor. Serbs, who are mostly Serbian Orthodox Christians, committed genocide against Bosnian Muslims. Most of the Christians in Germany stood and watched as Hitler massacred the Jews. Hindu nationalists in India persecute Christians. Jews and Palestinian Muslims are locked in a battle that seems to have no end.
Religion is a powerful force, for good and for evil. No one religion has the lock on virtue or on violence in terms of how its followers justify their actions.
Actions not words, islam is mostly about bigotry and discrimination. If you disagree, let us meet and discuss the matter in a church in Saudi Arabia.
DRK - take a look at this website and prove that Christians stood by during the Holocaust. I find it interesting. http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/Newsletter.htm
or maybe you
could invite him to a mosque in the vatican?
Islam is not recognized by the italian gov despite being the second largest faith after Catholicism in Italy.[2] Other religions including Judaism and smaller groups such as the Assemblies of God, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Seventh-Day Adventists do enjoy official recognition in the form of signed agreements with the Italian government. Official recognition gives an organized religion a chance to benefit from a national "religion tax", known as the Eight per thousand.[
I think its a good thing. If the judges can see her knees and elbows are locked, then what difference does it make if she stays covered up? If other competitors want to wear a similar outfit, the new ruling says its ok.
No kidding. The International Weightlifting Federation allows her to compete in a hijab and for some reason this means American will become hell on earth. The IWF has regulations, she presented them with some options that she felt met the requirements. They agreed. They didn't even change the rule, they just approved a new outfit.
There are so many posts on this thread calling Islam a cult. I think people should take the initiative to study Islam before start saying these horrible things about Islam.
Muslims believe in only one God and worhip only Him, who is the God of Prophet Jesus, Moses and Abraham and all the previous messengers (peace and blessings be on all of them). Muslims also believe in the holy books that were revealed to Moses, Jesus and David. If you study you will find that Islam is very similar to Judaism and Christianity.
It is unfortunate that there are terrorists that exploit Islam and commit horrible crimes in the name of religion. But their claims are just excuses to justify their actions with no basis in Islam. Islam strictly forbids harming civilians. As Muslims we believe that saving one life is like saving the whole humanity and at the same time, killing one innocent person is equivalent to killing the whole humanity. God's creation (human life) is sacred.
Islam literally means to cause peace and it is submission to the will of the only God. Please study and ask questions from Muslims before making judgments.
Thank you, Peace, for your well-reasoned post.
Muslims believe that to lie to a non-believer is okay. If you disagree, let us discuss this in a church in Saudi Arabia. Oh, we cannot because the protectors of Mecca don't allow any churches.
Wow.. She looks rather slight in build, and she's an olympic scale weightlifter. I'm impressed.
I wonder if mayweather is going to wear one ???
Dang it!!! First this, next the muslim strippers ?!?
isnt it amazing.!! 2010 Miss America was a Muslim too.
Part of your "tolerance" movement. I'm telling you, it will come back to bite you. Maybe not actually you, but one of your next generations.
Must not have been devout? Evening gown, swimsuit? So why does weightlifting needing a special rule? Don't get it.
just like Christains or Jews or any other religion. Muslims are not all made of the same fabric. Muslims also have different views on their religion, different and outlooks on the world. some would fully pratice their religion, others some or none of it. But they all call themeslves Muslims. Surprise, surprise.
Wow another group bows to allah what a bunch of boot lickers just wait we will all be bowing for giving in to this group !!then you can realy scream and then when they kill you we won't have to listen to you !!