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MistressTexas -> RE: A Question of Free Speech by Immigrants (11/4/2006 4:05:04 AM)
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I believe that freedom of religion will only go so far. I'll give you an example.
I once dated an east indian boy (yes the term was used on purpose) who had immagrated here roughly a year before we began dating. At some point, for whatever reason, he got his head up his ass over a workout top I would wear. We actually got in a screaming drag out fight over it. My position being that "It's July, I have a ton of stuff to do, most of which involves a wrestling mat or a treadmill, and I refuse to wear something heavier, which will suffocate me, or something looser, which will get in my way all day." His position was "You're my woman and no others should see any of your skin. Ever." Eventually we came to a wary truce, and I agreed to not wear it after that day. Well eventually, I forgot, or it was laundry day.. possibly both. In any case, I wore the offending shirt, and he had the gall to smack me across the face.. hard. I had a bruise for a good 2 weeks (and this is when I was training 7 days a week, getting routinely punched in the face. It took a lot to bruise me at that point.). Absolutely stunned, I asked him WTF he was thinking? His response was basically that in his country men are allowed to discipline women as they see fit when the women dishonour themselves. He then gave me the option of putting on his sweatshirt. Which I oh so politely threw back in his face while telling him where to go and how to get there. Reward for that? Another smack to the jaw, and another lecture on religion, honor and me being a lesser species. At that point I pretty much snapped on him, and performed my absolute best soccer goalie-style drop kick to his nuts, called 911 and had him arrested for assault.
I can't tell you hpw much that frustrates me and aggravates me. I respect that people have their own cultures and religious beliefs, however some things just don't translate. Like domestic abuse. I don't give a flying cat what it is you do "back home" or "in your old country" or anything else. In this country, this culture, this civilisation, you do not get to hit a woman because she wears something you don't like. Yes I realize that there are way too many North American people that do believe its fine, but thats not really my point.
The fact that this sheikh seems to think any woman not veiled invites her own rapist is horrid. I agree that some women don't do everything they could to minimize their risk, but I have severe doubts whether any woman consciouly thinks "Hmmm, I'm bored... whats there to do tonight... Oooh! i think I'll go out and get raped. Now what to wear?" Again, that may be the belief in other countries, however in North America, everyone pretty much has the right to dress however they damn well please, and expect their day to be rape/hate crime/ etc etc. free. Do I necessarily reccomend (for instance) an adorably lippy gay guy to walk into a hells angel bar wearing a pink paisly Dolce&Gabbana suit and start raving about how he got it 30% off? Hmm probably not. But thats another situation where a person is voluntarily putting themself into a situation and refusing to acclimate. Much like immagrants taking this ass-backwards insulting view of women = rape bait. Or any person who chooses to engage in non-consentual abuse.
I personally believe there needs to be way higher standards of acclimation, and much harsher standards for immagration.
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