I did not expect to wake up and read anything like this today, although I’m wondering why I am surprised.
BOSTON — Harvard University has banned men from one of its gyms for a few hours a week, a move to accomodate Muslim women who, for religious and cultural reasons, cannot exercise comfortably in their presence.
We’ve seen this in Europe, Canada, and in Michigan. But Harvard? There is a line here, but I’m not quite certain where it is yet, and I’m not sure this is it.
Student Ola Aljawhary, who is Muslim and works out elsewhere on campus but is not one of the women who requested the change, rejected that argument.
“The majority should be willing to compromise,” she said. “I think that’s just basic courtesy. We must show tolerance and respect for all others.”
I agree, as far as that goes. But I think the question most of us are asking now is, does this go both ways? The university is trying to spin it as a commonplace arrangement.
The trial policy went into effect Feb. 4, about a month after a group of six Muslim women, with the support of the Harvard College Women’s Center, asked the university for the special hours, spokesman Robert Mitchell said.
“We get special requests from religious groups all the time and we try to honor them whenever possible,” he said, noting that the school has designated spaces for Muslim and Hindu students to pray.
I wonder if it is permissible for women of any faith to work out during those hours? I wonder if a group of Campus Crusade for Christ men asked Harvard for special gym hours, would they be accomodated as well? And I’m deeply suspicious when an article like this goes to Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, which has only a few more members than the women’s workout group at Harvard, in order to obtain a quote, and giving him another opportunity to point out to us all how evil, bigoted, and stupid we all are.
Harvard’s policy is no different from commercial gyms that cater partially or even exclusively to women, said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“The Muslim bashers portray it as the world coming to end, but if women have a couple hours a week to work out in private, I don’t see it as a major issue,” he said.
If one of our local Boise Muslim teachers had said this, I might be inclined to accept that statement on its face, and wish the Muslim coeds a hearty “you go girl”. But we’ve all watched Ibrahim and CAIR for years, and his determination of what is and is not a “major issue” is itself a major issue. Just the fact that he has a hand on this leads me to believe this story is more closely similar to the flying imams type of situation than it is to a few Muslim college girls worried about staying in shape. Ibrahim Hooper’s goals are not about defending poor misunderstood Muslims from being mistreated by ignorant American bigots. The goal of CAIR is to change American society, always pointing it towards Islam. Pay attention America… you will never go far wrong being suspicious of anything Ibrahim Hooper and CAIR get involved in. Wake up Harvard, and don’t be conned.
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