In the wake of the Sheikh's gaffe...

Cliff wonders if there is a different way of looking at Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly's gaffe on female dress standards. Is there a legitimate issue here that our community needs to be looking at? Cliff went off on a Google search to find out what had been written on the subject. You might like to check out what he's found and contribute to a discussion in our forum about dress standards.

The Sheikh is either a nutbar attempting to mitigate the serious crime of rape committed by Arab males by shifting the blame on to women, OR is there is some obstruction that prevents a good thought getting through, in a comprehensive language, from head to a male mouth?

Or does the old boy have a point, after all?

You'll have to decide. You do not need a populist, moralizing Prime Minister to make up your mind, let alone a talkback radio jock or a lunatic newspaper columnist who feels our Christian, innocent Australian Womanhood is in peril..

Let us not get lost in the forest of 'Australian values' which may be demonstrated on a tourist ship filled with drinking males and females.

What does Modesty mean, anyway? Do Navels on Public Transport turn us into potential rapists? If we are unemployed and unloved do we act out, do the crime? Does our society make relief of sexual frustration the ultimate, something that must at all costs be met?

I have a good recollection as a former criminal trial reporter of aggressive defence counsel in trials attempting to blame the victim for their dress and behaviour, as if they lured their perpetrator into crime.

It's the Eve story all over again.

Women are the culprits.

Men are wired to desire to fertilize the female population of the world.

Women are wired to attract men so they can bear life.

Men control the culture in which a woman is said to be appealing to men.

If things go awry, always blame the woman.

The Sheikh is not the only clerical loony to dump on women.

Having said the above, I am concerned that young women are encouraged by modern fashion to display more of their bodies than is necessary to get a bloke.

I could write a doctoral thesis on Navels Observed on the Bus.

On the other hand, I must admit that the Sheikh, though clumsy and seeing things through a male prism (but I am sure in other sermons he would have explained the holy innocence of women and their need to be protected) was well intentioned and should not be dismissed, if only because he has real concerns.

The Sheikh should not be exposed to the inflammatory populist remarks of the perpetual moralist John Howard, the prime minister who gives clichés a bad name.

His good intentions need to be considered.

Amidst all of the dramatic outrage and tut-tutting over the Sheikh's sermon let's stay cool and show some compassion for his problem.

We have to face the uncomfortable reality that we live in a sexually-charged, commercially-driven society that from time to time goes a bridge too far with its billboards or TV advertising, causing a feeling of revulsion.

Women are encouraged into the notion that buying a fashion garment will make them appear 'hot' and ready for Mr Right..

So, in fairness to the foolish Sheikh of (Female Only) Modesty, this week I did some wider thinking.

For example a Friend Writes:

'Amidst all of the dramatic outrage and tut-tutting over the Sheikh's sermons let us preserve some compassion.

'Can we , please, look at the situation more dispassionately?

'We have young men, with a high unemployment rate, living in a sexually-stimulating environment, including TV, who are chronically frustrated.

'These are the people the Sheikh is trying to protect.

'Consider how difficult it must be for the Sheikh's young people to adapt to our sexually-driven public life and his conversations with his congregation.

'It must be admitted that his values may be questioned and his language may be clumsy and offensive.

'But before we start frothing at the mouth we must consider the number of young unemployed males who are frustrated and exploited by Capitalism.

'The Sheikh must be given a Fair Go as he attempts to seek a better situation for his people.

'He is trying to protect his people from a commercially-driven sexplotiation and deserves a better deal.'

Fair enough, if the Sheikh and my friend are on about morality, female modesty and male respect I am with them.

We part company with the notion that those navels on public transport cause the rapes.

I have covered many rapes and murders where the victim was dressed as modestly as the Virgin Mary.

None of the above, however, decries the need for Modesty, which is why I sought Google on the topic. Here's a summary of four different perspectives on the subject of dress modesty that might form the basis for a discussion in our community about what the community standards might be.

Cliff

Photo Credits:
Islamic Boutique
URL: www.islamicboutique.com/prodimages/h050002s.jpg
Modest girl from Mormon section of Light Planet website on world religions
URL: www.lightplanet.com/mormons/modesty/modest_girl.jpg
Beautiful faces
URL: beautifulfaces0.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/face0003.jpg.w300h225.jpg
Ghana Web
URL: www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/img/78546961.jpg

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Cliff Baxter can be contacted at:
Cliff Baxter <cliffbaxter@catholica.com.au>

©2006 Clifford Baxter

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