Dad Locked Out of Daughter’s Swim Practice to Accommodate Muslim Sensibilities

[red states rule]

If Muslims are so picky - why not have Muslim only swim classes?

TORONTO - When a single dad signed his nine-year-old daughter up for female-only swim lessons, he didn’t realize he — as a man — was going to be banned from watching her practice.


Chris (who didn’t want his last name published) was shocked when he had the blinds to the viewing area of the Dennis R. Timbrell Recreation Centre pool in Flemingdon Park shut on him and then was told by staffers it was for “religious reasons.”


“I spoke to a staff member and she told me that it’s because of Muslim women, that we’re not allowed to look at them or whatever,” Chris, 38, told the Toronto Sun Friday. “I don’t think religion has a role to play in a public pool.”


Chris said he enrolled his daughter online through the city’s website and registered her for the Ultra Swim 1: Female class – a nine-week course offered for free at the community centre.


Nowhere on the form did it mention that males could not watch the lessons.


So, when he showed up with his child at the pool on March 28 and again on Thursday night, he was confused when told he wasn’t allowed to watch.
“She doesn’t have a lot of friends and I wanted her to swim with girls,” Chris explained. “I don’t know what parent wouldn’t want to watch their child participate. There were other fathers there who weren’t too happy.”


Local Councillor John Parker hadn’t heard of the particular case until the Sun contacted him Friday, but said the dad’s point is a “legitimate one” and raises a “fair issue.”


http://www.torontosun.com/2013/04/06...ers-swim-class

[Jeff]

If Muslims are so picky - why not have Muslim only swim classes?

We try so hard to kiss everyones Butt in this country that some seem to lose any kind of good sense they had , if the Muslim woman cannot be seen of course they should have a class all of there own but to tell a parent he can't watch his child due to someone else's religious beliefs is ridiculous at best

[jafar00]

A lot of women sign up for women's only sessions because they don't want men gawking at them in their bathing suits. They are not all Muslim either.

[Marcus Aurelius]

A lot of women sign up for women's only sessions because they don't want men gawking at them in their bathing suits. They are not all Muslim either.

Not the point, dumb ass. He should have been told when he signed his daughter up that he wasn't to be allowed to watch her.

[aboutime]

If Muslims are so picky - why not have Muslim only swim classes?

red states rule. Your question reminded me of a joke I heard many, many years ago.

Asking "Why not have Muslim only swim classes?"

JOKE: "How do you get them to get out of the pool when you tell them?"

ANSWER: "Drop a bar of soap in the pool!"

My apologies to anyone who thinks I just insulted SOAP.

[jimnyc]

A lot of women sign up for women's only sessions because they don't want men gawking at them in their bathing suits. They are not all Muslim either.

Well in this case it is Muslims. And secondly, if they want complete privacy, they shouldn't be going to PUBLIC places to do the swimming, and it's ridiculous that non-muslims are blocked out from watching their children. They should have tossed out the little Muslims and told them to swim like everyone else, or find a place to accommodate what it is they want.

[aboutime]

Well in this case it is Muslims. And secondly, if they want complete privacy, they shouldn't be going to PUBLIC places to do the swimming, and it's ridiculous that non-muslims are blocked out from watching their children. They should have tossed out the little Muslims and told them to swim like everyone else, or find a place to accommodate what it is they want.

jimnyc. This is how the socialists work. Mob rule can be controlled by the few, to impose on the many. And if anyone refuses. It become racism, or discrimination. One step at a time until the FEW control everyone else.

[DragonStryk72]

A lot of women sign up for women's only sessions because they don't want men gawking at them in their bathing suits. They are not all Muslim either.

Um, well first off, that isn't even the point, so why bring it up? Second, a parent has a right to watch over their kid. At as certain point, if you have intensely limiting cultural or religious beliefs, you can't just keep punishing others for it. You don't see me stopping people from ordering a pepperoni pizza on Fridays, do you? No, of course not, I'd be an asshole if I did, and the reverse is also true.

They could have set up an all muslim women's group, but no, they didn't give that much consideration to the other people around them. I get that they have serious religious beliefs, but I'm not debating those. I refuse to believe that being Muslim means that you have to inconvenience others who do not share your belief for purely self-serving reasons.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Um, well first off, that isn't even the point, so why bring it up? Second, a parent has a right to watch over their kid. At as certain point, if you have intensely limiting cultural or religious beliefs, you can't just keep punishing others for it. You don't see me stopping people from ordering a pepperoni pizza on Fridays, do you? No, of course not, I'd be an asshole if I did, and the reverse is also true.

They could have set up an all muslim women's group, but no, they didn't give that much consideration to the other people around them. I get that they have serious religious beliefs, but I'm not debating those. I refuse to believe that being Muslim means that you have to inconvenience others who do not share your belief for purely self-serving reasons.

[logroller]

Not the point, dumb ass. He should have been told when he signed his daughter up that he wasn't to be allowed to watch her.

The class was designated Female Only swimming; and fwiw, they also have female swimming. He should have been told what "only" means? In English, French or Arabic? Guys a dumbass if he fails to understand what "only" means.

[DragonStryk72]

The class was designated Female Only swimming; and fwiw, they also have female swimming. He should have been told what "only" means? In English, French or Arabic? Guys a dumbass if he fails to understand what "only" means.

Really? A dumbass? Parents have been watching their kids swim, yes even at female only classes, for decades. why would he assume that was different now? He wasn't participating, he was just trying to be there for his kid.

[jimnyc]

The class was designated Female Only swimming; and fwiw, they also have female swimming. He should have been told what "only" means? In English, French or Arabic? Guys a dumbass if he fails to understand what "only" means.

I'm confident that this designation means that men can't join and participate in that class - not that they are forbidden from watching their children. Especially at that age, parents tend to watch for the safety of their kids, even with a lifeguard on duty.

[Marcus Aurelius]

The class was designated Female Only swimming; and fwiw, they also have female swimming. He should have been told what "only" means? In English, French or Arabic? Guys a dumbass if he fails to understand what "only" means.

was he trying to swim?

[Marcus Aurelius]

Originally Posted by logroller
The class was designated Female Only swimming; and fwiw, they also have female swimming. He should have been told what "only" means? In English, French or Arabic? Guys a dumbass if he fails to understand what "only" means.

I'm confident that this designation means that men can't join and participate in that class - not that they are forbidden from watching their children. Especially at that age, parents tend to watch for the safety of their kids, even with a lifeguard on duty.

yup

[red states rule]

A lot of women sign up for women's only sessions because they don't want men gawking at them in their bathing suits. They are not all Muslim either.

After the 8 years of Bill Clinton, gawking is no longer a bad thing