I did not take any offense but I was aware of the customs. I’m sure there were some tourists who did not understand and may have taken offense.

I was not a tourist and these are the customs of my society. I do not belong to the school of thought that accepts discriminatory behavior in the name of tradition. That sign was insulting, tradition didn’t make it any less so and I plan to do everything can to make sure those signs are relegated where they belong–in the dustbin of history.

That is terrible the way that you were denied. Although what you describe reminds me of when I was in Indonesia and touring around. It was natural for many international visitors to want to see some of the temples and mosques in the country and outside of Bali there was a temple with a crude handpainted sign announcing “Menstruating Women Not Allowed Inside.” I did not take any offense but I was aware of the customs. I’m sure there were some tourists who did not understand and may have taken offense.

does it imply then that the men who share this view believe themselves to be born from an immaculate conception or something?

Carol:
In my experience that IS the view held by many in the religious establishment. I refuse to enter shrines for a similar reason. On one occasion, I was denied entry because women of “menstruating age” were deemed “unclean.” I began to ask the priest if he had been conceived in a test-tube but my mother hauled me away before I could really get the discussion going.

However, I would pepper spray someone who is harassing me but only if it got physical.

Good on you. If that line is crossed, you should be permitted to defend yourself. It’s too bad that you don’t have a Second Amendment (or a First, for that matter).

The problem with them is that they go under cover and try to trick people, so nobody really knows they are commission members many times.

Sneaky, bastids

ArabNews Story

The court delays forced her to accept extortion by her husband and a life with no income. The right outcome should have been that she would have been granted a divorce for the negligence of the husband in taking care of his family and receive an allowance for her and the kids.

I am in Riyadh. Those women were in Khobar or Damman. I wouldn’t agree with pepper spraying someone who is talking nicely.

However, I would pepper spray someone who is harassing me but only if it got physical. We don’t have the whole story there. I doubt they would let the girls off that easy if the commission members were in the right. The problem with them is that they go under cover and try to trick people, so nobody really knows they are commission members many times.

Girls/ Young Ladies are fighting back…My son saw two women beating up a man at a mall a few days ago. I know violence isn’t good but I was like “Yeah Women Power!” Wished I would have seen it. I know that sounds terrible but Hey.

Maybe the same women here:

Saudi Religious Police attacked by girls