Israel Modesty Buses
I wonder what’s the difference between religious extremism in Israel and Afghanistan after going through this article.
I do understand till where it says that the modesty buses are a way of maintaining the modesty level in the society, by avoiding public contact of men and women. This does make sense when a man and woman are not married to each other. But the part, where husband’s leave their wives to move to other part is an overkill. If you are already married to a woman, even if you are sitting with her in a bus, what kind of a social norm or religious law are you breaking ?
If people in Afghanistan ask their women to cover themselves up is religious extremism then I think its the same where you put up signs to make them wear modest clothes. Either both of them are extremism or neither of them.
However, I would really like to read the comments of Israelites here. Because I am very well aware of the propaganda these news sites put up at times. It could be something really normal in Israel which they just exaggerated here.
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Even in extremism you have gradations.
So if we would compare Afganistans heavy, traditional , restrictions on women with modesty buses, we can easily say that the modesty buses are the lesser evil.
We can also consider this as extremism:
The HUGE difference is that in those buses the religious population choses themselves to sit separately. Women want to sit separate from men just as much as the other way around. We’re talking here about restricted religious areas (some neighborhood in Jerusalem and one busline going from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem while there are some 3 other lines existing that are normally mixed) – so this tiny incident if totally imcomparable with the grose comparison to Afghanistan, LOL.
You two exactly hit the nail here. While you can advocate the happenings in Israel, do you notice that there is no one here to advocate the actual scenario of Afghanistan.
If I ask you, how do you know that women in Afghanistan actually have heavy, traditional restrictions on them ?
The point for this post was that whatever appears on these news sites are not exactly how the situation is at the other end. If I was not aware of the certain exaggerations done by these news sites, I would have taken this article at face value. But because I know that these sites do not paint the actual true picture at times, I posted it here to see the response.
While there is defense on Israel’s behalf, there is no one here to clarify the situation in Afghanistan. Therefore, when you hear about atrocities on women in Afghanistan through these news sites, think twice before taking it on face value.
Sorry Umar but no.
Afghani women, in majority, wearing a burqa is a common known fact. No need to think twice about that.
Afghani women being oppressed by the Taliban is a rule.
Saudi women not being alloiwed to drive, is a know common fact. No need to think about that twice.
etc etc etc etc.
It’s there, its know, its true.
Just because there is no one here to advocate Afghanistan, doesn’t mean that the news-reports are therefore exaggerated and not reliable yet until proven so by another.
I am not at all defending the atrocities on women in Afghanistan and Saudia in the name of religion. I agree with you totally that these instances do not need any further verification.
But using these instances to stereotype a society is wrong in itself.
My intention to post it here is to make us realize the fact that yes there could be instances where other people would look at Jews and call some of their religious following to be extremist, in the same way they do to Muslims.
Calling a religion follower an extremist has become norm of the day.
You have to understand that people never like to criticize themselves or their own society that much. If people did that, well, we’ll be in a much better world. Everyone use one rule for themselves and another rule for the others. Reactions to this post is just that.
Jina >
Your comment reminds of this excellent debate between Noam Chomsky and Robert Trivers.
Link to the debate