Yes, this is a vent – but it is also highly representative of the madness the silent majority are allowing to spread across this world.
In recessions and their aftermath, extremists and fundamentalists somehow seem to gain power, and few are fighting back. The situation I am describing is in an Islamic country, yet the stupidity and hypocrisy are just as prevalent in the Christian world.
I may seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill, but just think about it, about the issues involved. (I’ll write more on this after I describe the situation).
A background first:
The city’s public swimming pool has been shut “for renovations” for four years, but finally re-opened recently.
The first thing to note, there are no detectable improvements and the changing rooms/showers are filthy, broken and stink. No one has complained, nor did they during the four years closure.
Now, two new notices have been posted.
The first shows the opening hours, the relevant part is that for the afternoon session the pool is open until 6.00 p.m.
The second, and this is the main issue, states that males wishing to use the pool must wear “tights”. The notice is in Malay, but ‘Tights” is in English.
I have been to many Islamic countries, and most were more fundamentalist than Malaysia. I have swum in those countries and not in ’relaxed’ tourist hotels.
So, wearing that same acceptable swimming costume (modest, lined and from waist to mid-thigh), I went to the pool.
The attendants objected, pointed to the “tights” word and insisted that I either borrow the recommended tights from them or leave the pool. They gave me stretch fit, unlined, semi-transparent cycling shorts. The clearly defined outline of my penis (which is not huge) and testicles was blatantly on display. (See photos above).
Time to insert the dictionary definition here:
tights [tīts]
plural noun
1. thick one-piece garment: a one-piece close-fitting garment made of opaque colored material, covering the body from the waist to the feet and worn by women and girls for warmth and casual wear
2. dancer's one-piece garment: a one-piece close-fitting garment covering the body from the neck or waist to the feet, worn especially by men and women dancers and acrobats
NOTE: The definition does not include cycling shorts.
I refused to wear the cycling shorts, made an appointment with the Director, and discussed this issue. He agreed with me, but asked to see photos of both my swimming wear and of the ‘tights”.
Three weeks later, during which I swam with my own costume and with no complaints, he backed out of his position. He had discussed the matter with the lifeguards/attendants and now insisted that “Tights” be worn.
Here are the issues:
1. A director, having allowed uneducated jerks to build their tiny empire, is ignorant of the actual meaning of the word he supports. I have pointed out to him that no-one is wearing “tights” in the pool.
2. The Director has allowed those same jerks to be the arbiters of Islamic Morality.
3. Once more we have an example of interpreting a rule based on the words used and not the intent of that rule. Modesty is an issue in Islamic states, and I have no argument with that. A rule is also required to prevent people using the pool in their day clothes, for health reasons. This IS a problem with Malaysian Muslims who are supposed to totally cover up. It is NOT an Islamic rule that males show the outline of penis and testicles.
Perhaps, when he looks up the definition of “Tights”, the director should also check the definition of “Modesty”.
Remember that 6:00 p.m. closing time? The pool is actually being closed at 5:45 so that the lifeguards/attendants can start their private swimming lessons. They are robbing the public of the time they have paid for. “Tights” is an issue with the Director, this theft is not.
I am asking the director his intent, because it puzzles me.
Are they all latent homosexuals wanting soft porn live? Is the intention to allow the females to select a well-endowed partner? Who redefined “tights” as cycling shorts?
The reaction of the Malaysians to all this?
“It’s the rules, we have to obey. It’s their swimming pool.” A look of bafflement comes over them when I ask “Who paid for the pool, who pays the director’s salary, and who pays the lifeguards/attendants salaries?”
When I ask the females if it would be OK for them to be forced to show the outline of nipples and pubic crease – they look horrified. So why force men to show their private parts? ”Don’t know.”
As I stated before, the focus on words not meaning and the application of a personal interpretation of those words is the main tool of fundamentalists/extremists of all religions worldwide. It is a Godsend for little people wanting their moment of power.
It is time for the silent majority to make a stand.
So, yes, I will make a mountain out of this molehill.
