A few months back, a skipper of an American warship made some scathing remarks about the skimpy and revealing clothes Darwin ladies were wearing.
“Ladies, think of the message you are sending...” he proclaimed.
Isn't this precisely the attitude Muslim men display, in insisting their women cover up? That men simply can't control themselves, and that women are simply about manipulating men's helplessness?
Isn't this the excuse Muslim rape gangs used?
To me, it sounded very much like a pre emptive excuse, for his randy sailors. 'It wasn't my boys fault; those tarty girls led them on'.
I think the only message the girls in Darwin was sending is that they are not ashamed of themselves, and why should they be?
Ever noticed overweight women tend to wear low cut tops? (Bless them).
Overweight men tend to wear sleeveless shirts, to display their overweight arms? (Got a few myself).
People have a tendency to try and display themselves in the best possible light; verbally, intellectually and physically.
Duh.

Grim

"A few months back, a skipper of an American warship made some scathing remarks about the skimpy and revealing clothes Darwin ladies were wearing.
“Ladies, think of the message you are sending...” he proclaimed.
Isn't this precisely the attitude Muslim men display, in insisting their women cover up? That men simply can't control themselves, and that women are simply about manipulating men's helplessness?"

Check your facts. The American claimed to be a marine and his arguments had nothing to do with rape. He claimed that wearing revealing clothes might attract the attention of some men but will not impress nice guys. Of course, the thought that these women's behaviour might lead some people to think less might hurt their feelings. Consequently, the media found it safer to disagree with him.

You also misunderstand the opinions of many Muslims. These women cover their heads in much the same way that you or I put clothes on before leaving ther house.

All that story about Capt John Campbell, the fictitious marine and his 'letter' saying Darwin women wore too little to attract "nice men" proves is how easy it is for media hacks to start the dogs barking.

What an unlike story: a marine officer writing and signing an inflammatory missive dumping on local women while his ship was docked in the port of a friendly nation.

More likely it was written by an unprincipled local stirrer in the hope of causing trouble.

Later, some mud sticks because the media never return to a story they knew originally was an egg-beat. Journalistic ethics?

I agree with Cornflower. I have never known any army or navy personnel visiting a new port somewhere in the world to make derogatory comments about how little the local women are wearing!

More likely it was a local God-fearing man pretending to be a marine.

I have lived in Darwin before, and the men don't wear much either!
It's incredibly hot most of the year!

Benk,<" You also misunderstand the opinions of many Muslims. These women cover their heads in much the same way that you or I put clothes on before leaving ther house."

Most women in our society don't dress according to their religious beliefs Benk.
The vast majority dress in clothes to suit what they plan to do for the day, and to the probable temperature of the day.

Most devout Muslim women dress as their religion demands- very modestly.
Some devout Muslim men require their women to dress from head to toe so other men do not 'lust after them'.

Suze

Once again, you fail to understand a simple argument.

I'm guessing that you would never leave the house wearing only your underwear, no matter how hot the weather is. A nudist might think that you are conforming to un-necessary social pressures. I could fairly safely assume that you are quite happy to conform to these particular social norms.

I don't mean to criticise these social conventions, I just wish to point out that many Muslim women are happy to cover their head before leaving the house, in much the same way as you or I wouldn't leave our house without a shirt on.

No Benk, I absolutely understood what you were trying to say- simple or not.

I would imagine you would be able to leave the house without a shirt on Benk- many men do that in hot weather in this country.

There is a vast difference between you and I leaving the house in light clothing in an area with extreme heat conditions, and a devout Muslim woman covered from head to foot in layers of clothing leaving her house with her husband while he is comfortably dressed in light, modern clothing.

She may or may not wish to dress like this, but either way, she is required to do it for religious reasons.