Belly,

"...RAPE IN INDIA..."

You are shouting RAPE IN INDIA...Why are you shouting about Rape in India? What has that heartbreaking incident got to do with the subject at hand?

It's your way of spruiking a line - provoking a response.

Or are you intimating that all third worlders are culturally diabolical because of that rape? What should we make of the rapists in our own society and what does it say about us? It says that we deplore such violent and socially unacceptable actions.

Funnily enough, Indians seem to be saying the same thing?

Time to find another provocative headline methinks.

Lexi,
OK, we agree to disagree on this issue of FGM.

However in closing, I make this point. The Dr and other person you quoted do not know if penalties will work because they have not yet been tried. We know education alone has not worked.

Then, a few days ago, a local Iman was quoted as saying, "Girls have a right to FGM" Unbelievable in Australia.

These are the attitudes that those opposing FGM are up against.

Belly,

I just reread your post.

I see a case of you being able to dish it out, but not to take it.

It seems (and correct me if I'm reading it wrong) that according to you, Lexi, and particularly csteele and I are bitter females, gutless and leeches of the left..well, ho bloody hum, can't you for once divest your opinion from the lefty/righty argument.

And why do you ask csteele to reveal his identity (which apparently is already partly revealed)...you've spent many an hour warning people on OLO of the dangers of revealing too much info - changed your tune,have you?

We're all here at the behest of our egos, Belly. If it wasn't for our need to polish our egos, none of us would bother. You're no different in that regard.

Things have moved a long way from the fatwa that really wasn't that started the thread, Belly...

Someone who is clearly on your side re FGM is the Minaret of Freedom Institute's Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, Ph.D.:

"For Muslims, cliterodectomy and infibulation should be considered harâm (prohibited) practices and opposition to it should be part of our ongoing mandate to fight against superstition and oppression. As to the mildest form of female circumcision, the risks to the girl's future ability to enjoy sexual relations with her husband must place it at best in the category of makrûh (disliked) practices. Since it has neither hygienic nor religious value, there is no justification for Muslims to engage in this painful and potentially harmful practice and it would be best to avoid it completely."

Besides, FGM like rape, is illegal in Australia... so that's that then.

Doesn't mean though, sadly, that prosecution or justice is easily or necessarily obtained.

Banjo,

Sati - the burning of widows on husband's funeral pyre did not discontinue in Colonial India. I remember hearing of one that occurred about 10 years ago. I have now done a google and found this:

http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/2009/issue2/ahmad2.html

"In the modern times, there have been a few instances of sati in Rajasthan (1987), Utter Pradesh (2006) Madhya Pradesh (2002 and 2006) and in Chattisgarh (2008). The practice of Sati mostly happens in parts of northern and central India. Isolated incidents may be more but not reported officially that caused a lot of controversy and social turmoil in the country over and over again.

What does India's legal system have to say about this? The government of India has dropped its move to toughen the law against sati (The Times of India, April 23, 2008) This paper will examine the relevant provisions of law and as well as socio legal tangle of this issue."

Belly,

Don't let these delusional women get to you. Just ignore them. I know you are just being an honest concerned citizen. I encourage you to keep on fighting the fight. They are only bullies. God help us if the world was only full of Foxy/Lexi's, csteele's, Suse's and people masquerading as clever detectives. Yes, thank God for the real men who have defended us in the past and still continue. And may free speech prevail.